MjLink Cannabis Business News and Press

CHICAGO, May 23, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Verano Holdings Corp., through its subsidiary, Verano Holdings LLC, yesterday notified the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado of its complete victory in arbitration regarding various frivolous RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) claims brought by Nicholas Nielsen. The arbitrator dismissed all of Nielsen’s claims with prejudice and awarded Verano nearly $100,000 in attorney’s fees in the arbitration, further underscoring the groundless nature of the lawsuit.

In his claims, originally brought in Federal Court but ultimately adjudicated on the merits in arbitration, Nielsen failed to disclose that he had pled guilty to a four-count felony indictment in the state of Arkansas for the blatantly illegal cannabis cultivation and production operation he ran out of his home. Nielsen’s claims were a meritless effort to shift blame to Verano and more than 50 other defendants for his conviction, which was based on illegal activity in which he engaged on his own volition and without the knowledge or involvement of Verano or others.

“The allegations in the complaint are completely and totally false and absurd,” said George Archos, Verano founder and CEO. “The plaintiff and his lawyer have turned an employment dispute between a former employee and his employer into a sensationalized and imagined series of events aimed at a company like Verano with a proven track record of compliant operations. Verano and its affiliates are proud of their strict compliance with, and adherence to, state laws and regulations, and any insinuation to the contrary is completely fictional.”

With operations in 13 states, all with highly regulated state-legalized cannabis programs, Verano is a leading, vertically integrated multistate cannabis operator in the United States. This complete victory for Verano validates its vigorous efforts to defend itself from these false, baseless and defamatory allegations that struck at one of Verano’s core foundational principles—strict compliance with applicable law.

Each week, we seem to come tantalizingly close to adding another state to the map of legal U.S. adult-use cannabis markets. 

This week is no different—but it feels different.

Rhode Island legislators are rounding the bend on a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis production and sales, which, if they can cross the finish line next week, would give us the 19th state to pass such a law. If that happens, expect sales to begin at the end of this year.

And keep an eye on Delaware, while you’re at it: The Delaware House missed a chance to advance a cannabis legalization bill just by sheer bad timing, but there’s an opportunity to recast the vote next month.

Rhode Island and Delaware both fall on the low end of state populations (No. 43 and 44, respectively), but the passage of those bills would add some serious heft to the Mid-Atlantic and New England cannabis market in the aggregate.

We’ve rounded up some of the key cannabis headlines from the week right here.

New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB) members approved their third batch of conditional adult-use cannabis cultivation licenses for the 2022 growing season during their regular meeting May 19.

Giving the thumbs up to 58 existing hemp farmers on Thursday, CCB members have now OK’d 146 licensees total: The five board members originally approved licenses for 52 hemp farmers during their April 14 meeting, and another 36 during their May 5 meeting.

The board resolutions for the issuance of those conditional licenses come after Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Feb. 22 to allow hemp businesses to grow cannabis to help jumpstart the adult-use market and ensure there’s adequate supply when commercial sales possibly launch later this year.

Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) Director Chris Alexander, who has spearheaded the license application vetting process, recommended the approval of the 146 licenses that CCB members have voted on so far.

“We’ve received more than 200 applications from New York’s hemp farmers and are excited to continue to advance the Seeding Opportunity Initiative,” he said during the May 19 meeting.

“We’re moving quickly knowing that the growing season is short and wanting for our farmers to take full advantage of that season,” Alexander said. “With the applications hopefully approved today, we’ll have 146 small farmers operating throughout the state of New York as conditional cultivators in the Seeding Opportunity Initiative.”

Three armed male suspects robbed a cannabis dispensary on East Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif., Wednesday afternoon. 

According to CBS News, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department responded to the robbery after receiving reports of shots fired. When deputies arrived, the suspects reportedly fired several shots and fled the scene in a grey Dodge Charger, which led to a short pursuit on the freeway, but the suspects were able to get away. No injuries were reported.

Authorities said the suspects got away with cannabis and a purse that contained an unknown amount of cash, CBS News reported. 

Deputies later located a car matching the suspects’ Charger off Atlantic Boulevard in Alhambra, Calif.—about ten minutes away from the dispensary location—but no further information has been reported, according to CBS News.

