Business
Cannabis offers cues when it’s time to harvest – along with historical data and testing
Nic Robertson, vice president of operations in Massachusetts for 4Front Ventures, said commercial growers have moved away from eyeballing the color of trichomes and squeezing buds to gauge moisture content in favor of scientific methods to evaluate when cannabis flower has reached an optimal point for harvest.
“Over the last seven or eight years, I have been proven wrong by my aesthetic view of how mature I think that plant is at that time,” Robertson said.
“Getting those test results and showing higher levels of CBGA – the precursor to a number of other cannabinoids – than I would have expected indicates that that plant could have gone another few days or another week before it truly reaches its maximum potential.”
Today’s cannabis cultivators have more scientific approaches to decide when their crops are ready to harvest, such as rigorous data collection, frequent testing and tools such as microscopes and moisture meters.
History as a guide
“Once we first grow something, we figure out how long it takes to finish. Is it eight weeks, nine weeks, 10 weeks?” said Kevin Sparks, lead cultivator for Insa’s operations in Pennsylvania.
Knowing the window when a strain historically finishes helps cultivators plan their harvests months in advance – or even at the start of the growing year, Sparks explained.
Robertson agrees that keeping a detailed history is important, adding, “We are always learning from the crop.”
If a strain from the previous crop finished on day 58, then the strain from the ensuing crop likely will finish on or very close to day 58, assuming “everything goes to plan for the next crop,” Robertson said, “and there were no stressors that would cause the plant to finish early or cause the plant to delay and finish late.”
That’s a big “if,” however.
“Oftentimes those crops are not exactly duplicated. Certain things are out of our control,” Robertson said.
In commercial settings – especially large or medium-sized grows where production schedules require crops to be flipped five or six times per year – cultivators often must decide between the perfect and the good.
“Every harvest that we do is based on the harvest that is right before and the harvest that we’ve scheduled right afterward. So, we only have a small window of time that we can say, ‘OK, we’re going to pull these plants a little early, or we’re going to give them a few extra days without that domino effect being introduced into the rest of the schedule,” Robertson said.
“Some connoisseurs might raise their nose to this, but over time, I have noticed there’s not a massive difference in a two-day window.
“If it works better for our labor scheduling to harvest on a Friday rather than having to call 25 people in on a Saturday, I’m harvesting the room on Friday.”
Sampling and science
For some cultivators, another important method to help decide when plants are ready to be harvested is sampling – or pinching off a small piece of flower and testing its cannabinoid profile and potency at that point in time.
Marco Malatrasi, chief cultivator at Florida-based Fluent Cannabis, uses samples to help determine the “ripening curve” for his crops and evaluate how plants in a certain crop are progressing toward harvest.
“For the ripening curve, you need quantitative measure. From your batch, you pull down one plant in week seven, eight, nine and 10, if you have it … taking samples all through the ripening process as you get closer and closer to that harvest date,” Malatrasi said.
He added that you don’t need to sample whole plants but, rather, small buds from different parts of the grow room (back, front, center, edges) and different parts of the plant (top, middle, bottom).
“I’m testing for what’s going to end up in the jar,” Malatrasi said.
He does the sampling twice a week because “big changes” to the cannabinoid profile and potency can occur in only three days – and changes are more likely as you get closer to the end of the cycle.
By testing those different samples, you can see “how they are doing chemically” Malatrasi said.
“Everything that we’re looking for is in the ripening curve and finding that sweet spot of when to harvest. … If you still have a lot of CBG, a precursor to THC, you’re probably still early. If you have more-than-usual CBN, you’re running late,” Malatrasi said.
His preferred measuring instrument is high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), but that can be expensive. Less expensive tools exist, such as Purpl Pro, a handheld potency tester, and a tabletop potency-testing apparatus from Orange Photonics.
Using these instruments, growers can study marijuana flower’s cannabinoid profile.
“Principally, you’re looking for CBN and CBG, because one’s a precursor and one’s after the fact. That’s cueing my potential. For example, if I do a reading at week seven and I have a certain THCA percentage, that’s great, but how do I know it’s going to increase? Well, that’s where I’m looking at the CBG percentage,” Malatrasi explained.
It’s also important to look at trichome density. For that, Malatrasi likes to use a microscope and a so-called Secchi disc.
“You can use them in the field. They’re good, thorough and quick, which is important when you’re harvesting a few thousand plants per week,” Malatrasi said.
