US (CA): “We are close to the second harvest in our 1.5 million square feet expansion, ahead of schedule”

“The first plants came in March, and now we are already close to doing our second harvest. It’s exciting that we are further along in our journey than we expected to be at this point,” says Graham Farrar, President of Glass House Farms. While the Californian cannabis company already had half a million…

“We want to do things differently: producing high quality cannabis that is organic and sustainable”

"From our start in 2018, we wanted to do things differently. We decided to grow organically and choose a sustainable path for our company. This way, we are growing a better plant that is also better for people as well as the planet," says Drew Campbell, Vice President of Marketing at The Green Organic…

Switzerland: “Classical music and hip hop promotes our cannabis plants’ growth and CBD production”

“We perform around 210,000 meticulous measurements every day in different areas of the plant. This allows us to constantly be aware of which changes, no matter how small, will have an effect on our medical cannabis plants,” say Andreas Gosch (CEO) and Philipp Bösch (Cultivation Manager) of Metamount…

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US (MI): "We are preparing our first harvest, amid a crashing market"

Falling from a high, cannabis products in Michigan have half the value they had eighteen months ago. In just one of three growing rooms at Highway Horticulture, the parent company of Cassopolis dispensary Sunset Coast, growers have 1,942 plants. Their first harvest season is coming up, and over the next…

“We simply let Mother Nature create unique cannabinoid and terpene profiles”

"Our business model is non-traditional, as we grow almost exclusively outdoors and in greenhouses. Moreover, we focus more on growing cannabinoids rather than growing for flower," says Blair Fish, Chief Operating Officer at Nova Farms. The vertically integrated cannabis operator has facilities and/or…

US (MA): Focusing on innovation and sustainability in a competitive market

"With the market continuing to expand, there are more possibilities for cannabis businesses in Massachusetts. In a competitive market, it is even more important for us to continue to focus on our pillars of success: innovation, guest or customer experience, sustainability, and community," says Holly…

US (IL): A look inside the largest aeroponics cannabis facility in the US

“While most growers opt for soil, stone wool, or coco, we are known for the quality of our aeroponically grown cannabis,” says Steve Bundy, General Manager of Aeriz. The company has the largest aeroponics cannabis facility in the country, growing both medical and adult-use cannabis in Illinois. They also…

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US (SD): New cannabis cultivation center up and running

Medical cannabis is a growing industry in South Dakota. Right now, there are just a couple of dispensaries up and running, but there are others in the works. But where does all that cannabis come from to support the industry? Cameron is the chief operating officer for the new Shangri-La South Dakota…

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"To meet the rising demand, we aim to increase production fivefold"

The booming demand for medicinal cannabis from Europe to Australia has seen a South African producer sell all of its output for next year in advance. SafriCanna signed sale deals with Germany and Australia for the bulk of the production, Bassim Haidar, chief executive officer of its largest investor,…

Colombia: “Growing on the equator means we use less energy and are capable of six harvests per year”

“Even though the Colombian environment is fantastic, we grow in greenhouses that are designed to maximize the benefits of the local climate,” says David Kirby, CEO of Avida Global. Founded in 2018, the company is headquartered in London, with a dedicated cultivation and production facility in North-East…

"As advanced and automated as everything is, we are not able to remove that human element"

"We are finally able to finish the construction of phase two, with the goal of doubling the production of the facility. It's by far the most advanced grow room I've ever worked with," says Bruno Gagliardi, Senior General Cultivation Manager for Alien Labs and Connected Cannabis Co. "However, as advanced…

“In a new market, it is important to get your products to the patients as quickly as possible”

Over 150,000 square feet of cultivation and manufacturing, 23 dispensaries open, and many more locations under development. There is no doubt that Greenlight is expanding rapidly. “We are focusing on being a multi-state operator in the Midwest and Southeast, providing patients with high-quality cannabis…

SA: “Our experience in potatoes is helping us succeed in the cannabis industry”

In 1993, Rascal Seed started as South Africa’s first private company to produce disease-free generation 0 potato tubers. Now, they supply 70% of the South African market with their generation 0 potatoes. Two years ago, the company decided to expand into the cannabis space. That’s how Rascal Medicinal…

