Jessica McKeil | Jun 11, 2018
Consumer Tracking and Analytics Moving to Cannabis Retailers
Cannabis retailers are often left out when it comes to innovations within the industry.
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Jessica McKeil | Jun 05, 2018
Mastering VPD Control for Plentiful Harvests
Why should cannabis growers concern themselves with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in their grow operation? It is an interesting approach, and while it is definitely an advanced environmental measurement technique, it's worth exploring for indoor grow rooms.
Ellis Smith | Jun 04, 2018
47 Answers To Your Ultrasonic Liquid Processing Questions
During last month's live webcast, our host Ellis Smith and guest Alexey Peshkovsky, Ph.D., President of Industrial Sonomechanics, answered as many questions as time allowed. The following are answers to the remaining 47!
Jessica McKeil | May 29, 2018
Can Your Phone Tell If You Are High? The Future of Mobile Sobriety Testing
On the eve of legalization in Canada, there are still many questions swirling around field sobriety tests for cannabis. Just like in other jurisdictions with recreational cannabis, regional police forces are trying to grapple with roadside cannabis intoxication without a federally approved breathalyzer-style test.
Kristina Etter | May 24, 2018
The Ripple Effect of BlockStrain Technology
Blockchain technology is best known in the cannabis industry for its implications to the financial sector and the possibilities it presents to get around the red tape of cannabis banking. However, blockchain technology may also present a multitude of possibilities for the agricultural aspects of the industry as well.
Kristina Etter | May 21, 2018
Enhancing Cannabis Grows: CO2 Foliar Spray
In a recent press release, CO2 Gro Inc., formerly Blue Ocean Nutrasciences, announced it is moving closer to gaining approval for use of its patented CO2 Foliar Spray by Canadian Licensed Producers (LP) of cannabis. The recent decision by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory agency declares the product does not meet the definition of a pesticide according to the Pest Control Products Act.
Kris Sibley | May 17, 2018
Why the Cannabis Industry Needs to Think Tomorrow, Rather Than Today
It’s 2018 and after decades of vehemently persecuting marijuana production, nearly thirty states have legalized the controversial plant in one way or another. A booming demand for regulated and reliable marijuana products has opened new revenue streams within the agricultural industry, but this profit wave has not flowed without its own unique set of regulatory hurdles.
Amber Bacca | May 14, 2018
11 Reasons to Go Digital with your Compliance Documents
The cannabis industry moves fast. Licensed business owners and their employees are expected to move even faster when it comes to keeping up with myriad burdensome compliance requirements. The industry itself is one of the most regulated currently in existence. In an effort to keep tabs on cannabis businesses; state, local, and some federal regulatory agencies expect us to create and utilize countless specific documents. We can also expect such agencies to request reviews of these items when necessary and at their whim.
Jessica McKeil | May 10, 2018
Smart Grow Apps
Long gone are the days of cannabis farmers scribbling eligible notes on stained notepads in the grow room, today there is a growing marketplace of community-driven, expert-developed grow applications for mobile devices. Now, thanks to recent advancements in cloud-based technology, and our growing obsession with mobile technologies, a cultivator can see everything they need to know about their crop all in one place.
Jessica McKeil | May 09, 2018
High-Density Sense and Control Solutions
Taking grow room sensor technology to the next logical step, Urban Gro recently launched a new innovative solution for managing grow room environmental conditions via the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Soleil Technologies incorporates low power sensor products and SaaS technology to provide growers with detailed and timely data about their operation.
Marguerite Arnold | May 06, 2018
MedPayRX: blockchain-based insurance and banking solution
In Germany, the law now says that all health insurance companies have to pick up the tab for medical cannabis. But there is a procedural and scientific process to establish as the country mainstreams cannabis.
Editorial Team | May 03, 2018
Meet the Woman that Changed CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s Mind about Cannabis
You may have seen Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s series about cannabis on CNN. He was at one time a critic of marijuana, but in a widely publicized article, “Why I Changed My Mind on Weed,” he wrote: “I traveled around the world to interview medical leaders, experts, growers and patients. I spoke candidly to them, asking tough questions. What I found was stunning.”