When inspecting trichomes, cultivators favor those with big, bulbous heads and – in terms of extraction purposes – those that have long stems that make them easier to knock off.
It’s also important that there be a high density of trichomes on the flower and that their color be what growers typically describe as “milky.” Too clear, and they are underripe; too milky or amber in color, and they are getting overripe.
For research and development purposes, Malatrasi often will “sacrifice” one or two plants by letting them become overripe because it tells him when “the plant starts to fall off.”
But taking samples to test before harvest might be complicated in some states because of their seed-to-sale tracking systems and compliance requirements.
“We have to track each individual plant separately, so it becomes really hard to, say, take one little chunk off the plant and then weigh that and then track the rest of it separately,” Robertson said.
“It creates this compliance risk, and it’s just a nightmare of data for us to maintain that. So, we harvest the plants full, and we dry those plants in a full-plant hang that are still individually tracked by RFID (radio frequency identification) plant tags.”
Jushi’s evaluation processes at all of its cultivation sites include “harvest walks” throughout the harvest room, bringing together leaders from the site’s cultivation and processing departments “and even maybe a manufacturing individual,” said Ryan Cook, executive vice president of operations at Jushi.
“These reports guide us … so Josh (Malman, Jushi’s head cultivator) and I can have conversations weeks in advance of any harvest and generally know where things are headed,” Cook said.
“We have our own analytical labs and our own microbial labs inside the facilities, so we have the ability to test far in advance. That allows them to gauge the potencies weeks before we’re prepared to harvest.
“We’ve got full-on harvest prediction planners, where we can see from the clones that I took this week when that plant is going to be harvested. And ideally, we’re working in a way that we say, ‘Hey, in 16 weeks, I need half of that product going to flower and half that product only to extraction,’” Cook said.
“We are able to make some adjustments at the end of cycle near harvest based on measurement, but we try to make those determinations earlier.”
Wrapping up
While scientific measurements are a much larger part of cannabis harvesting than they used to be, the old-school tricks that once informed growers aren’t necessarily obsolete.
Whether you’re using an HPLC machine, a microscope or jeweler’s loupe to examine your plants, you are still looking for the same visual cues.
“When you know it’s done, it’s usually by trichrome production,” said Frank Golfieri, chief cultivator for Insa’s Massachusetts operations.
Flower to be used for fresh-frozen extraction is best harvested slightly on the early side, when the trichomes are clear to a little milky. Earlier means that there are more terpenes because fewer terpenes have been lost to heat.
If you harvest for flower, wait a few days longer, when the trichomes are milkier, Golfieri recommends.
All of Jushi’s cultivation facilities are equipped with digital microscopes that can take high-resolution photos of trichome size, shape, color and density.
“The age of the plant and what the trichomes look like is absolutely something we’re going to look at before we harvest,” said Malman, Jushi’s head cultivator.
“We’re looking at pistil retraction near the end of the cycle. You normally see these big, white fuzzy pistils. … As those start to get older and more mature, they will start to retract down into the calyx.
“Sometimes they change color … orange or brown. Sometimes they don’t, they just fully retract. Those are visual cues that we look for.
Jushi also watches “the color of the flower as we’re dropping that temperature near the end of the cycle. Both in a daytime and nighttime period, you start to see more purples, more anthocyanins coming out in the plant. So that’s generally a cue for us,” Malman said.
Golfieri agreed: “If (the hairs) are all white, it’s still too early to cut down. You want them to be orange. And the flower should have a velvety, sticky feel. If the hairs are red and some new white ones are sprouting up, that means you’re feeding it too much nitrogen,” he said.
Off-gassing aroma also is a sign that plants are ready to be harvested.
As the end of cycle approaches, cultivators should lower flower-room temperatures “to preserve as much of that off-gassing as possible,” Malatrasi said.
“If you already have off-gassing, then it’s probably time to get the plants harvested. I want off-gassing to occur in the dry room.”
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/cues-historical-data-and-testing-help-time-cannabis-harvest/
Business
EU Pressure Builds on Google as Regulators Face Calls for Massive Fine Over Search Practices
A growing coalition of European industry groups is intensifying pressure on regulators to take decisive action against Google over allegations of unfair search practices that could reshape competition rules across the region’s digital economy.
Investigation Under Digital Markets Act Gains Momentum
The case is being examined by the European Commission under the European Union’s landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA), introduced to curb the dominance of major technology platforms and ensure fair competition.
