Understanding What Qualifies as Legal in the Cannabis Industry
Ever since the growing and harvesting of cannabis became legal in the United States a few years ago, growers have faced numerous obstacles with this contemporary cash crop. The cannabis industry is under some of the strictest regulations of any operation in the country. This alone has made cannabis investors second-guess themselves when deciding if they want to invest capital in the cannabis industry. Additionally, cannabis growers will oftentimes lose large amounts of crops due to a variety of environmental factors and crop diseases. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is the illegal cultivation of what the cannabis industry categorizes as “hot crops.”
What is a “Hot Crop?”
Industrial hemp production is legal in 46 states; however, the product must have a THC level of 0.3% or lower. Anything over that THC threshold is considered a hot crop, which means that it would be illegal for the grower to cultivate and sell. Recent statistics estimate that roughly 50% of cannabis crops are deemed unusable because they fall into the hot crop category.
So, what does this mean for growers and farmers in the cannabis industry? It means that they are losing massive amounts of crops, which cuts into their labor costs and bottom line. Additionally, the farmer is responsible for the prompt destruction of any hot crops that they produce containing THC. This is yet another reason why it’s hard for cannabis investors to put down a lot of capital. If the crop is deemed too hot for sale, a large part of their investment winds up getting destroyed.
How to Avoid Unintentionally Harvesting Hot Crops
In order to reduce the risk of cultivating hot crops, farmers and cultivators abide by a certain set of best practices during the growing process.
- In the cannabis industry, there are certain varieties (aka cultivars or strains) that genetically produce a high amount of THC. Knowing that, farmers and cultivators should avoid those specific strains as they run a higher risk of being unusable.
- When it comes to harvesting crops, harvesting earlier as opposed to later is always preferable. This is because the CBD levels rise in correlation with the THC levels as the crop grows. By letting a crop grow for too long, you run the risk of unintentionally producing a hot crop.
- Finally, it’s critical that you begin testing your crop for THC levels at least three weeks before your projected harvest time. Since sending samples off to an offsite lab is both costly and time-consuming, it is recommended that you procure your own cannabis testing equipment. This enables you to get your test results quicker so that you’re not waiting on test results from an external lab.
Bottom line: the easiest way to avoid producing hot crops is by having accurate and reliable cannabis testing equipment on site.
Accurate and Affordable Lab Equipment for the Cannabis Industry
Elite Robotics is going to streamline the manufacturing process by putting science and cannabis testing equipment into the hands of those who are growing and cultivating cannabis. Our products are easy to use, provide accurate results, and are 100% verifiable. This means that you will no longer have to worry about destroying massive amounts of your own product.
Here are the following two main products that Elite Robotics makes:
- The Disposable is a patent-pending sealed chamber in which samples can be hermetically stored in order to preserve chain of custody of the product. This product allows for samples to be taken from the field and secured until they can be properly analyzed.
- The Analyzer breaks down and tests samples from the Disposable, ensuring purity and potency in both CBD and THC products so that you can remain compliant with state and local regulations. It will also identify strain and any potential contaminants that may be present.
The cannabis testing equipment from the Cannabot line will help cultivators with the monitoring and testing of crops, effectively putting the lab in their hands.
Contact Elite Robotics Today!
Elite Robotics aims to be part of the solution when it comes to perfecting and standardizing the cannabis industry’s cultivation process. Our breakthrough technology will help countless farmers and cultivators reduce product losses and improve their bottom line. However, we still have work to do before the Cannabot line becomes a reality, and we are interested in speaking with folks who want to invest in the future of the cannabis industry.
To find out more about our equipment or to become an investor, you can contact Elite Robotics at (805) 987-6217. Or you can send us a message directly using our Contact form.