Editorial Team | May 02, 2018
Employee Health & Safety/OSHA Compliance for the Cannabis Industry
Did you know that you could be required to pay a fine as large as $129,336 for a single OSHA Violation? Although we haven't seen many OSHA Inspectors in our licensed cannabis facilities at this point, that is about to change.
Marguerite Arnold | Apr 30, 2018
What Does The Average German Cannabis Patient Look Like?
Part II of II: One of the biggest reasons that integration of cannabis is not going smoothly in Germany (besides an outrageous price still driven by supply chain inefficiencies, bureaucracy, and imports). MS is the only on-label condition that more or less automatically gets insurance coverage for cannabis. Everyone else has to rely on their doctor’s ability to persuade insurers to cover a stigmatized, trial-to-mainstreaming drug for conditions that range from ADD to cancer.
Jessica McKeil | Apr 28, 2018
Commercialization of Hemp-based Bioplastics
True commercialization of hemp-based plastics could be just around the corner in North America. Hemp is experiencing a revolution, its popularity as a raw material has exploded in recent years thanks to deregulation of hemp in the United States and the growing acceptance of the cannabis sativa plant family as a whole.
Marguerite Arnold | Apr 24, 2018
The Awakening Of The German Cannabis Market
Part I of II: It is not news anymore in the United States that the cannabis reform that kicked up the conversation at the state level just four years ago has now gone global. Canada’s recreational market which will begin this summer, nationally, has already demonstrated that what started in the U.S. states (if not Holland before that) is now a world-wide movement if not legit industry.
Jessica McKeil | Apr 22, 2018
Cannabis Tissue Culture 101
Tissue culture cultivation represents a transformative approach to propagation in the cannabis industry. The science of tissue culture (TC) was commercialized roughly four decades ago and is widely used across agricultural sectors. Until recently, the technology had not been adopted by the marijuana industry, perhaps due to a lack of knowledge sharing between industries or the long history legal barriers. Today, the popularity of TC in the cannabis sector is a far different story.
Stephanie Piantanida | Apr 20, 2018
A Greener Green Part 3: CO2 Emissions
With the massive energy consumption of the cannabis industry comes the eminent emission of CO2. This output is posing a challenge for states with goals to reduce their greenhouse emissions and create sustainable cannabis programs.
Todd Statzer | Apr 17, 2018
Leveraging IPM to Create the World’s Safest Horticulture Products
Among the many misconceptions the general public has regarding the Cannabis industry, few could be more inaccurate than the fear of contamination by pesticides and other dangerous chemicals that many falsely believe are used to maximize yields. On the contrary, stringent compliance laws from the states, strong cooperation from the industry to maintain compliance, as well as the advanced strategies used by today's growers actually ensure that Cannabis is among the safest horticultural products in the world.
Joe Powers | Apr 17, 2018
A Look at Eight Hemp Technologies
New hemp technologies are becoming available more and more each day. Due to the increased demand and LONG history of practical use, hemp is making its way back into the center of society. As research continues to develop new and interesting applications, we are beginning to see hemp appear in exciting and unexpected industries.
Kristina Etter | Apr 16, 2018
Low Spark: The Nation’s First Cannabis Distributor
In the infancy stages of any new industry, the opportunities for entrepreneurs, pioneers, and risk-takers are unprecedented. The cannabis industry is no exception. Ty Duffy, the founder of Low Spark Incorporated, is one such individual who saw an opportunity to flourish in the cannabis industry. Grasping the ancillary business market and providing a much-needed to cannabis business, Mr. Duffy has grown his one-man operation into a robust, high-tech solution with dozens of employees and hundreds of clients.
Ellis Smith | Apr 06, 2018
Bringing Cleanliness to the Forefront of Cannabis
American Cannabis host, Ellis Smith, was joined by guest, Steven McMorrow, President and Founder of Cannabis Clean, to discuss how facilities in the cannabis industry can prevent contamination and protect their product, patients, and team.
Seth Swanson | Mar 29, 2018
Understanding the Key Drivers of Cannabis Growth Essential To Optimizing Production
Over the millennia, farmers have come to understand much of the science behind plant biology—the roles water, nutrients and sunlight each play in successful crop yields. Yet for all this knowledge, they’ve remained subject to the whims of nature; too much or too little rainfall, for instance, could spell disaster.
