Canadian Entrepreneur Creates Device to Accelerate Cannabis Curing
Although full legalization of cannabis in Canada was still more than six months away at the time, a native of Sudbury named Weston Sagel decided not to wait for the official reform to introduce his invention to the public: a special lid called CureCap, which significantly speeds up the drying process of cannabis buds.
The lid is simply placed on a jar containing freshly harvested buds. Unlike other lids, the new design features a special valve that allows the user to completely remove air from the container, which helps the buds dry faster. Currently, Mr. Sagel hopes to begin mass production of his invention, having announced a business partnership between his company, Nugnerd, and Canadore College of Technology, located in North Bay.
According to the entrepreneur, he decided to collaborate with the college because they offered him grants to develop the first working prototypes of the lid. “At first, I didn’t know what to do with this invention, since I had neither money nor business connections,” Sagel says. “Canadore really helped me out by providing all the resources I needed to produce the first batch of lids.”
Although Sagel is already able to sell his invention for medical use, he says he is waiting for the start of recreational legalization, as it will create huge demand for any product related to cannabis consumption or production.
“Until now, the cannabis industry, despite its impressive size, hasn’t really attracted much public attention, but with the start of reform, everything will change dramatically,” the entrepreneur believes. “With legalization, cannabis will become an everyday part of life in Canada. As a result, many now-legal products will need a new image in the market, where businesspeople like me will be ready to offer solutions.”
Focus on Home Growers
In particular, Mr. Sagel is interested in continuing to develop small devices like CureCap that will appeal to home growers rather than professional cultivators.
“Similar drying technologies are already used in the cannabis industry, but they’re designed for processing huge volumes of buds,” he tells reporters. “It’s worth noting that these industrial technologies are mainly intended to remove moisture from rooms where already cured cannabis is stored. I haven’t heard of any invention on the market specifically designed to speed up the curing process of buds.”
In addition to working on new ideas, Sagel is also keeping an eye on the American cannabis market, which is one of the world’s main hubs for cannabis innovation.
“They have their own cannabis market in almost every state. It’s no surprise that in such conditions, people come up with new ideas to attract customers,” he says. “I hope that with the start of reforms, the stigma surrounding cannabis production and consumption will disappear once and for all. People need to realize that cannabis is more of a medicinal plant than a narcotic one.”
At the moment, Sagel is finishing preparations for the official release of the first batch of working CureCap models. Mass production of the product will begin with the start of recreational legalization on July 1 of next year. You can learn more about the product on the manufacturer’s website.