Cannabis

Navigating the Evolving Cannabis Industry

The legal cannabis industry is thriving in the majority of U.S. states and a growing number of nations around the world since recognition of the plant’s therapeutic benefits spurred widespread legalization.

The industry’s most notable members include everything from small-scale medical marijuana dispensaries to large extraction laboratories and hemp cultivation plants, and their success has made it clear that cannabis-related commerce has the power to change the world’s commercial landscape in numerous key ways.

There are a variety of unique sectors within the greater cannabis industry that span beyond the scope of dispensaries and growing plants. The industry contains four core sectors: extraction, cultivation, testing, and retail sales. It also covers ancillary operations that are crucial to the success of cannabis businesses.

Cannabis Cultivation

The legal cannabis industry enlists the expertise of people with extensive experience in botany and horticulture. These professionals breed and cultivate classic and new cannabis strains according to consumer demand.

Many of today’s cultivators have degrees in plant science and horticulture, which gives them the high level of experience necessary to perfect traditional and modern grow methods and the use of the most advanced technology in the industry. It is this technology that has made cultivation methods such as vertical growing, cultivation automation and hydroponics possible on a large scale.

Testing and Extraction

Once legal cannabis has been grown and harvested, it leaves the cultivation facility to be tested for microbes, solvents, pesticides, and other contaminants. U.S. states such as Colorado now legally require testing on all commercially grown cannabis to ensure its safety and quality. Many cultivators choose to enlist the assistance of a cannabis attorney to navigate these requirements.

After the product is tested, samples of plant material is processed to produce tinctures, waxes, oils, and other extracts. Many of these products are destined for use by medical marijuana patients who need high quality medication at reliable doses, which is why cannabis extraction laboratories adhere to such stringent industry standards.

Retail Sales

The retail side of the cannabis industry encompasses dispensaries, shop owners, managers and staff, and sells the end products to customers. One of the better-known roles in this sector is that of the ‘budtender,’ who is tasked with offering accurate and helpful information about the effects and benefits of different cannabis strains and their various methods of consumption.

Many dispensaries hire staff with pharmaceutical training in order to provide their patients with the highest possible levels of guidance and care.

Ancillary Roles in Cannabusiness

The ancillary sector of the industry is dedicated to supporting the first cultivation, testing, extraction, and retail sales. Roles in this sector include product packaging, packaging and web design, investment, marketing, consulting, cannabis patent management, and media-related roles.

Many professionals in these field will never handle cannabis products themselves, but their positions are crucial to the cannabis industry as a whole.