How to plan and develop your cannabis production business

The cultivation of cannabis is rapidly expanding in Europe due to the properties offered by the plant cannabis sativa. One of the first European countries to invest in cannabis is Germany, where cultivation is allowed exclusively for medical purposes. Cannabis is prescribed for chronic pain, chemotherapy, Tourette’s syndrome, AIDS, and more. If you want to grow cannabis, you’ll have to get accustomed to working with the climate. Taking into account the future outlook of the European cannabis industry, there’s no better time than now to get started as an entrepreneur. 

Building a successful cannabis business these days means finding good clients and, above all, providing them an excellent service. It might sound simple, but only a few are up to it. If you like the challenge, you’ll love the opportunities available. Starting a business (any business) requires a great deal of work, time, and money. You can’t jump in and hope for the best. Even the most experienced person is bound to face some challenges, and hope alone isn’t enough. As with any new venture, ambition is necessary. 

If you’re ready, follow these steps. Even with the plan in place, there’s still a lot to do. Building the fundamentals of a cannabis business will take some time. It takes a lot of planning, followed by strategics, and hard-core implementation. It would take roughly 5 years to get up and running. 

Find a warehouse/greenhouse, open land, or cannabis farm 

Purchase or lease a new site to produce cannabis. You can start your cannabis production business in a warehouse/greenhouse, on open land, or on a cannabis farm. Greenhouses have long been a popular and efficient method for growing all sorts of plants, but warehouses have become necessary due to regulations and the potential for theft. Find a property in an area where there’s limited competition. Evaluate the conditions of the local industrial market and secure financing. Fortunately, more and more financial institutions are investing in cannabis companies. 

As long as you have a sunny location, you can grow cannabis outdoors. The site must be secure with a privacy fence, and the plants shouldn’t be taller than the fence. How much space you need depends on the number and types of plants you’d like to grow. They should be spaced at least three to five feet. You’ll want to avoid overcrowding. When the plants’ branches rub their leaves together, they lose their ability to transpire properly. This can spread mould among the plants, not to mention spider mites. You can turn the piece of land into a farm. You’ll need high-intensity lighting, ventilation, and hydroponics systems. Not all land can be used as farmland. 

Have a well-developed business plan

It’s crucial to have a well-developed business plan to make sure you can adapt to constantly changing market conditions and regulations. The plan offers a snapshot of your cannabis business as it is today and exhibits your growth strategies for the next five years. If needed, your business plan will help you raise funding. The details included in the plan help instil trust – people will know that you’re a good investment. You can include tables, graphs, charts, images, basically anything that adds value to the business plan. 

Get permission to grow and care for your cannabis plants

Before you plant your crop, make sure to get the necessary licensing. There are legal complexities, as each European state follows its own rules and regulations as far as cannabis plantations are concerned. From the very beginning, you must know that getting a licence for cannabis cultivation is one of the most difficult steps in doing business. only a handful of licences are granted each year. What is more, multiple cannabis companies bid for one. At this point there’s only one large-scale cannabis producer in Europe, namely Tilray, with cultivation facilities in both Germany and Portugal.

If you want to grow cannabis in the UK, get Home-Office license. Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug, so you have to apply for a controlled drugs domestic licence. Licences are generally valid for 3 growing seasons. Attention needs to be paid to the fact that the licence doesn’t allow for the use of flowers and leaves. You need to provide the following information:

·       Personal details

·       Company/organisation details

·       Licences/registrations required

·       Cannabis cultivation

·       Precursor chemical applications only

·       Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

·       Premises details

·       Record keeping and audit

·       Supplier/ customer details

·       Destructions

·       Fee payment details

·       Where the licence is to be sent to

If you apply after the cut-off dates, processing time might take longer than usual or your application might be rejected. The Home Office takes into consideration the ability of the applicant to comply with regulatory standards. Please find more details on the Home Office’s official website.   

Turn to an online seedbank to purchase high-quality seeds 

You can grow cannabis plants from seeds or create clones from feminised plants. It's an important decision to make. Cannabis seeds provide better control over the growth cycle. It’s just that it takes longer to get the desired results. Clones are fast, efficient, and carry the traits of the mother plants. The leaves are susceptible to mould and disease. You can clone an auto-flowering strain, but it’s not worth the effort. If you choose the seeds route, be careful when transplanting the seedlings into the soil. They’re fragile and prone to damage, so lightly pack the soil. 

The debate on what type of cannabis seeds work is never-ending. If you’re confused about what to choose, it’s recommended to purchase feminised cannabis seeds. You have a guarantee that no plant will be male or hermaphroditic. If you use feminised seeds, you can enhance yield, stop crop loss, clone freely, and realise maximum value for your investment. Nearly all seeds sold by reputable companies are feminised. They’re specifically treated to grow into feminine plants. One classic technique for producing feminised seeds is interrupting the light cycle during flowering. 

You can purchase cannabis seeds online. When shopping for cannabis seeds, carefully read the information on the website to make sure you’re getting the plants you want to grow. It’s not difficult to find a reliable, high-quality seed bank. The cannabis seed bank will offer you what you need to get started. Prioritise options that ensure discreet packaging. What is more, you should feel comfortable taking advice from the seed bank. 

Ensure security and compliance with state regulations

Your employees could be at risk, which is why it’s a good idea to invest in comprehensive, sophisticated security solutions. You’re at risk due to the street value of the product. What you need are video surveillance, intrusion detection, and access control designs. Strong operational compliance plays a crucial role in the success of your cannabis business. Use the same mother plants, cut just the top of the buds, control the variables of the environment, and, most importantly, undertake quality control testing. The raw material has to undergo various processes before it’s ready for consumption. 

Commence operations and get your products to the market 

Once your licence has been issued, you can onboard staff and start cultivating and/or process cannabis. Cannabis is usually dried by applying a humidity level between 40% and 50%. Hanging the buds upside down will trick the plant into thinking that it’s still alive, so it will remain healthy. If the stems bend a little without breaking, they need to keep drying. It’s paramount to test each batch of cannabis before selling to authorised distributors. This way, quality issues can be identified in the nick of time and resolved. Keep in mind that there are limits on residual solvents, insecticides, pesticides, heavy metals, microorganisms, and mycotoxins. 

Finally, yet importantly, get your products to the market. Enter in a supply agreement with an authorised dispensary or retailer. Shipping has to be conducted in a secure manner. Get a good understanding of the applicable regulatory requirements. Plus, take into consideration the logistical requirements of the receiver. There are other market access opportunities, but that’s for you to discover.