So, some states base criminal charges for cultivation on how many grams are being cultivated. How exactly does this work? If someone was caught with 100 plants all in veg, would they be off free and clear or are they charged with having cultivated 50000 grams of "marijuana"?
It depends on the state. Some will give an estimation on the amount of "dried marijuana" that will be produced by the plants, and some take the entire weight of the whole plant, just depends on the jurisdiction.