A Look Ahead to Cannabis in 2022: The Good, the Bad, and the Inevitable
December 30, 2021 
Photo: Ryan Douglas
It’s an exciting time to be a greenhouse grower in the cannabis industry. More than half of the U.S. now offers legal cannabis in some form (36 states medical, 18 states recreational), and millions of dollars are being invested each month into new buildouts, expansion projects, and mergers and acquisitions. This momentum is certain to continue well into the New Year.
Astute growers always have one eye on the greenhouse and the other on the future. This helps them to discover new markets, seize novel opportunities, and gain a competitive advantage.
For those growers with an eye to the future, here are five predictions that cannabis greenhouse cultivators will likely face in 2022, with some tips for surviving the negative and capitalizing on the positive.
The Good
There will be an acceleration of knowledge transfer from traditional horticulture. Commercial cannabis growers don’t need to completely reinvent the wheel when identifying processes, equipment, and technology that can help them to run more efficient operations. These already exist in the greenhouse industry, and most can be seamlessly integrated into cannabis operations.
In 2022 we’ll see more cannabis greenhouse cultivators adopting technology from ornamental and vegetable growers to help automate the daily, weekly, and monthly tasks that consume a lot of their employees’ workdays. In hot climates, we’ll see a move away from conventional greenhouses towards more modern semi-closed greenhouses. Cannabis cultivators will begin adopting plant empowerment principles to help lower their energy consumption and grow more productive plants.
Opportunity for new revenue streams will expand beyond growing cannabis flower. There is a severe shortage of propagators and young plant suppliers in the cannabis industry. As a result, commercial growers need to maintain stock plants and root their own cuttings. Should the health of their stock plants be compromised, the greenhouse becomes filled with infected cuttings. By eliminating in-house stock plant and propagation activities, growers can dedicate more greenhouse area to flower production and with much less risk.
This division of the production chain is common among ornamental plant growers, but there aren’t many options for rooting stations or tissue culture labs that cater to cannabis growers. In 2022, more companies will recognize this lucrative opportunity and expand to offer propagation services or pivot to focus entirely on supplying young plants. By acknowledging and filling this need, operators will realize additional revenue beyond growing cannabis for its dried flower.
The Bad
Uncertainty over regulations will persist. There will continue to be anxiety surrounding the timeline for federal cannabis legalization, but growers shouldn’t hold their breath for this to occur in 2022. With little support from President Biden and more pressing concerns like COVID-19 taking center stage, growers should be looking beyond the New Year for federal legalization to happen. But there’s a bright side: the interstate transport of THC-containing products will continue to be prohibited, so existing greenhouse operators won’t need to contend with the threat of mega cannabis growers flooding the market from out of state.
Global supply issues will outlast the pandemic. Greenhouse and equipment manufacturers will continue to experience shortages in raw materials and vital components well into the New Year. Vendors will have no control over port delays as international shipping will struggle to return to pre-pandemic levels. Lead times for some items will increase up to six months with little flexibility on change orders. This will extend the construction timeline for new projects and result in fewer new greenhouses in 2022. Growers that refuse to commit to big equipment purchases early will find themselves out of luck next year.
The Inevitable
Experienced greenhouse growers will be in short supply. As licensed cannabis growers expand within their respective regions and new states come online with commercial-scale cultivation projects, the industry will encounter a lack of experienced greenhouse cultivators. As a result, salaries will reflect this shortage, and the best head growers will find themselves among the highest-paid positions within their companies.
To fill this demand, more greenhouse operators will be hiring ornamental and vegetable growers and training them to cultivate cannabis. Fortunately, the stigma of cannabis is wearing off, and growers who were once hesitant to make the leap from traditional crops will be more open to this exciting opportunity. The chance to run a smaller facility, earn more money, and learn a new crop will appeal to many growers.
2022 is gearing up to be one of the most lucrative years for cannabis greenhouse growers to date. Although excitement and opportunity will likely be tempered with uncertainty and frustration, this is expected of any new, budding industry. The key is to be ready; ensure that your business stays on the cutting edge by planning for next year right now.
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