Artificial intelligence to grow medical cannabis at home

A partnership between companies Cannabics Pharmaceuticals and Enroll Grow Tech Ltd s ambition is to create automated production boxes to enable medical cannabis patients to produce their own medicine at home, with no prior experience of growing the plant required.

A boon for patients

A similar box had been created by the Seedolab from Enroll Grow Tech Ltd but was not specifically designed for cannabis cultivation. Using the same technologies, namely a fully automated system with sensors and cameras, managed by artificial intelligence and controlled via a mobile app, the associated companies plan to market the new product. The algorithm determines the optimal conditions for growing the plant, such as air quality, humidity, light and water requirements. In other words, the customer will have absolutely nothing to do, and will be notified of the progress and stages of cultivation via his or her smartphone.

«This initiative will enable patients and eventually companies to take control of their medical cannabis supply in a revolutionary way» said the two companies «Through this partnership, Cannabics and Seedo will develop the first controlled device for growing medical cannabis at home, ensuring the quality and sustainable supply of the naturally grown, pesticide-free product».

Prototype development will begin early next year. The companies have announced that they will start with domestic appliances, but that their ambition is to then develop other products, using the same technologies, for larger-scale, less resource-intensive production adapted to industry.

An Israeli-American partnership

The agreement between the two companies includes the acquisition by Cannabics of copyrights and 20% of shares of Seedo. Seedo is licensed for Research and Development by the Israeli Ministry of Health. The company Cannabics, is based in the United States, but carries out its R&D in Israel, where it benefits from a license to conduct scientific and clinical studies on cannabinoid chemical formulas. Its aim is to offer personalized cancer treatments.

Israel is considered the world leader in medical cannabis research but, paradoxically, access to medical cannabis for patients is not self-evident despite the establishment of a pilot project authorizing pharmacies to distribute the drug. Self-cultivation remains prohibited for the time being.

Israel is one of the world's leading producers of medical cannabis, but this production is mainly for export. On the other hand, since the Prime Minister's decision to pause exports, the country's manufacturers complain of losses incurred. The Israeli export market is estimated at $1 billion a year. The Prime Minister recently announced a recovery in exports but are still in the process of stand by.