Canada and the USA face a similar problem, their legal cannabis producers are scrutinized by government regulations their security requirements are high but another more interesting issue is that they face a lack of reliable information when it comes to growing their crops.

Because growing cannabis has been illegal for so long, its not suprising that scientific research regarding best practices in cannabis crop production is extremely limited. Most of the information available out there regarding how best to grow cannabis has not been produced scientifically using qualified labs.

Researchers have been improving production practices for other crops, including medicinal plants, for decades, creating a large body of scientificaly-validated information.

Clearly the same needs to be done for cannabis and fast considering its a legally available medicinal plant in many areas of the world now.

A particular lab at the University of Guelph has a reputation for being one of the best in the world for horticulture research.

With legalized recreational cannabis use on the horizon in Canada, more licensed growers are seeking this sort of expertise.

Where are we in regard to cannabis production?

Well in America many states have made cannabis legally available for recreational consumption. What's more is that its providing a huge source of desperately needed tax income. Because who minds paying a little bit of tax when it comes to their beloved weed smoking hobby?

Growing cannabis can be a lucrative business. Spending on legal cannabis in North American medicinal and recreational markets is projected to reach US$21.6 billion by 2021.

In Canada, there are currently 73 authorized licensed medical cannabis producers, most of them large-scale producers. With the recreational use and sale of cannabis scheduled for legalization in our country next year, it is foreseeable that many more large-scale producers will enter the market.

Of course, up until now, indoor cannabis production has been primarily confined to smaller-scale operations. Due to these conditions, growers acquired a lot of knowledge and experience. But at the moment, most of the knowledge gained became trade secrets and as a result still needs to be scientifically validated.

Even in today’s modern medicinal cannabis production facilities, growers are often reliant on online forums — so-called “grow guides” — and advice from salespeople for information on crop production. Without proper training, it can be hard to tell fact from fiction.

Unfortunately, reliable evidence-based research is lacking. As mentioned, the bulk of production knowledge is anecdotal and even secretive. It makes things difficult for policymakers charged with setting standards and policies.

So lets get to the point. These governments need to fork up some cash and increase their research efforts to scientifically improve, verify and document valuable knowledge on cannabis production.

At the end of the day end users and the governments of Canada and America should both want the same thing, high quality cannabis as free from toxins and carcinogens as scientifically possible. Good clean weed for all!

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Source:

How to grow cannabis? With modern science and technology - The Conversation

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