Cannabis data company New Frontier Data released “Growing Excellence: Seven Ways to Optimize Cannabis Cultivation in Newly Legal Markets” on Sept. 7, which highlights seven key issues that new cannabis producers should consider in order to achieve success.

“The continued activation of new legal markets will keep pushing existing cannabis producers to expand operations and draw new producers to the market,” said New Frontier Data CEO Gary Allen. “By basing their strategic plans around the seven key factors identified in this report, operators can capitalize on this massive market opportunity.”

New Frontier Data has released an estimate that there will be more than 27.7 millions pounds of cannabis cultivated in America by 2030. This is in comparison to the 7,000,000 that were cultivated in 2020. The total cultivation includes indoor and outdoor plants.

According to the New Frontier Data report, there is a shift in legal marijuana availability on the East coast. However, it appears that cultivation trends are changing. “As the legal cannabis industry transitions eastward from West Coast markets, several factors will impact how cannabis is grown in the new markets,” the report states. “Different climatic conditions will favor controlled environments over outdoor cultivation, given either the length and depth of winters in the North, or summer humidity in the South.”

New Frontier Data predicts that California, at 26.4 Million, will continue to produce the highest amount of marijuana between 2022-2030. New Frontier Data also suggests New York, Florida, New York, New York, Illinois, 15.1million, and many other states with 10 million or less.

The report’s first point suggests the difference in temperature in summer and winter on the west and east coasts. The report’s first point suggests that most of the east coast states will be relying on indoor grow facilities. California, however, is still the leading state in greenhouses and outdoor farms.

New Frontier Data discusses other issues, including the fact that automation is expected to continue growing, but will require skilled workers to manage it. It also discusses whether it is worth building or purchasing a facility for cultivation, especially now that markets have established options. The demand for certain products is changing. Flower remains the most popular product, according to average data starting in 2021. However, other products are also increasing in popularity. “Value-added products (vapes, edibles, topicals, etc.) now account for half of all legal product sales, and consumer interest in these new products is poised for sustained growth as innovation drives increased product quality and diversity, enabling consumers to integrate cannabis into their lives in increasingly novel ways,” the report states. “While demand for flower is also growing, especially for pre-rolls, it is growing more slowly than demand for non-flower products.”

A shift is occurring in resource efficiency. This remains an important factor due to many factors. The electrical grid can be stressed by indoor lighting, which can increase energy costs. However, new LED technologies make it easier to use less electricity. Watering by automated systems instead of hand can help to save water.

The report mentions that climate change poses a risk to water supplies in many states. This is especially true for those who are currently experiencing drought. “Cannabis producers must consider the looming implications of a changing climate on their operations,” the report describes. “Longer, hotter summers will add premiums on increased cooling requirements and higher energy demand to operate HVAC systems at higher levels for longer periods. Acute droughts—such as those currently being experienced in the Western U.S. states—will drive water shortages, increased water losses from evaporation, and higher costs of water from municipal or community sources.”

The report concluded that industry success is a matter of adapting to the future. “While producers in new markets may enjoy a period of high margins and low competition, the most successful operators will be those who plan for where the market is going, not where it currently is.”