OAKLAND, Calif. – May 20, 2022 – PRESS RELEASE – Harborside Inc., a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, today announced it will officially launch its new store in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood this Saturday, May 21 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., with a complete schedule of grand opening activities. Located at 768 Stanyan St., the 1,674-square-foot store showcases a broad range of products including Wonderbrett, Kingpen and High Purpose.

Store guests have access to a wide selection of equity brands, brands that are owned and operated by those disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, reinforcing Harborside’s commitment to diversity and inclusion to cannabis. In addition, the cannabis concierge program enables consumers to schedule a discreet, one-on-one session with one of the store’s highly trained budtenders, providing personal shopping guidance and/or personal recommendations to suit individual tastes. This is one of only two dispensaries in the iconic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, close to Golden Gate Park and the Grateful Dead house.

“This state-of-the-art store reinforces Harborside’s reputation for owning and managing one of the oldest, largest and most trusted cannabis dispensary businesses in the world,” said Ed Schmults, CEO of Harborside. “This new location in San Francisco is an important expansion of our footprint in the state, especially because of its legendary location. It is a fitting setting for one of California’s most established cannabis companies. In addition, we’re proud to offer a broad range of products from local equity and female-owned brands. Lastly, our curated collection of flower, edibles, tinctures, topicals, pre-rolled joints and vapes provide quality choices for cannabis devotees as well as the canna curious.”

Opening activities include doorbusters and VIP bags for the first 100 guests, a VIP consumption event from 12-4 p.m., pop-ups from iconic brands throughout the day and limited-edition Jeremy Fish shirts and totes with purchase.

The Haight-Ashbury store is the fifth Harborside-branded store to open in northern California and complements its nine other stores across the state branded under the Urbn Leaf banner. Harborside is partnering in the ownership of the store with leading community activist and mentor, Damien Posey. This is one of a select few equity licenses through San Francisco’s Cannabis Equity Program fostering equitable participation in the cannabis industry and creating business opportunities for those negatively impacted by the War on Drugs.

Earlier this month, Glass House Brands announced a definitive agreement to acquire two operational dispensaries and one soon-to-open dispensary from Natural Healing Center.

This acquisition will help to triple the company’s retail footprint in California. With three wholly owned retail stores—operating under the Farmacy brand—Glass House Brands will add these three Natural Healing Center locations, a previously acquired Pottery location and three more Farmacy storefronts set to open later this year.

According to the press release, the two operational NHC dispensaries, in Lemoore and Morro Bay, Calif., “had revenue of $15.3 million from April 2021 through March 2022 with EBITDA margins above 20%.”

The third retail location is in Turlock, south of Modesto.

“This acquisition will advance us further in our goal of becoming one of the largest retailers in the state; provide incremental outlets for flower sales as the SoCal facility comes online; and add further support to our CPG business, including PLUS, our recently acquired and leading cannabis edibles company based in California,” said Kyle Kazan, Glass House Chairman and CEO.

As the state market’s balance between cultivation and retail continues to settle, acquisitions like this are a strategic part of the vertically integrated operator’s growth plans in California. In-state M&A has become one important method for growth, given the relatively slow rollout of additional retail licenses (and additional counties opting in, in the first place, to hosting retail businesses).

With adult-use cannabis sales recently coming online in New Jersey, one community college is already working to implement specialized programs in cannabis business to help to provide equal opportunities for students looking to enter the industry.

Hudson County Community College (HCCC), located in Jersey City, New Jersey, is heavily focused on meeting the needs of the community it serves, says Chris Reber, Ph.D., president of HCCC. 

Reber says HCCC has been watching the growth of cannabis initiatives in New Jersey for quite some time. The college knew it wanted to play a role in this new, emerging industry, which can provide an array of job opportunities for students.

"We want to do everything we can to make it possible for the students we serve to … have the skills and training, to not only to seek employment in this industry, but to be competitive in this industry," he says. "Many of the folks that we serve aren't coming from backgrounds with lots of resources. … So, we're really interested in doing our role as a community college to help students who are interested in this to be prepared and able to be competitive and gain employment and [accomplish] other goals they might have."

Starting this summer, HCCC will offer for-credit and non-credit cannabis-related programs for students, including a cannabis business degree and a New Jersey cannabis licensing workshop. 

