MJBiz - August 2023 - 25
Applied
Science
Marijuana harvesting enters the modern
age but remains a craft practiced by few
By Omar Sacirbey
W
hen cultivators such as Nic Robertson of 4Front Ventures and Ryan
Cook of Jushi Holdings were growing marijuana in the early 2000s,
indoor harvesting didn't receive the amount of scientific research and
attention that it currently does.
Back then, having a rough idea of when plants were supposed to finish
flowering and what good flower looked like meant that a cultivator knew more
than most. Only a few years ago, what growers knew about harvesting was less
based on science and more about anecdotal information relayed by " the OGs. "
Thanks to the pace of scientific progress in the cannabis industry as well as
commercial pressures that cultivators face in state-regulated markets, today's
indoor harvesting is more informed by data and science.
" In the past, decisions were very subjective-and while it's important to
know what good flower should smell and look like, you have to decide based
on science, " said Cook, executive vice president of operations at Florida-based
multistate operator Jushi, who 20-plus years ago was a cub cultivator soaking
up that OG information. " We've got (standard operating procedures) from
beginning to the end. "
In today's hypercompetitive cannabis industry, science helps dial in harvesting
decisions, from how the plants are maturing to how their potencies and
cannabinoid profiles are evaluated to how they are cut, trimmed and transported
for drying or " fresh freezing " -a process barely heard of a few years ago.
But even scientific stalwarts including Cook agree there is still a place for
senses such as sight and smell to guide growers at harvest time.
Harvest is a complex endeavor for those looking for the best results. It's even
more complex when it's done outdoors and there are more variables to consider.
For this issue of MJBizMagazine, we spoke with several veteran cultivators
to learn how they incorporate science and sensory aspects into their indoor
harvesting practices, elevating cultivation to a craft and an art form.
mjbizdaily.com | August 2023 25
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MJBiz - August 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MJBiz - August 2023
MJBiz - August 2023 - CT1
MJBiz - August 2023 - CT2
MJBiz - August 2023 - Cover1
MJBiz - August 2023 - Cover2
MJBiz - August 2023 - 3
MJBiz - August 2023 - 4
MJBiz - August 2023 - 5
MJBiz - August 2023 - 6
MJBiz - August 2023 - 7
MJBiz - August 2023 - 8
MJBiz - August 2023 - 9
MJBiz - August 2023 - 10
MJBiz - August 2023 - 11
MJBiz - August 2023 - 12
MJBiz - August 2023 - 13
MJBiz - August 2023 - 14
MJBiz - August 2023 - 15
MJBiz - August 2023 - 16
MJBiz - August 2023 - 17
MJBiz - August 2023 - 18
MJBiz - August 2023 - 19
MJBiz - August 2023 - 20
MJBiz - August 2023 - 21
MJBiz - August 2023 - 22
MJBiz - August 2023 - 23
MJBiz - August 2023 - 24
MJBiz - August 2023 - 25
MJBiz - August 2023 - 26
MJBiz - August 2023 - 27
MJBiz - August 2023 - 28
MJBiz - August 2023 - 29
MJBiz - August 2023 - 30
MJBiz - August 2023 - 31
MJBiz - August 2023 - 32
MJBiz - August 2023 - 33
MJBiz - August 2023 - 34
MJBiz - August 2023 - 35
MJBiz - August 2023 - 36
MJBiz - August 2023 - 37
MJBiz - August 2023 - 38
MJBiz - August 2023 - 39
MJBiz - August 2023 - 40
MJBiz - August 2023 - 41
MJBiz - August 2023 - 42
MJBiz - August 2023 - 43
MJBiz - August 2023 - 44
MJBiz - August 2023 - 45
MJBiz - August 2023 - 46
MJBiz - August 2023 - 47
MJBiz - August 2023 - 48
MJBiz - August 2023 - 49
MJBiz - August 2023 - 50
MJBiz - August 2023 - Cover3
MJBiz - August 2023 - Cover4
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