DISCLAIMER: Medical decisions should not be made based on advertising. Consult a physician on the benefits and risks of particular hemp-derived products.
As we have seen, the cannabis/hemp industry is booming. In fact, it is such a huge business there are many people who want to get involved with it. However, there are some challenges facing those looking to open an extraction facility, so it’s important to know what they are before you begin any testing processes or distribution of products from state to state.
Due to the legalization of cannabis/hemp in many states, there is now a need for testing products and extracting the cannabinoids. This is a challenge because it is important to have a suitable extraction facility in place before beginning any testing processes.
Fortunately, Abundant Labs has been around long enough to address many of the exhaustive processes required. While we have been in existence for quite some time, it does not make us immune to the challenges currently faced.
Cannabis/Hemp Extraction 101
Cannabis/Hemp extraction is a big part of this industry, but it’s also one facing many challenges. For those looking to break into the cannabis/hemp extraction business and with the goal of being an extractor, it is helpful to look at the value of the extraction process.
- Extraction is a very important part of the cannabis/hemp industry. It involves using solvents or carbon dioxide to separate desired compounds from a plant material like marijuana buds or hemp stalks.
- Extraction is used to produce cannabis/hemp oil (also known as cannabidiol), which is used for medical purposes such as treating epilepsy or pain relief.
The first step in the testing process is to have a suitable extraction facility in place before beginning any testing processes. This is important because if you do not have the proper equipment and infrastructure, it will be difficult to handle both volume and quality of product, which could lead to contamination of your extractions. The choice of equipment used for extraction also makes a difference when considering the overall quality of your end product.
Challenge Accepted
One challenge facing those who own or manage an extraction facility is finding trained technicians who know how to handle sensitive equipment such as a Walk-in Cryo Freezer or a Centrifuge Extraction machine. It is important you find the right people to work in your extraction facility not just because this will help you succeed in business but also because it helps ensure the public does not get hurt by any faulty products.
Another challenge is the law. In the United States, medical marijuana is legal in 29 states plus Washington DC (though not all these states allow sales). In addition to those 29 states that have legalized medical marijuana, many other countries have legalized it too, including Canada (2018), Australia (2016), Germany (2017), Italy (2016), France (2018), Mexico City (2018), and Uruguay among others.
Yet another barrier to overcome is distribution. As you may know, marijuana is illegal on the federal level and cannot be transported across state lines in most cases. This means companies need to import or export their products from one state to another if they want their product in multiple states at once. It also means that distributors be careful about complying with both federal and state laws when transporting goods into or out of a given jurisdiction.
There are many challenges facing the cannabis/hemp extraction industry, but there are also many opportunities for people to get involved in this growing business. If you’re looking to get started, consider partnering with a trusted name in the industry with a wealth of experience and extensive list of satisfied clients and products.
While we specialize in extracting CBD particulates, Abundant Labs is also an extraction facility for natural products. To learn more, please visit our website and blog.