Cannabis farming has experienced tremendous evolution and diversification in the last few years, especially after hemp was legalised at federal level. This legalisation led to the development of agricultural facilities which are very different from the ones that were commonly used in the past.
This includes THC farms which have been emerging in the country over the last three decades as legalisation has become a reality in different states. But there are also mountain farms, located in remote areas and with difficult access, that have existed since the days of total prohibition. They feature basic installations with a low level of technology, usually handmade PVC or wood greenhouses, or small indoor areas in garages or similar areas within the farmers' private property.
Despite legalisation, many of these farmers have kept working illegally, mainly to avoid the costs of licensing and taxes that come hand in hand with the legal status, but also partly for cultural reasons as well as for personal preference, after having lived in the world of illegality for decades.
Most farms that started operation with the arrival of legalisation have their own licence. This entails a financial cost for the licence itself, as well as further costs for the installation of perimeter security fencing, a video surveillance system, and a protocol for access control. They're generally more professional and consist of more technified greenhouses, built with galvanised iron structures, concrete floors, and climate control and support lighting systems. Many of these farms also include great indoor growing facilities, with powerful lighting and air-conditioning systems. Their work system tends to be more professional, and there's full control of all factors that influence the crop. In some cases, this type of farming has also started being used to produce high-quality CBD for the boutique flower market.
Within the new generation of cannabis farms that have sprouted up as a result of the recent changes in the law for industrial cannabis, two types in particular are worth mentioning: open-air CBD farms, and highly technified farms for large-scale production of CBD-rich feminised seeds
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