We are almost doubling our yield with this new technology and that has been really beneficial for us.” “It is not always the same temperature and humidity in the summer as it is in the fall, so having the variability and control in our rooms has really helped us maximize not only the quality of the product, but also the yield. “Cannabis is an annual plant and is growing one life-cycle every year from spring to fall,” he continued. To be able to change those set points for temperature, humidity and air flow on a wide range helps to optimize the growth stages for cannabis.” “We have a facility that encompasses technology that is really state of the art around environmental controls and allows us to create more of an environment that is similar to outdoors. “Any cultivation center, when they are first starting out will always ‘dial in’ their systems – their genetics for growing and everything that is in the environment - to optimize those systems,” Kuethe said. He said that the indoor cultivation facility in Evart has around 28,000 plants, and the yield has been increasing steadily and there are two reasons for that – genetics and environment. “Most of the crops and licenses in Michigan are for indoor facilities, which are probably improving yield as well,” he added. We will start harvesting in the next week or two and it will be about a three or four week process. “We have approximately 20,500 plants outside. “Our field is prepared with drainage, and we do everything we can when we are getting our crop ready to mitigate any risk that the weather can produce,” he said. Kuethe said at the Lume outdoor farm they endured a couple of serious storms with 70 mile an hour winds and tons of rain, but the field is prepared to recover quickly from such weather. “If you were in the right part of the state where you were able to dodge those storms, then I would say, yes, you probably have some lush harvests.” “I wouldn’t necessarily say that this has been the best year for growing because of all the rain and the storms with high winds and hail – that can really effect your crop,” he added. “The plants do look great – very healthy and happy.” “This is our first season growing outdoors so we haven’t started harvesting yet,” said Kevin Kuethe, Lume chief cultivation. It plans to expand to about 100 stores by the end of 2024 and is in the middle of tripping the space of its Evart cultivation facility.Attitude Wellness/Lume Cannabis Company, led by Douglas Hellyar, is one of the largest growers with five grow licenses, an indoor cultivation facility and a recently established outdoor grow farm. In addition to its Adrian and Petersburg stores, it also operates in Big Rapids, Escanaba, Evart, Honor, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lowell, Mackinaw City, Negaunee, Owosso, Petoskey, Sault Ste. Lume is the state’s largest cannabis corporation and is in the midst of an aggressive and ambitious expansion plan. MDHHS is requiring restaurants to operate at a reduced capacity and adhere to a curfew as part of its response effort. Restaurants were able to resume dine-in service earlier this month after a several months-long period in which they were required to operate on a takeout or delivery basis per an order issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the second such round of restrictions since the pandemic began in March. “This is just another way we can support other local businesses during a challenging time.”

“At Lume, we pride ourselves on giving back to the communities we call home,” Hellyer said. It's encouraging restaurants to contact nearby stores. The company is looking to partner with additional restaurants as the pandemic persists.

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