Oceanic Relief

From cod to cannabis: Fish plant converted into cannabis facility that is helping the community

An old Canadian fish plant closed for good about ten years ago. Now, it’s turning over a new leaf, transitioning from cod to cannabis. This second chance comes thanks to Taylor Giovannini, the Founder of Oceanic Relief. The company is one of the few late-stage applicants with Health Canada under ACMPR in…

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US (VT): Cannabis farm tours give visitors inside look at cultivation

One Vermont farmer in the Northeast Kingdom is hoping to add Cannabis Farm Tours to Vermont's Agri-tourism industry. Eli Harrington showed guests how he hand trims a cannabis plant during one of his tours. It's one part of his Vertmonijuana homestead tours, where visitors can get an inside look at what…

NZ: “Because the industry is so new, we purposefully wanted to be a seed-to-prescription company”

“With the New Zealand market being new and reasonably small, we knew that our predominant market was going to be overseas. While a large part of our business is focused on export, we also want to help along our domestic market. Therefore, we set up clinics and a telehealth platform to provide access to…

Raw Garden / Brian Walker

From raisins to cannabis: How single-sourced innovation led to better cannabis

A fifth-generation California farmer with a legacy of raising cattle and growing grapes, Martin oversees Raw Garden's research and development, as well as their agriculture operations and manufacturing. We discussed his decade of experience in finance and cannabis business operations, as well as his…

US (MI): “With three environments of cultivation, we are able to hit different categories in the market”

"I was amazed at the opportunity to grow 12 acres of outdoor cannabis, as well as in a 3,000 sq. ft. greenhouse and an indoor facility. Having three production environments definitely keeps us on our toes, but it also keeps us learning and helps us improve," says Charlie McKenzie, Director of Cultivation…

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Juicy Fields locks users out of cannabis investments

Just how much money small investors around the globe have put into a shady offer involving cannabis plants is not yet known. But the damage is likely huge, with some estimates as high as several billion euros. The scam became apparent after investors were unable to access their accounts on a platform…

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US (NY): First legal cannabis crop is growing and bound for stores this year

Shawn Bedard's weed-dealing past used to be a barrier to employment, so much so that he says even a medical cannabis company declined to hire him due to his felony drug convictions. But today, in a stark reversal made possible by New York's legalization last year of pot for adult recreational use, Bedard…

Grant Kees to join BioSafe horti division in Alabama and Florida

Grant Kees has joined the Horticulture Division representing BioSafe Systems in Alabama and Florida. He has a background in greenhouse production management, sales, and irrigation system development. Grant earned the Yellow Belt designation for completing training in the Six Sigma quality improvement…

Sugar Cane Cannabis

Indigenous BC grower makes a craft out of the drying process too

When the Cannabis Act came into effect on October 17, 2018, it opened up a new world of opportunity for Indigenous people in Canada. One of those opportunities is the chance to enter the legal cannabis market as entrepreneurs and business owners. Sugar Cane Cannabis, owned by West Lake First Nation, is…

CAN: A look behind the scenes at the cultivation techniques of a craft cannabis grower

It is cloning season at Lune Rise Farms, a craft cannabis grower in Ontario, Canada. The team has been busy working behind the scenes to prepare all the clones they have planning on planting in the field to soak up the sun. In their recent video, we meet Jason, their farm manager, as he walks us through…

Innovation and improvements at Israel’s largest cannabis greenhouse

Green Fields is the biggest cannabis greenhouse in Israel, with a total surface encompassing 42,000 square meters. The facility was completed two years ago after visiting cannabis farms all over the world. "The design is based on the knowledge we have accumulated from our visits, providing us with a…

US (MS): Building a $45 million CGMP-certified cannabis facility in a conservative state

Currently, construction is quickly underway at a medical cannabis cultivation facility in Canton, Mississippi. Yet it's not just the facility that makes it unique. It's the location as well. "Mississippi is a conservative state where the people have embraced medical cannabis as a healthcare option. The…