RELATED: LIM College in New York Launches Bachelor of Business Degree in Cannabis

Siskiyou County, Calif. Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue says illicit cannabis cultivation has created an environmental crisis and an increase in violent crime in his jurisdiction, and he wants Gov. Gavin Newsome to step in to provide assistance.

LaRue is asking Newsom to declare a State of Emergency for the county to secure more law enforcement funding and tougher laws for illegal grows, according to a local Action News Now report.

RELATED: San Bernardino County Backs California Legislation to Combat Illicit Cannabis Grows

LaRue estimates that there are roughly 5,000 unlicensed outdoor cultivation sites on federal and private land in Siskiyou County, the news outlet reported, and says the illicit grows are linked to increased violent crime in the community.

LaRue also says that trash, human waste, fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals tied to the illegal  cultivation sites have created an environmental crisis in Siskiyou County, according to Action News Now.

A bill to legalize a commercial adult-use cannabis industry in Delaware gained majority support among House lawmakers May 19 but came one vote shy of the supermajority it needed to pass amidst a key supporter’s absence.

Since House Bill 372 would create a new tax—a 15% cannabis excise tax that would be levied on retail sales—the legislation needs three-fifths majority, or 25 votes, to pass the Democrat-controlled Delaware House.

But with Majority Whip John “Larry” Mitchell, a retired police officer who supports the bill, out sick from the floor vote on Thursday, the legislation came one vote shy of the 25 it needed to pass, The Associated Press reported.

Ultimately, the effort was defeated in a 23-15 vote—with two representatives absent and one choosing not to vote—because the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ed Osienski changed his vote to “no” at the last minute, a procedural move that allows him, a member who voted with the prevailing side, to bring the legislation back to the floor for reconsideration when the chamber reconvenes from a two-week recess next month, according to the news outlet.

“Coming into today, I thought it was going to be a good day,” Osienski told the Delaware News Journal. “This whole thing has been up and down, up and down. This was a down.”

While Osienski, who thought he had the necessary votes for the Delaware Marijuana Control Act to pass, hit a bump on Thursday, he succeeded earlier this month in getting companion legislation, H.B. 371, passed out of the General Assembly and to Gov. John Carney’s desk.

U.S. Virgin Islands officials are working toward approving medical cannabis regulations, although it remains unclear when rules will be finalized for the program, which was legalized in 2019.

The USVI Cannabis Advisory Board (VICAB), the oversight board for the medical cannabis industry, held a Town Hall meeting Feb. 28 and published proposed rules online, according to The Virgin Islands Daily News.

The draft rules are still under review by the V.I. Justice Department, the news outlet reported. Once the department completes its review, the VICAB will meet again to review and approve the proposed regulations. That will trigger a new 30-day public comment period, according to The Virgin Islands Daily News, after which the board will review the comments and meet one more time to approval the final rules.

V.I. Office of Cannabis Regulation Executive Director Hannah Carty told the news outlet that it will take roughly 55 days to roll out the medical cannabis business application process once the final rules are adopted.

“It takes time and is a very detailed process,” Carty said. “We only get one chance to get the rollout correct, and we need to be as thorough as possible. This has been a lengthy process, but we will all be more appreciative of a product that is cohesive and well-thought out.”

Louisiana lawmakers have advanced a proposal to protect employees who use medical cannabis from negative consequences at work.

The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations voted May 19 to unanimously approve Rep. Mandie Landry’s, D-New Orleans, House Bill 988, which would shield employees from being fired, as well as protect job candidates from being discriminated against, if they are a registered medical cannabis patient, according to the Louisiana Illuminator.

The legislation would not apply to law enforcement, firefighters or other public safety officials, the news outlet reported.

“There are a lot of people who don’t want to take opioids for their long-term PTSD and pain management because of the high possibility of addiction to opioids,” Landry told the Louisiana Illuminator. “This has proved to be a better option than them.”

There are currently more than 43,000 registered medical cannabis patients in Louisiana, according to the news outlet, and the state’s first dispensaries opened in 2019.

San Diego has 26 cannabis dispensaries operating within the city, as of May 2022, with another 10 licenses awaiting their applicants. To provide a measure of equity to the burgeoning industry, city officials will hold nine “listening sessions” with community members.

“Your voice will help us develop a blueprint for a future equity program that provides fair pathways for all to enter the legal cannabis industry throughout the city,” according to the announcement.