Kristina Etter | Mar 25, 2018
UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative
For the last several decades, cannabis research in the United States has been severely restricted. Despite the growing movement for legalization, federal restrictions on the research of Schedule I substances have effectively prevented research facilities and universities from studying the plant. However, emboldened and driven by the newly legal, recreational market of California, UCLA is pioneering academia into a new era of cannabis research.
Jessica McKeil | Mar 22, 2018
Cleanroom Technology for Cannabis
Regulation is coming to the medical marijuana industry, and when it does many producers may find themselves lagging behind, struggling to meet the new industry-wide standards. Many experts are expecting federal regulation in the future, from the likes of the Food and Drug Administration, which will require medical marijuana to adhere to strict protocols. Although cleanrooms may not be the required practice now, the cannabis industry is almost certainly headed in that direction.
Jessica McKeil | Mar 17, 2018
Plant Tattoo Sensors to Compile Microenvironment Data
Imagine real-time water sensors, pulling instantaneous water consumption data directly from the cannabis crop. The future isn’t as far away as one might think, at least according to new research published in the December 2017 issue of Advanced Materials Technologies.
Jessica McKeil | Mar 13, 2018
A Solution for the Growing Cannabis Waste Problem
Waste management is a crucial step in the cannabis production process, but a step that rarely receives the attention it deserves. Licensed growers across the U.S. and Canada must meet many municipal and regional waste disposal laws, as cannabis waste isn't as simple as a quick trip to the local landfill, or an easy composting bin.
Jessica McKeil | Mar 07, 2018
Design, Compliance and Optimization for Extraction
Jim Lieberman didn’t plan to get into the cannabis industry when he graduated from the University of Richmond with a B.A. in chemistry. But, years later, looking back on his colorful journey through water treatment, nuclear & hazardous materials management into the oil & gas industry and pharmaceutical industry - his experiences amalgamated perfectly into the founding of THC Safety, Inc.
Kristina Etter | Mar 06, 2018
The Politics of Cannabis
This week on Ask a Hempster, Carell had the opportunity to talk with Todd Mitchem, one of the founders of Dacorum Strategies, which is working to change public policy relating to cannabis. In his own words, Mitchem described Dacorum as reasonable, clear voices to help move cannabis initiatives forward at local, state and federal levels.
Kristina Etter | Mar 03, 2018
Achieving Ultimate Purity With Short-Path Distillation
Distillation in itself is nothing new. Distillation is used in many chemical engineering processes, and people have been distilling alcohol for centuries. Now, distilling cannabis oil is gaining ground and redefining quality, potency, and purity.
Joe Powers | Mar 01, 2018
Hemp Rockets & Electricity!
Why isn't Elon Musk using hemp, yet? Rockets require electricity for critical functions to operate computers and other various parts requiring electrical power. Other basic rocketry parts requiring electricity including; communication devices, lighting, light-support and countless more.
Kristina Etter | Mar 01, 2018
BioTrackTHC – Simplified Solutions in a Complex Industry
BioTrackTHC has always been in the business of compliance and tracking. Although they started with a product designed to help reel in the opiate prescribing problem in Florida, known as Bio-Script, Colorado cannabis businesses expressed a need, and the company began to pivot their product to meet the stringent compliance and tracking requirements of cannabis.
Jessica McKeil | Feb 21, 2018
Innovations in Machine Trimming
Gary Fast, a longtime member of the sales team at Triminator, speaks about the growing pressure on farmers to implement cost-saving measures. From what Fast has seen, in competitive markets, it's getting more and more challenging for producers to turn a profit.
Kristina Etter | Feb 15, 2018
NACB: Reining in the Wild West
The current environment surrounding legal cannabis is riddled with inconsistencies, often being referred to as the “Wild West.” From state to state, not only does the legality of cannabis vary, so do the regulations and standards for cannabis businesses. To rein in these inconsistencies and provide the Federal Government with necessary assurances of high standards, Joshua Laterman founded the National Association of Cannabis Business (NACB) to address national standards and policy.
