Design and construction of cannabis facilities [AIA course]

Right now, 33 states allow the sale of marijuana for medical purposes; another 14 allow it under more stringent medical supervision. Eleven states have OK’d it for both medical and recreational use. Only Idaho, Nebraska, and South Dakota have a total ban on the sale of marijuana.

Cannabis is the source of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)—the stuff that gets you high—and CBD (cannabidiol), which is used to treat anxiety, PTSD, sleep disorders, seizures, and pain. By law, CBD cannot contain more than 0.3% THC. We talked to industry experts to learn what it takes to design and build cannabis facilities.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this article, you should be able to:
• List the six major types of cannabis facilities.
• Differentiate the chief properties of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).
• Discuss several of the physical design factors that can negatively impact production of cannabis product.
• Understand the legal and regulatory factors affecting the cannabis industry and their impact on the design of cannabis facilities.

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