Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is one of the most widely cultivated crops across the world.

Indoor vs Outdoor Growing

One of the primary decisions for any cannabis cultivator is whether to grow indoors or outdoors. Both methods have their advantages and challenges.

Indoor Growing
Indoor growing allows cultivators to control various factors like lighting, temperature, humidity and pest control. Indoor cultivation is done in greenhouses, grow tents or purpose built rooms. It offers protection from weather extremes and pests. However, it requires significant upfront investment in lights, ventilation, irrigation systems etc. Electricity costs for indoor grows can also be high.

Outdoor Growing
Growing cannabis outdoors is more economical as it utilizes natural sunlight. Outdoor plants also tend to be larger in size. However, outdoor cultivators have less control over the environment and are at risk of mold, mildew or pest infestations due to weather changes. Outdoor cannabis is also more vulnerable to theft.

Common Cannabis Strains
There are hundreds of cannabis strains available but some of the most popular ones are:

- Sativas - Known for their uplifting and energetic effects. Common sativa strains include Sour Diesel, Green Crack and Bruce Banner.

- Indicas - Associated with body relaxation and pain relief. Popular indica strains are Granddaddy Purple, Northern Lights and OG Kush.

- Hybrids - Combinations of sativa and indica genetics to produce unique therapeutic profiles. Some hybrid varieties are Girl Scout Cookies, Blue Dream and Durban Poison.

Cultivation Methods

Cannabis Cultivation employs various methods depending on the scale of production:

Soil Growing
Most home cultivators and some commercial farmers still prefer growing in soil. Organic soil amendments are used to nourish the plants. Soil growing is low-cost but requires careful nutrient and pH management.

Hydroponics
An advanced method where plant roots are suspended in nutrient-rich water solution instead of soil. Hydroponic systems like Deep Water Culture (DWC) and Ebb and Flow provide highly controlled environments for consistent yields. Hydro is input intensive but maximizes productivity.

Aeroponics
Considered the most advanced technique, aeroponics uses mineral nutrient mist instead of water. Roots are permanently suspended in air and misted with nutrients on a schedule. It results in phenomenal growth rates due to unlimited oxygen supply to roots. However, aeroponic equipment is very expensive.

Harvesting and Drying
Cannabis buds are ready for harvest when a majority of trichomes (resin glands) appear milky white under magnification. At this stage, the plants contain their maximum concentration of desirable cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

After harvesting, the fresh buds undergo a curing process where they are slowly dried in optimal humidity (60-65%) and temperature (60-70°F) conditions over 7-10 days. Proper curing allows for chlorophyll breakdown resulting in smoother smoke quality and taste retention. Microbial growth is also arrested during curing to preserve potency.

Processing and Extraction
After curing, dried cannabis flowers can be directly consumed by smoking, vaping or eating. They can also undergo further processing into valuable extracts:

- Concentrates - Obtained by extracting trichomes using ice water, ethanol or CO2 to yield products like ice hash, rosin, butter, wax and shatter.

- Oil - Cannabis oil extracted using solvents like butane, propane or ethanol contains high amounts of cannabinoids and terpenes. Used in vapes, edibles and topicals.

- Distillate - A clear, highly potent cannabis oil concentrate derived through distillation of crude extract to remove undesirable plant compounds. Used to make vape cartridges, capsules, tinctures etc.

Regulations and Challenges

While recreational and medical marijuana is now legal in many parts of the world, regulations vary widely between countries and US states. High taxation, licensing fees and compliance requirements have pushed up operating costs for legal cultivators. Lack of access to banking also hampers large-scale investment in the cannabis industry. Illegal markets also continue to thrive where cannabis remains criminalized, posing threats both to public safety as well as legal businesses. As regulations continue evolving, challenges around standardization, social equity and environmental sustainability will also need addressing to realize cannabis' full economic potential.

Cannabis cultivation has come a long way from primitive outdoor grows to highly complex, high-tech indoor and greenhouse facilities. Continued professionalization driven by growing acceptance as well as demand for medical and consumer applications is set to transform the cannabis industry into a major global regulated market in the coming decade. Careful stewardship will be critical to ensure this emerging sector progresses responsibly while fulfilling its therapeutic promise.

For more details on the report, Read- https://www.rapidwebwire.com/cannabis-cultivation-demand-share-analysis/