Cannabis technology is growing rapidly, despite the fact that the industry is still very much in its infancy. While marijuana is still illegal on the federal level, it is becoming legal for medical and recreational purposes in many states. And CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that's also in the marijuana and hemp plant, is legal throughout the United States as long as it contains 0.3% or less THC.Technology has long been a disruptor for many industries. Remember when the only way to have access to GPS was to buy a device to put in your car' Now, everyone with a smartphone has GPS with them wherever they goand those of us with Smartwatches have them on our bodies all day, too.The cannabis industry is already poised to disrupt a lotfrom pharmaceuticals to building materials and more. Its still a new industry so there is a great deal of potential to develop a lot of new technology. Let's take a look at things you need to know about cannabis tech:1. New Companies are Popping Up All the TimeWhile most people think of cannabis, they think of the businesses that are providing the products directly to the consumers. However, there are a number of businesses that operate solely to produce quality cannabis and hemp plants, and other businesses that actually create the products for the shops to sell.New companies are everywhere you look. For instance, Canna Foods Rx, founded in 2018, has created cannabis-infused toothpicks by eliminating the moisture contained in the toothpicks and then infusing the empty pores with either cannabis oil, solution, or powder.BLH Aqua Technology, founded in 2017, is based in South Korea. Their main product is an agricultural focused water treatment machine that uses chemistry to break down water molecules and make them easier for plants to absorb resulting in Greater yields with less water usage.CannVerify, founded in 2018, sells product seals with unique codes that can be matched through blockchain-based software to confirm whether an item is counterfeit or authentic.With serialized tamper-proof seals, manufacturers and growers who may need to package their product can use them to verify their authenticity. Manufacturers can go into the system and add product information so that when consumers scan the QR code on the seal, it takes them to a page that displays that product information.The page also has an area for consumers to enter the verification code that can be obtained by scratching a section of the bottom of the seal. When that code is entered, consumers learn whether or not they have a match. Seals are designed for single-use, preventing counterfeiters from being able to take the seal off one package and place it on another.2. Cannabis-Specific AppsAs seen in every other market, convenience is all Sookie in the Cannabis industry. After recreational marijuana became legal, there was (is) a boom in the technology industry because of new cannabis-specific apps, software, hardware, and business-to-consumer platforms that are being developed every day.In markets where recreational marijuana is legal, there are apps that allow customers to get deliveries to their homes. These apps are going to have a significant impact on the industry because they allow consumers to choose from a wide range of cannabis products from multiple businesses and have the products delivered to their homes within a matter of minutes.Weve seen this happen with food delivery apps already as Postmates and Uber Eats have taken off over the past few years. As legalization continues to expand, we can expect to see the same trend within these cannabis delivery apps.3. The Blockchain is a Good Option for the Cannabis IndustryThe cannabis industry has all of the same business needs that most other businesses have. Due to the schedule 1 nature of cannabis along with the general misunderstanding of it as a plant, there is a greater need for transparency and compliance when setting up cannabis-based businesses.Keeping that in mind, the blockchain has incredible potential for industry impact because it addresses a big technology need for the industry. However, because the blockchain itself is relatively new and there is still a great deal of chaos in the cannabis industry we can expect the adoption to be slower. However, its wide-scale application in the industry is sure to occur at some point.4. Nano-Encapsulation and NanoemulationAs it stands, CBD extracts are difficult to make fully water-soluble. As the nanoencapsulation technology used to make CBD isolates fully water-soluble becomes more widely available, thats when we can expect even mainstream beverage companies to start infusing CBD.The industry has even heard rumours that major beverage companies such as Coca-Cola are interested in creating CBD-infused drinks. Much of the market for this is driven by the stigma (and health risks) associated with smoking.5. CannabisMD Knowledge NavigatorThe people over at CannabisMD recently developed the Knowledge Navigator. Its a platform that combines artificial intelligence technology with advanced analytical tools to determine what people actually want from cannabis brands, using their behaviours online both in social media and search.The tool is expected to have a huge impact on content creators and marketers who are looking to grow their reach and serve up what cannabis consumers are looking for in an intentional, informed, and targeted way.6. Post-Harvest TechnologiesPost-harvest technology such as contaminant mitigation and drying are poised to grow significantly.As more regulation comes into play designed to protect consumers, drying and curing the products needs to become faster, uniform, and automated while also reducing contamination factors in the final product.7. AutomationAutomation is changing the way many businesses across a variety of industries operate. It has already started in the Cannabis industry and will have a significant impact within the next three to five years. Using automation, cannabis businesses will be able to decrease man-hours at some of their end door grows.They will end up with higher quality biomass on a regular basis which allows them to significantly decrease their overhead expenses. Automation has the potential to expand and affect every aspect of the seed-to-sale supply chain in positive ways.
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