Launched in March 2024, the investigation focuses on whether Google has been prioritising its own services in search results, potentially disadvantaging rival businesses that rely on online visibility to reach customers.
Industry Groups Demand Swift Action
Several prominent European organizations have jointly urged regulators to conclude the probe without further delay. They argue that prolonged investigations allow alleged anti-competitive practices to continue, putting European companies—especially startups—at a disadvantage.
Signatories include the European Publishers Council, the European Magazine Media Association, the European Tech Alliance, and EU Travel Tech.
In a joint statement, these groups warned that delays in enforcement are affecting innovation, profitability, and growth prospects for regional businesses competing in digital markets.
Google Denies Allegations
Google has rejected claims of bias, stating that its search algorithms are designed to deliver the most relevant and useful results to users. The company has also proposed adjustments to address regulatory concerns.
However, critics argue that these changes are insufficient and fail to address the core issue of market dominance.
Potential Billion-Euro Penalties
If found in violation of the DMA, Google could face significant financial penalties. Under EU rules, fines can reach a substantial percentage of a company’s global turnover, potentially amounting to billions of euros.
Regulators may also impose corrective measures requiring changes to business practices, which could have long-term implications for how digital platforms operate in Europe.
Wider Implications for Big Tech
The case highlights ongoing tensions between European regulators and major U.S. technology firms. In recent years, the EU has taken a more aggressive stance in enforcing competition laws, aiming to create a level playing field for local businesses.
A final ruling against Google could set a major precedent, influencing future enforcement actions and shaping the regulatory landscape for global tech companies operating within Europe.
As scrutiny intensifies, the outcome of the investigation is expected to play a critical role in defining the future of digital competition across the European Union.
AI & Technology
Amazon Faces Potential Criminal Trial in Italy Over €1.2 Billion Tax Evasion Allegations
Milan: U.S. tech giant Amazon is facing the prospect of a major legal showdown in Italy, after prosecutors in Milan formally requested a court to move forward with criminal proceedings over alleged tax evasion totaling approximately ₹12,500 crore (€1.2 billion).
The case targets Amazon’s European division along with four senior executives, marking one of the most significant tax-related investigations involving a global e-commerce platform in Europe.
Trial Push Despite Multi-Million Euro Settlement
The move comes even after Amazon reached a financial settlement with Italian tax authorities in December, agreeing to pay around ₹5,500 crore (€527 million), including interest, to resolve part of the dispute.
Typically, such settlements lead to the closure of criminal investigations. However, Milan prosecutors have opted to proceed, signaling a tougher stance on alleged corporate tax violations.
A preliminary hearing is expected in the coming months, where a judge will decide whether to formally indict the company and its executives or dismiss the case.
Allegations of VAT Evasion Through Marketplace Sellers
At the center of the investigation are claims that Amazon’s platform enabled non-European Union sellers to avoid paying value-added tax (VAT) on goods sold to Italian consumers between 2019 and 2021.
Prosecutors allege that the company’s marketplace structure allowed thousands of foreign vendors—many reportedly based in China—to operate without fully disclosing their identities or tax obligations. This, authorities argue, led to substantial VAT losses for the Italian government.
Under Italian law, online platforms facilitating sales can be held partially liable if third-party sellers fail to comply with tax requirements, a key point in the prosecution’s case.
Italian Government Named as Affected Party
In their filing, prosecutors identified Italy’s Economy Ministry as the injured party, citing significant financial damage resulting from the alleged tax evasion.
Legal experts say the outcome of the case could have wide-ranging implications across the European Union, where VAT systems are harmonized and similar compliance rules apply to digital marketplaces.
Multiple Investigations Add to Pressure
The VAT probe is just one of several legal challenges facing Amazon in Italy. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is reportedly examining additional tax-related issues covering more recent years.
Meanwhile, Milan authorities are pursuing separate investigations into alleged customs fraud linked to imports from China and whether Amazon maintained an undeclared “permanent establishment” in Italy—potentially exposing it to higher tax liabilities.
In a separate regulatory action, Italy’s data protection authority recently ordered an Amazon unit to stop using personal data from over 1,800 employees at a warehouse near Rome.
Amazon Denies Allegations
Amazon has consistently denied wrongdoing and indicated it will strongly contest the allegations in court if the case proceeds. The company has also warned that prolonged legal uncertainty could impact investor confidence and Italy’s appeal as a destination for international business.