With a thriving illicit market in southern California, major cities like San Diego and Los Angeles have pushed social equity proposals to the forefront—with mixed results. The San Diego initiative aims to place the perspectives of its residents right in the middle of any future policy.

The sessions run May 23 – June 16 at locations throughout the city. "The areas selected have been ones that have historically seen disinvestment," Lara Gates, the Cannabis Business Deputy Director for San Diego, told the local CBS affiliate. 

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE-- HERBL, a California-based cannabis supply chain company, today announced exclusive distribution partnerships with Ball Family Farms, a Black-owned cannabis brand, and 40 Tons, a Black female-owned social impact cannabis brand. HERBL begins distribution of both brands' range of cannabis products in California this month, an opportune time to drive visibility to Cannabis Freedom Day, or 520, and Brand efforts towards social equity and justice in the cannabis industry.

Ball Family Farms is a social equity commercial operator that cultivates hand-crafted flower. Founded by Chris Ball, a former legacy operator and professional athlete, Ball Family Farms uses proprietary, in-house genetics as well as living soil and sustainable cultivation systems. Prioritizing equal pay, diversity and women's empowerment in the workplace, Ball Family Farms fosters a positive company culture and a passion for exceptional cannabis products. Popular strains include Daniel Larusso, Dragonfly Jones, Nino Brown and more.

"Ball Family Farms operates by our motto, 'cultivating the culture from the ground up,' in each new venture we undertake," said Chris Ball, founder of Ball Family Farms. "Our partnership with HERBL is no exception. Between their widespread reach in California and commitment to cannabis culture in our state, HERBL is the perfect partner as our growing brand looks to the future."

40 Tons was founded by Loriel Alegrete, Anthony Alegrete and Corvain Cooper, who experienced the impact of cannabis prohibition firsthand when Anthony and Cooper were incarcerated on cannabis charges. Upon Anthony's release, he and Loriel began to advocate for Cooper to be released from his life sentence for non-violent cannabis distribution charges. Cooper ultimately received a rare clemency in 2021. 40 Tons began with the mission to not only provide high-quality cannabis experiences but also to increase the representation of BIPOC communities in cannabis and advocate for those experiencing incarceration. The brand built advocacy directly into its business model by investing profits from each purchase into social equity efforts. 40 Tons' product line, which features full-size 1g pre-rolls and 1/8th flower packs in a variety of strains, will be available throughout California on May 30.

"With the support of HERBL, 40 Tons will be able to impact significantly more lives," said Loriel Alegrete, CEO and co-founder of 40 Tons Brand. "Sharing our brand and story with new audiences not only introduces consumers to our quality products but also enables our team to fund even more restorative justice initiatives. HERBL's hands-on approach and organic relationship with our team place 40 Tons in a prime position to succeed."

It was important to 40 Tons to launch close to, and to give visibility to, Cannabis Freedom Day. Cannabis Freedom Day is an industry holiday that brings awareness to the disproportional social, racial and economic injustices that BIPOC communities have faced due to cannabis prohibition. The 40 Tons team is driving visibility on this day through their social platforms.

Illinois has officially started the process of issuing craft grow cannabis licenses that were held up in court until March, when a judge lifted an injunction to allow state officials to proceed with awarding the 60 licenses.

The Illinois Department of Agriculture awarded the first round of craft grow licenses in August 2021, and on May 18, the first three of these businesses received approval to begin construction on their facilities, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The three businesses that received the green light, Galaxy Labs in Richton Park, Mint Cannabis in Forest Park and Star Bud Illinois in Rockford, are all majority Latino- or Black-owned, the news outlet reported.

State law required the department to issue the 60 additional craft grow licenses by Dec. 21, 2021, but Sangamon County Judge Gail Noll and Cook County Judge Neil Cohen ordered that the licenses could not be awarded until litigation from unsuccessful applicants was settled, ultimately stalling the licensing process while the litigation moved through the legal system.

RELATED: No End in Sight? Illinois Craft Grow Applicants Wait in Limbo as Litigation Drags On

Massachusetts lawmakers seem poised to tackle some of the cannabis industry’s biggest woes this legislative session.

The House voted 153-2 May 18 to pass a bill that would promote greater diversity in the market, increase oversight on the host community agreements that cannabis businesses must enter into with the state’s municipalities, and establish a regulatory framework for on-site cannabis consumption lounges, according to a GBH News report.

