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“EDM has pulled together a team of professionals — lawyers, lobbyists, accountants, banking, and security specialists — to help our clients at all levels of a cannabis project,” Bob shared.

Site Selection

Based on how the industry is currently set up, cultivators have to know a lot of information upfront, which isn’t always an easy task. But the more details about what your water and electrical usage is going to be, what canopy size you need, etc. you have before you invest in the land or a building, the more you can minimize upfront costs in having to adapt.

That’s why EDM has built a strong network of partnerships and resources to help clients get the answers they need before even making the investment. “We want to encourage clients to pull in a civil engineer as early as they can,” Tim Widman, Architect at EDM, said. “If they have a rough idea of how much canopy they want and the general location they want to be, we can provide a general magnitude of what the total facility would need to be based on all the processes and the support spaces needed for that canopy. You can then have it on hand as parameters to consider when you’re searching for a facility, or if you have an eye on a site already, you can compare this info against it to make sure it meets your needs.”

“EDM has developed trusted relationships with a number of civil design firms experienced in cannabis design that we could bring into any phase of a project, allowing us to bring in the right team for the job at any phase of the project,” Bob Sherman, MEP Manager, added.

There are other helpful things to ask yourself when searching for a site. What is your floor-to-floor height? Higher ceilings create better environments. Is it a multi-level building? Single story is better. And is the building sprinklered? Ideally, it would be because it’s something you’ll need. To make sure you cover all the bases during site selection, a design team can provide you with all the right questions to ask.

Local & State Requirements

As you start your site search, it’s also important to understand that every state and municipality is different when it comes to Cannabis growth. Each will have its own processes to follow in regard to applications and official review by local building departments — and they’re all pretty robust.

“Not a lot of people realize that you need to have a fairly high level of information in order before even going into the application process,” Tim shared. “The City or Town where the business is to be located will want to know your plans in regard to traffic studies, site layout, and utilities. You’ll also be required to work closely with police departments to ensure a high level of security, developing a robust security plan with a security consultant. Most municipalities also expect a certain amount of social equity built into your process in how you’re investing back in the community, whether through educational efforts or non-profit organizations. Understanding each area’s unique nuances is a crucial first step. ”

“EDM has pulled together a team of professionals — lawyers, lobbyists, accountants, banking, and security specialists — to help our clients at all levels of a cannabis project,” Robert shared. “Whether they come in before or after we get involved, or even if we don’t get involved at all.  Our goal is to be the go-to resource for our clients so they can be as knowledgeable and efficient as possible getting their product to market.”

Interested in learning more about the growth of Cannabis in the Northeast? Stay tuned for Part 2 on learning about Cannabis businesses with EDM, or connect with us to start a conversation!