MedMen – Los Angeles, California

I got my start in the cannabis industry by consulting for several of Canada’s largest LPs (Limited Partnerships). I currently manage cultivation operations for MedMen, a Los Angeles based cannabis management company. I started growing because I love growing and have a passion for it. I’ve been involved in the high-tech, controlled-environment agricultural industry for close to 20 years.

MedMen is headquartered in Los Angeles, but we manage grow operations on behalf of license holders in several locations, including near Reno, Nevada, and the Sun Valley area of LA.

When we build cultivation projects, we select locations based on many factors, such as the availability of natural resources like sunlight, water, and elevation. We prefer to build high-technology glass greenhouses. However, in a warehouse-retrofit situation, we can optimize indoor operations by incorporating modern agricultural technology. With modern greenhouse technology and precision controls, we can rival and surpass the operations of indoor grows. Because greenhouses use natural sunlight as the primary source for lighting, they use up to 70 percent less electricity.

The actual number of plants will vary depending on the square footage of each facility. Generally speaking, our flowering density is 2.0 plants per square foot. Vegetative density is 8.0 plants per square foot, and our clone density is 39.0 plants per square foot.

We choose strains based on customer demand and qualities such as aroma, flavor, yield potential, and shelf-attractiveness. We understand the importance of meeting customer demand and are always looking at new strains to trial in our R&D trial section. Currently, we have a set of eight core strains we are working with.

Our designs are based on commercial hydroponics, using our proprietary nutritional recipes. Each plant receives roughly 1.5 liters of irrigation spread over 5 to 6 irrigation cycles per 24 hour period.

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1. For propagation, we use composted peat plugs.
2. For both veg and flowering, we use Grodan stonewool blocks.
3. However, we are currently working with Riococo to develop new coconut coir transplant blocks specifically for use with cannabis.

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We do not use pre-blended, hydroponic store fertilizers. These range in price from $25 to $50 per gallon. We produce our own fertilizers at a cost of $0.40 per gallon, using our own proprietary hydroponic nutrient recipe for all life stages.

MedMen utilizes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols. We believe that early detection, coupled with the use of natural predators, is the best way to catch issues early and mitigate problems without using harsh chemical pesticides. We use a variety of tools to help control the insect pest situation:

1. Beneficial insects (Bioline is a great resource.)
2. Sticky cards for monitoring
3. Weekly scouting by our IPM technician

Maintaining the proper climate within the growing environment also helps keep away foliar pathogen issues. Monitoring and controlling plant/leaf temperature, especially in the hours before “sunrise” is a key tool for controlling mildew and molds. Editor’s Note: Check out our related article on Integrated Pest Management!

We are utilizing Fluence Bioengineering LED lighting technology for all of our projects:

1. For propagation, including clones and tissue culture, we use the Fluence RAZR series LED fixtures.
2. We use the SPYDRx LED fixtures for vegetative.
3. We use the SPYDRx PLUS fixtures for flower.

With the LED lights, we’re using 40 percent less electricity compared to HID.

We use Hortimax to control lights, CO₂, irrigation, cooling, heating, humidity, temperature, and even labor management. Some facility designs feature automated moving benches. All our inputs into the system are automated to reduce labor needs. Irrigation is based on drip irrigation, so each plant gets the same amount of water every time. The black-out screens are also automated and controlled very easily by the push of a button.

There are very few tasks performed by hand in our facilities. We are always looking for ways to incorporate modern robotics in our facilities.

Since we are working with a biological process, we have faced the normal agricultural challenges like pests and disease, nutritional issues, and even labor. However, by incorporating Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), we can find issues early and mitigate them quickly to reduce any economic loss.

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It’s proving difficult to find suppliers and manufacturers from commercial agriculture that are willing to participate in the emerging cannabis industry, especially those from Europe that specialize in controlled environment agriculture.

Successful integration of modern technology into cannabis production. After all, a plant is a plant, and 90 percent of what it takes to optimize tomato production is the same for cannabis. And a good grower can easily adapt to the final 10 percent that is species-specific.

I wish I had entered the cannabis industry sooner and not just in agriculture. This is the industry to be in if you want to innovate and leave a lasting mark.

We want to continue making MedMen a market leader. Our processes and technology are years ahead of our competition. I want to help shape the future of commercial cannabis production.

Rely on the experience and know-how of commercial agriculture/horticulture growers when designing your grow operations. It will be the way of the future for growing crops. Always look for better ways of doing things.