Broader Impact on Europe’s Digital Economy
If the case moves to trial, it could become a landmark moment for the regulation of global e-commerce platforms in Europe. Governments across the region are increasingly scrutinizing how digital marketplaces handle tax compliance, especially in cross-border transactions.
With online retail continuing to expand, regulators are under mounting pressure to ensure that multinational platforms and third-party sellers adhere to the same tax rules as traditional businesses.
Airports across India witnessed scenes of distress and confusion as thousands of passengers were stranded due to IndiGo’s massive flight disruptions. Families with medical emergencies, funerals, and personal crises were left helpless as the airline cancelled hundreds of flights without adequate communication or support.
Passengers described desperate situations — a mother pleading for sanitary pads for her daughter, a woman unable to transport her husband’s coffin, and others stranded while trying to reach family funerals or hospitals. “It was like a lockdown at the airport,” one passenger said, describing the panic that unfolded as IndiGo’s mismanagement crippled operations nationwide.
Root Cause: IndiGo’s Market Monopoly
The turmoil, industry experts argue, stems from IndiGo’s monopolistic control over India’s domestic aviation market. The airline operates nearly 2,100 flights daily and holds around 60% market share — meaning every second plane flying within India belongs to IndiGo.
This dominance has given the company unparalleled influence. When IndiGo falters, the entire aviation system suffers. Passengers are left with few alternatives, as other airlines lack capacity to absorb stranded travellers. The result: skyrocketing ticket prices, chaos at terminals, and total dependence on a single private operator.
Aviation pioneer Captain G.R. Gopinath, founder of Air Deccan, criticised the government’s inaction, noting that on some routes, IndiGo’s economy fares surged to ₹1 lakh. He compared the situation to a hostage crisis, writing that the airline “held the system ransom” and forced regulators to defer new safety rules meant to protect pilots and passengers.
Government Intervention and Regulatory Weakness
The crisis erupted after IndiGo failed to comply with the Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) — rules introduced by the DGCA in January 2024 requiring adequate rest for pilots. Despite having nearly two years to adapt, IndiGo blamed the rule for operational disruptions, citing a shortage of pilots.
Under mounting public pressure, the government stepped in, temporarily relaxing FDTL norms and capping airfare hikes. Officials claimed the move was to protect passengers, but analysts say it exposed the state’s vulnerability to corporate monopolies. “The government had no option but to yield,” said one aviation policy expert, pointing out that ignoring safety regulations for short-term relief could have long-term consequences.
The crisis also rekindled memories of the June 2025 Air India crash near London, which claimed over 240 lives. Experts warn that compromising pilot rest and safety standards to maintain flight schedules could risk another tragedy.
If Telecom Giants Fail: A National Paralysis
The article raises a troubling question — what if a similar crisis struck the telecom sector, where Jio and Airtel together control nearly 80% of subscribers and serve over 780 million users?
If both networks failed simultaneously, the repercussions would be catastrophic. Internet shutdowns would halt UPI transactions, online banking, OTP verifications, video calls, OTT streaming, and emergency communications. Critical services such as airports, hospitals, stock exchanges, and small businesses — many of which rely on WhatsApp and digital payments — would come to a standstill.
In essence, a telecom breakdown could paralyse India’s digital economy, exposing the nation’s dependence on a duopoly.
E-commerce Monopoly: Another Fragile Ecosystem
The same risk looms over the e-commerce sector, where Amazon and Flipkart dominate nearly 80% of the market. A disruption similar to IndiGo’s could cripple daily life — halting delivery of groceries, medicines, and essential goods, freezing refunds and customer support, and leaving small sellers without platforms to trade.
Local retailers, freed from competition, might exploit shortages by inflating prices. Such a scenario underscores the perils of market centralisation in sectors critical to everyday living.
A Wake-Up Call for Regulators
The IndiGo crisis, analysts say, is a warning shot for policymakers and regulators. A single company’s operational failure exposed systemic weaknesses in India’s infrastructure and consumer protection mechanisms.
As the aviation regulator DGCA investigates and IndiGo works to restore normalcy, the broader lesson remains clear: unchecked monopoly power in any essential service — whether air travel, telecom, or e-commerce — poses a direct threat to economic stability and citizen welfare.
Without stronger competition laws, redundancy frameworks, and regulatory oversight, India risks repeating this crisis across multiple sectors — each time with millions of citizens paying the price.
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