Kristina Etter | Feb 14, 2018
Automation, Control, Consistency
While it’s no secret, consistency is key to producing a quality cannabis crop with the maximum yield possible, maintaining consistency can be challenging as the business grows. Last week, during the Seed to Sale show in Denver, urban-gro received the Excellence in Technology award for their high-density, sense and control technology called Soleil – a data collection marvel in the future agricultural technology which aims to eliminate human error and create unprecedented consistency in grow rooms regardless of size.
Jessica McKeil | Feb 12, 2018
Top 5 Canadian Cannabis Tech Companies
On July 1, 2018, changes to federal legislation are set to open up an already liberal marketplace, putting Canada on the cusp of fully legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes – countrywide. Canadian cannabis companies, as well as the peripheral businesses, no longer need to operate on the fringes of the business world and many are ready to take cannabis technology where it has never gone before.
Jessica McKeil | Feb 11, 2018
Botana, an Integrated Smart Grow Platform
Most growers will tell you that despite the expansion of technology in the cannabis sector, little of it has trickled down to the level of the gardener. Most farmers still rely on a good old-fashioned notebook. The status quo is no integration, little automation, and absolutely no data analysis on environmental conditions.
Kristina Etter | Feb 07, 2018
Innovative Technology for the Cannabis Consumer
Advanced technology is driving the cannabis industry, not only from the aspect of manufacturing and production but also in consumer technology. While the price of emerging technology can often keep it out of the reach of the average consumer, a few products have found their way into the market to bring science and precision into consumer’s homes.
Editorial Team | Feb 02, 2018
The Big Data Boom
The growth of any industry yields not only an influx of data but also the need to access this data. Real-time intelligence and analytical platforms are crucial to providing the data insight needed to navigate this new terrain and make informed business decisions.
Kristina Etter | Feb 01, 2018
Hippo Premium Packaging: Taking Marijuana Marketing Mainstream
This week, Rob Neely of CannabisTech had an opportunity to speak with the CEO and Co-founder of Hippo Premium Packaging, Kary Radestock, about their end-to-end branding and packaging solution for cannabis businesses.
Editorial Team | Jan 30, 2018
Chromatography: A badge of Integrity
As the demand for cannabinoid products continues to climb, businesses are emerging to accommodate this need, some of which are more reputable than others. Utilizing technology, like chromatography, can help separate quality cannabis and hemp producers from the crowd.
Kristina Etter | Jan 27, 2018
It’s All About Hemp Nutrition
As a follow-up from “What Hempsters Eat on the Go”, this week on Ask a Hempster, Carell had the opportunity to speak with Nutrition Expert and Product Formulator for Pure Kind Botanicals, Mary Matarazzo about all the amazing ways hemp can enhance your current health and nutrition regimen.
Kristina Etter | Jan 26, 2018
Beyond Vending Machines: A Robust Retail Solution from Grasshopper Kiosks
Combining the complex regulatory requirements of the cannabis industry with the pace of today’s world, Grasshopper Kiosks has taken the traditional vending machine and given it a modern-day makeover to help streamline the retail process in many dispensaries.
Editorial Team | Jan 23, 2018
Rapid Roadside Testing
While the cannabis industry continues to grow, law enforcement agencies are scrambling for solutions to prevent or deter driving under the influence. Although impaired driving has always been a focus of the nation’s law enforcement entities, the legalization of medicinal cannabis has raised significant concerns regarding the operation of motor vehicles while under the influence of cannabis. Taking a similar approach to alcohol, rapid roadside intoxication testing for cannabis is on the rise, and manufacturers are scrambling to bring an effective device to market.
Editorial Team | Jan 21, 2018
A Cut Above
Trimming is a vital part of the cannabis cultivation process that removes undesirable leaves from the bud, making a smoother smoking experience for consumers. Hand-trimmed has been the standard practice due to the quality professional trimmers provide. However, quality trimming doesn’t necessarily have to mean “hand-trimmed” anymore.
Jessica McKeil | Jan 19, 2018
From SpaceX to GrowX: Advancing Aeroponic Innovation
A relatively new entry into the cannabis industry, GrowX’s aeroponic innovations for indoor operations are nevertheless revolutionizing the sector. Just as LED light science dramatically changed the market just a few years ago, aeroponics is set to do the same by improving yield while reducing water consumption.