“Since the passage of legal recreational cannabis, the creation and growth of the legal industry in the commonwealth has been, in most cases, a success, leading to hundreds of new businesses, thousands of new jobs and the creation of new revenue streams for the commonwealth and its municipalities through this new and innovative industry,” Rep. Dan Donahue, D-Worcester, the House chair of the Cannabis Policy Committee and the bill’s sponsor, said, according to the news outlet. “It is, however, time to revisit the initial legislation to provide clarity on the intent of legislation and to work to ensure we continue to remove barriers to entry into this unique industry for those communities who are so disproportionately harmed and impacted by the prohibition of marijuana.”

The Senate approved similar legislation last month.

While Massachusetts mandated equity and inclusion as part of its legal cannabis framework and launched programs to support entrepreneurs from communities most impacted by the war on drugs, only 20 of the state’s 346 cannabis businesses are tied to participants in the Cannabis Control Commission’s (CCC) social equity program or are economic empowerment entrepreneurs, GBH News reported.

Lawmakers in the Minnesota Senate blocked a vote on an adult-use cannabis legalization bill May 18 when they voted against a procedural motion that would have pulled the legislation from committee and brought it to the floor for a vote, according to the Duluth News Tribune.

Senate Democrats led the push to bring the legislation to the floor, arguing that the House passed the bill, but it had not yet received a hearing in the Senate, the news outlet reported.

The Republican-led Senate then voted, 33-31, against the motion to take up the legislation, according to the Duluth News Tribune.

“Minnesotans want to have this conversation about legalization of cannabis, and they want to see us move ahead,” the bill’s author, Senate Majority Leader Melisa López Franzen, DFL-Edina, told the news outlet. “We all know that legalizing cannabis will have economic benefits, but just as importantly, we need to address the disparities in the criminal justice system around cannabis.”

RELATED: New Legislation Would Authorize More Medical Cannabis Operators in Minnesota

STONEHAM, Mass., May 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PRESS RELEASE -- Theory Wellness, Inc., an independently owned and operated vertically integrated cannabis company in Massachusetts and Maine, announced the expansion of its industry-leading Hi5 beverage brand with the launch of Hi5 Energy: a new, fast-acting, cannabis-infused energy beverage.

Starting on Friday, May 20, the newest addition of the Hi5 family will be exclusively available for purchase at Theory Wellness Massachusetts locations in Bridgewater, Chicopee, and Great Barrington in regular and sugar-free citrus varieties. Later this spring, Hi5 Energy is also expected to roll out to the company's partner dispensaries in Massachusetts, as well as to its locations in South Portland, Bangor and Waterville, Maine.

Formulated using the same fast-acting, nano-emulsified cannabis as its predecessor, Hi5 Seltzer, the new cannabis-infused energy drink delivers a rapid onset of euphoric and therapeutic effects, helping to eliminate the waiting game that's characteristic of traditional edibles. Each can of Hi5 Energy contains 5mg of THC and approximately 80mg of caffeine, which is consistent with traditional energy drinks and roughly equivalent to a cup of coffee.

Brandon Pollock, CEO and co-founder of Theory Wellness, said, "Hi5's initial reception was very positive, met with a welcoming audience looking for a tasty, healthier alternative to alcohol. But after surveying customers and asking what they wanted to see in this space next, we consistently heard the same answer: energy drinks. For a wide range of consumers, the demand for cannabis-infused energy drinks continues to grow, and we're excited to answer that call."

The consumers' recommendations aren't surprising given the recent growth and trajectory of the energy drink market, which is forecasted to reach soaring highs of nearly $100B with a 7.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) by the year 2027. This coincides with the tremendous growth in the infused cannabis beverage market, which is projected to reach $2B with a 16.9% CAGR by the year 2026. The cannabis beverages market was estimated at around $915M in 2021.

BOSTON, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- PRESS RELEASE -- Lantern, an on-demand cannabis e-commerce marketplace and home delivery platform in the U.S., announced plans to expand its delivery zone to Massachusetts' North Shore in partnership with local dispensaries, Insa and Olde World Remedies. Customers over the age of 21 living in Lynn, Salem, Beverly, Swampscott and Marblehead are now able to order cannabis products of their choosing through the Lantern marketplace.

