The food and drug industry has a very close tie to the HVAC industry.  For those not closely related, that would seem an odd connection to draw, but without HVAC, it would be nearly impossible to preserve- and ship food and drugs.  They rely on temperature- controlled environments in order to prevent the growth of bacteria and to stave off the natural deterioration of biodegradable food and medicine.  Also, HVAC can be used to create controlled environments – temperature and humidity – for the proper testing of food and drug.

Perhaps this is not as surprising to the masses when expressed in this manner.  What may provide a bit of shock factor, however, is how much money the newly established, legal cannabis market is investing in HVAC.

It is a drug.  Illegal or not, cannabis products are drugs.  As such, if this is to be a legal product for sale and use in America, it will ultimately be regulated.  Manufacturers will have to ensure that it is safe for the intended use by members of the general public.  Already, cannabis labs are popping up around the country and utilizing extensive HVAC systems to establish properly controlled testing facilities, where they can measure THC levels and ensure that supplies are safe.  As with all farmed products, there is the potential for mold growth, pest infestations, and excessive pesticide byproducts which would contaminate the cannabis.  Furthermore, the THC levels are closely monitored, so consumers have proper information regarding the strength of the product they are purchasing.  The THC level is also, to a degree, referenced for the pricing of cannabis products.

If the legal sale of cannabis is to continue and expand, these testing facilities will be highly valuable.  The need for temperature controlled grow rooms, and testing laboratories will continue to “grow” with this industry. With this growth is the need for calibrated temperature sensors and relative humidity sensors that can communicate with the control system to properly maintain growing environments. Air handling systems with proper static pressure sensors will be needed to ensure that air flows going to the rooms are maintained.  This can be further modified based on how many plants are in the rooms and approximately how much fresh air is needed to maintain a health crop.