Cannabis Cultivation Process Overview – No Evident Investigative Leads

Or > A “Bw Plan fon on CHAPTER Ill Cannabis Industry Segmentation Cultivation Process Overview: Seed to Bud Time Seed Selection Selecting a seed is the first step of the cultivation process. A cultivator can choose from more than 1,500 unique seed varieties, each of which has the capacity to produce a cannabis strain with a particular cannabinoid and terpene profile and other unique characteristics. Seedling The seedling stage is the period during which the seed sprouts and the 1-4 plant stem starts to grow. During this stage, cultivators manage growth to Weeks avoid long stems that may lack the strength to support further vegetation. Start Vegetative The vegetative stage is characterized by the plant’s rapid growth and reve- lation of sexual characteristics. During this stage, cultivators remove male 3-8 plants and control growth inputs, such as light and nutrients, to maximize Weeks the plant’s yield of unpollinated female flower (which generally contains the highest concentration of active compounds). The flowering phase comprises the growth and maturation of the cannabis flower and the trichomes on the flower. Trichomes are hairlike components 6-16 that secrete cannabinoids, terpenes and other compounds. Trichomes gen- Weeks erally occur all over the surface of the plant, but are found in highest con- centration on the flowers of unpollinated female plants. Harvesting involves clipping the leafstalks (on which the flowers grow) from the main plant stem, drying the leafstalks and flowers, and trimming ' : the dried flowers. Cultivators harvest at a time calculated to maximize ” agnnstitl ¥ 2-4 flower yield and optimize cannabinoid and terpene content. WNP ; Weeks rit The curing phase is a period of controlled fermentation of the dry canna- Wests bis flower. The conditions under which fermentation occurs, as well as the duration of the fermentation process, further affect the cannabis flower’s aroma, taste and cannabinoid composition. 3-10 Months © 2017 Ackrell Capital, LLC | Member FINRA/SIPC 33 HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_024669