"With proper upfront planning the process will be a huge success“

Developing a seamless cost-effective project is the goal of every owner/investor. While development of a cannabis facility may seem like an easy venture on the surface, the opposite is true. “If we look at the process like taking the family on a cross country camping trip, we can begin to illustrate the complexities,” Sam Andras, founder and CEO of MJ12 Design Studio, explains. “The trip begins by assessing what you intend to do while camping. You can’t fish without rods, reels, and tackle; so, if you’re fishing you better think about packing the gear. Where you’re staying is also important. If you’re planning to fish hopefully the destination is on or near water. Lastly, you’ll need to look at the best route from home to campground. Developing a cannabis related facility is no different. With proper upfront planning the process will be a huge success.“

Sam Andras

Complicated issues
Even with upfront planning, navigating the roads along the way can be a huge undertaking. “The roadways to success are filled with potholes, multiple turns, speed traps, long stretches without gas stations, detours, and dead-end side streets that can easily delay, disable, sidetrack, or kill the project,” Sam continues. “One glance at the requirements and considerations intwined in the process illustrates the obstacles which can be encountered along the roadways. From developing the business plan for incorporation into a license application to post occupancy / performance analysis, the roadway to success is filled with unique complexities. Some of the more complicated issues include selecting the right cultivation methodology based on alignment with the business plan, proper budgeting based on a facility design that meets the SOPs and vision of the organization, selection of a construction approach based on goals and criteria, and energy evaluations and alternative energy solutions impacting system selections and operational costs. Many companies will address these potholes by steering clear; however, this approach will only lead to changes creating cost and schedule overruns.

The importance of details
“The obstacles exist because the roadmap for cannabis facility development appears clear at the 40,000-foot elevation.  But just like the camping trip, success is tied to properly addressing the details on the frontend. Dropping down to 250-feet will reveal the potholes, speed traps, detours and dead-end side roads. As noted above, in accessing potholes the approach can be avoidance or properly repair; with the highest level of success being repair. A proper repair job only happens when the roadcrew ensures the right tools and materials are provided and utilized. Properly filling the ‘facility design’ pothole is no different. The tools and materials are the organizational how’s and why’s. This includes upfront decisions on goals, vision, levels of current vs future compliance, system selection criteria, operational flow, cultivation methodology, budgets, and schedules to name a few. The more knowledge of the team members, the more comprehensive and detailed the tool and material list. Again, the importance is simple; the more trips to the hardware store, the more delays and costs. 

MJ12 developed turnkey solutions to provide clients with all, or need based, services to help properly plan their trip. There is no single firm that has all the tools or team members necessary to fully assess the process and deliver the project working alone. Thereby turnkey solutions has been built on industry alliances with multiple firms and individuals who have proven experience and success in their specific areas of expertise. Utilizing turnkey solutions helps clients ensure they have the right team members to plan their trip by properly packing, and effectively repairing and navigating the roadways based on the client’s specific needs.