Kristina Etter | Jan 17, 2018
AEssenseGrows: A Symphony Of Precision Agriculture
What happens when a group of self-professed “Silicon Valley Geeks” find themselves immersed in cannabis cultivation? Limitless possibilities. The push for technology in the indoor agriculture industry is no different than any other: to bring a user-friendly interface to hide the complex processes for a software controlled, mechanical environment.
Larry Harb | Jan 16, 2018
Insuring the Cannabis Industry
Every traditional insurance policy has a clause that excludes all contraband and all fraudulent activities. These two clauses alone are enough to deny a claim for a cannabis-related business because it is defined as contraband by the federal government.
Jessica McKeil | Jan 14, 2018
Why the world needs hemp plastic
Hemp plastic is increasingly becoming a viable option as an eco-friendly alternative to carbon-based plastic. Not only is this bioplastic sourced from safe and sustainable hemp plants, but it is also typically both biodegradable and recyclable.
Jessica McKeil | Jan 12, 2018
Establishing IT and Cybersecurity Baselines To Protect Your Data
Data management and cybersecurity in the cannabis industry is often the last item on an organization's lengthy to-do list. Cannabis companies are scaling rapidly, with far too many other issues to contend with; data security is barely a blip on the radar.
Kristina Etter | Jan 02, 2018
Hemp: America’s Cash Crop Revisited
Historically, hemp helped build the United States of America. During the 17th century, it was considered a farmer’s “civic duty” to grow the crop. However, collusion of special interests threatened by the cannabis industry successfully accomplished the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act, which prohibited industrial hemp production. Complemented by the anti-hemp and cannabis propaganda, and politics, hemp was prevented from being grown as a legitimate crop in the US until the 2014 Farm Bill.
Kristina Etter | Dec 28, 2017
Resolving the Financial Woes of the Cannabis Industry
While the federal government continues to tighten the clamps on the cannabis industry, compliance and tracking of business transactions that include banking, payroll, and distribution of products have never been more critical.
Jessica McKeil | Dec 25, 2017
Defining Cannabis Cultivation Energy Standards
In a recent interview, Cannabis Tech and Ellis Smith had the opportunity to discuss the future of energy efficiency and standards with energy expert John Morris, founder and board secretary of Resource Innovation Institute.
Aaron LaBarbera | Dec 23, 2017
Leveraging blockchain solutions
The cannabis industry is one of many industries benefiting from what blockchain technology has to offer. We’re going to take a look at six companies who are leveraging blockchain solutions in the cannabis industry. But first, we need to know exactly what blockchain is and how it works.
Kristina Etter | Dec 18, 2017
BUCHI: Pioneering Chemistry and Cannabis
This week, CannabisTech had the opportunity to speak with Patrick Kohlhaas, a Field Applications Specialist with BUCHI. Although BUCHI has worked extensively with other industries like pharmaceuticals, oil, and anyone who uses chemistry processes, Kohlhaas’ newly created position has been spearheading the cannabis industry for the last two years to bring pharmaceutical-grade processes into cannabis production with a goal to provide higher-quality, safer cannabis-based products.
Jessica McKeil | Dec 04, 2017
How to Achieve Full Control of the Rosin Extraction Process
Rosin extraction is unique, typically requiring extensive experimentation between a number of key elements before a perfect final product is created. Active exploration makes it possible to gain full control of the process and a consistent cannabis extraction.
Ellis Smith | Nov 30, 2017
Energy Rebates: Made Easy for Lighting Vendors and Growers
With over 38 successful rebate applications under its belt, Seinergy has contributed to over 20 million annual kWh of approved energy reductions within the cannabis industry thus far; equivalent to outfitting over 7,500 homes with solar panels
Aaron LaBarbera | Nov 29, 2017
Short Path Distillation 101
Two of the most popular distillation methods whose product offers both a better flavor and experience is the Short Path Distillation Process and its cousin, the Short Path Wiped Film Distillation Process. Both of which achieve very similar results in different ways. We’ll be going into detail on those differences a bit later, however.
Kristina Etter | Nov 15, 2017
Harnessing Spectral Science for Better Yields
The rapidly expanding legal cannabis industry is generating a flurry of technological advances within the agriculture industry. Many forward-thinking manufacturers within the industry have grasped this opportunity to breathe new life into indoor cultivation and agriculture.