Lantern launched in May 2020 as Massachusetts' first medical delivery platform and became the first adult-use delivery marketplace to serve the Greater Boston area one year later. In February, Lantern expanded its delivery operations to the South Shore by partnering with economic empowerment and delivery licensee South Shore Buds and adult-use retail dispensaries Health Circle and Commonwealth Alternative Care. Now, North Shore residents can place on-demand delivery orders for a variety of Insa and Olde World Remedies offerings including flower, pre-rolls, edibles, vapes, concentrates and more. Flexible delivery times are offered, including same-day delivery on most products.

"Lantern's latest expansion into the North Shore reaffirms the company's commitment to building lasting relationships with local innovative businesses while striving to provide an effortless, convenient cannabis experience for all consumers," said Meredith Mahoney, co-founder and CEO of Lantern. "Insa and Olde World Remedies are the perfect partners to work with as we bring a diverse product selection to North Shore residents in the comfort of their homes. We are proud to work with two companies that always keep the consumer first as we expand the cannabis marketplace in the great city of Boston and beyond."

LAS VEGAS (May 18, 2022) – PRESS RELEASE – Deep Roots Harvest opened the doors of its new, 8,400-square-foot flagship dispensary today, marking the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by company and community leaders. Located at a prime Las Vegas location at the intersection of Cheyenne and Jones, the new dispensary is the largest Deep Roots Harvest dispensary in the Las Vegas area.

“Deep Roots Harvest is committed to Nevada and grateful for the thousands of consumers who have put their trust in us as their preferred dispensary,” said Jon Marshall, chief operating officer of Deep Roots Harvest. “Our beautiful new dispensary is one of the larger dispensaries in Las Vegas. It reaffirms our community commitment to bring Nevada citizens the best opportunities in the cannabis industry, as well as the best products and customer service.”

The culmination of months of rapid expansion over the past year, the newest Deep Roots Harvest dispensary is located at the intersection of Cheyenne Avenue and Jones Boulevard, slightly more than a mile from the US-95 and Cheyenne interchange and just east of the popular community of Summerlin. The new store will serve as the company’s Las Vegas flagship and is expected to employ as many as 40 new employees once fully staffed. A future build-out at the facility will add administrative offices for marketing, wholesales, retail and security, along with a drive-thru window offering a safe and convenient pick-up option.

“Deep Roots has demonstrated that it supports the diverse community of Las Vegas and actively works to ensure that diversity is represented in its hiring practices, from entry-level to more senior positions,” said Ken Evans, president of the Urban Chamber of Commerce of Las Vegas. “Deep Roots is a great example of a local business that really works to be a part of the communities where they are located. They are a real Nevada company, and we are glad to have them as a member of the Urban Chamber family.”

The new Deep Roots Harvest flagship store is located at 5991 W. Cheyenne Ave. in Las Vegas and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Job seekers should visit https://deeprootsharvest.com/careers for information on current and future employment opportunities.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 18, 2022 -- PRESS RELEASE -- Dr. Greenhouse, Inc., a provider of state-of-the-art HVAC design and controls solutions for indoor grows, vertical farms and greenhouses, has launched the Dr. Greenhouse VPD Calculator App. The VPD Calculator app helps growers understand their indoor grow environment and its effect on plant responses and HVAC equipment operation.

“Our website VPD calculator is the most visited resource on our website. Our team decided to build a mobile VPD Calculator App for growers and farmers to quickly calculate their environment’s VPD,” notes Dr. Nadia Sabeh, president of Dr. Greenhouse, Inc. “It is critical to know the best environment for plant steering and health to ensure optimal crop outcomes and timing are achieved.”

Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) represents the “pressure” that air puts on the plant to transpire and move water and nutrients from the roots to other parts of the plant. For example:

The VPD can be a valuable metric for growers to predict water use, steer crops for optimal growth, and operate HVAC equipment to achieve the desired indoor plant environment.

The Dr. Greenhouse VPD Calculator App supports all crop types and includes VPD lookup tables for tomatoes, leafy greens and cannabis. The VPD Calculator App allows growers to use their existing air temperature and humidity sensors to understand if the room condition is more suitable for vegetative, flowering or stress-induced plants. The VPD Calculator App provides color-coded results to indicate if the room is humid (blue), vegetative (green) or reproductive (yellow) or dry (purple).