I live in Colorado. Don't grow marijuana but I do know that state law decrees it has be grown "in an enclosed space." So if you're planning to grow it outside, that means you'll need some kind of lockable cage for it. Basically, I think they don't want the neighborhood kids hopping your fence and stealing your buds.
There's no difference between medical plants and regular weed. If you're interested in it for medicinal purposes but don't want to get high, consider going to the shops and buying some CBD edibles or tinctures. You could also try getting seeds for these CBD strains: http://www.leafly.com/news/cannabis-101/whats-the-deal-with-these-high-cbd-strains
Really, if you're interested for medical purposes, I'd strongly suggest buying over growing. The people in the shops are very knowledgeable and can help you figure out what weed will best suit your needs. Plus, the dosages will be more consistent than plucking a random bud and smoking it.