Contributor: Josh Huff
For those who are supremely unaware, cannabis can be grown either indoors or outdoors. Obviously, before legalization was even on the table, people were essentially forced to grow outdoors. And, honestly, why wouldn’t they? I mean, it is a plant after all. And where do plants usually succeed the most? Outside, of course. That is precisely what has continued to happen in most western states that have legalized marijuana.
States like California and Oregon, with rich climates, enjoy a time of year that they affectionately refer to as “Crop-tober.” It is called this because it is basically the culmination of cultivation that takes the better part of a year. Growers plant their potential crops during the winter months. These crops typically don’t sprout until the spring season comes upon us. Then, in the summer, these crops grow and grow, until they eventually germinate and blossom in autumn. By the time everything is said and done, growers are ready to reap the rewards of their hard work, which usually falls sometime in the month of October – hence the adorably charming nickname, “Crop-tober.”
While growers in these western regions rejoice during this time of year, so do many happy cannabis enthusiasts. At these moments, dispensaries and cannabis clubs in these areas enjoy an influx of product. If you can’t already put it together, that means they have more than enough to sell to their customer base, resulting in a bit of a surplus. With any surplus, comes a drop in prices. It truly is the epitome of a “win, win” scenario. But, like I mentioned, these sort of shopping surprises can really only occur in places that adhere to such an outdoor growing cycle.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of indoor operations going on in these states, as well. But both methods have their fair share of positives and negatives.
For example, when growing indoors, cultivators are able to control damn near every element of the grow. They can adjust temperature, lighting, and what have you to optimize their end product. On top of that, they don’t have to wait for an entire year to fire up a new batch. Basically, what takes outdoor farmers a year to produce, they can finish in 100 days or so. But, when I say “produce” that doesn’t necessarily mean they yield the same amount.
See, with outdoor grows, they are basically at the mercy of ol’ Mother Nature and her constantly unpredictable ways, as well as various pests and insects that are inherently attracted to cannabis. But, with outdoor grow operations, their crops literally don’t have a ceiling, and often grow much larger than the typical indoor grown crop. Also, while indoor operations are spending thousands of dollars a year on power and lighting, outdoor growers rely on the free sunlight to power their potential potent buds towards completion. So, it’s really a personal preference for those in the business whether they want to grow indoors or outdoors.
One of the biggest cannabis markets, next to California (of course), is Nevada. This desert-laden state has been a hotbed of cannabis ever since it legalized marijuana. As you could already imagine, the vast majority of grow operations in the Nevada take place indoors.
Which, when you think about it, makes a lot of sense. Not only are they able to maintain a high-level of production, but they are able to forgo any unwanted “speed bumps” a grow may encounter when it relies on nothing but natural sunlight and elements. Also, the scant few outdoor grows in Nevada are a little behind when it comes to production, but it’s not their fault.
In January 2017, the recreational use of cannabis became legal in Nevada, as did the allowance of certain companies to create and run indoor grow facilities. However, for some strange reason, any sort of outdoor grow operation was considered illegal until the following year. It was then that the Nevada Department of Taxation finally approved regulations to watch over the growing cannabis industry. One of the biggest stipulations in this approval was the testing of all products.
Nevada, like every other state that has approved the growing (and subsequent distributing) of cannabis, makes sure that every batch and every product undergoes a strict series of lab tests before it makes its way to the public. Which makes sense. But, given that the desert climate of Nevada is so unforgiving, especially with insects, passing these required tests is a much harder task to accomplish for all of the outdoor growers in the area.
For indoor operations, however, they find this to be one of the easier hurdles to clear before getting their product out to the masses. Brandon Wiegand, the regional manager for Nevada Organic Remedies, one of the leading cannabis producers in the state, didn’t mince words when asked to divulge his opinion on the differences between indoor and outdoor grows.
When speaking on how “Crop-tober” can affect markets in western states, Wiegand said, “It’s great for the consumer. You get a flood of product. The demand hasn’t changed, but the supply is much higher.” Which is abundantly true. And, happy customers usually results in happy business owners. However, when he was asked which route was better, it was hard for him to sway away from the positives that indoor grows can produce.
On the topic of indoor operations, Wiegand stated, “We always have fresh flower coming down, we always have product on-site, and we’re always able to kind of keep the machine turning.” Adding, “Most people would agree that there’s a higher level of quality for indoor grows. You’re just able to do more and control the environment better.” And he’s not wrong, there’s never a shortage of top-notch bud to be found in Nevada, which is nice.
But that still doesn’t mean that a “Crop-tober” in Nevada is impossible – it’s just not preferred. Though, perhaps if folks start to go about it in various ways, outdoor grows stand a chance of competing with its indoor counterpart.
Chris Wren, the VP of operations at Planet 13, said the massive cannabis company doesn’t plan on jumping into outdoor grows, but he can’t help but notice the difference in costs. However, there is one grower who is putting that financial claim to the test. And that person is John Mueller, of Acres Cannabis.
Mueller, with the use of greenhouses and open-air crops, is utilizing the strict, unforgiving Nevada sun in his favor, and can’t help but brag about his lack of overhead costs needed in order to produce a competing product. Mueller said, “We don’t have the extensive HVAC systems, and electric bills are significantly lower.” Also, Mueller has started to produce autoflowering plants that he uses strictly for their THC, not for their looks. He takes their THC and implements it into various mediums (i.e. edibles, tinctures, etc.), which Mueller says is the future of the industry.
Specifically, Mueller stated, “You select genetics that are conducive to your growing environment.” Adding, “Basically, every state, including Nevada, is moving more and more toward the vape pen, edible, or ingestible. That’s going to end up being at least 50% of the market and should be closer to 70% of the market as we get decades in the future.”
So, is “Crop-tober” possible in Las Vegas? Sure. But is it the smartest route for growers to take in this specific climate? I suppose that’s up to them. But, to be honest, if they keep cannabis on the shelves, I don’t think I’ll mind how it was grown. Just as long as it’s safe and super potent, I’ll be happy.
