David Sandelman, CTO of Cannatrol – Interview Series

As the American cannabis industry continues to expand at its current rate, the harvest yields will also become larger. As a result of increasingly fruitful yields, machines that assist in the curing and drying process and stabilize and enhance the flower buds themselves are becoming ever-present. To better understand the innovative technology behind these machines and the quality benefits of using these systems, mycannabis.com had the pleasure of speaking with David Sandelman, an experienced inventor and CTO of Cannatrol, a major producer of these systems.

Tell me about your professional experience prior to creating the Cannatrol Systems? What was your professional background primarily in, and did you ever envision that you’d be creating machines that assist in cannabis cultivation?

My inventions go back to the late 1970s during the energy crisis when I created the first digital clock thermostat for home installation. It was the first of many patents. I’ve worked in the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) Control industry for about 30 years. I never dreamed this would be my career trajectory—but I’m glad to be here.

I noticed on your LinkedIn profile that you hold 17 US patents. What are some of those patents, and what industries do those inventions most commonly assist in?

In the last 10 years, the inventions have been primarily focused on the control of vapor pressure. This technology has been used in the cheese, charcuterie and cannabis industries. Prior to that, my patents were primarily focused on the HVAC side, with things like snow melt control and refrigeration defrost systems (the beginning of IOT). I also developed a few patents for electronic messaging for HVAC equipment.

Where are your patented products most frequently featured, and what industries did you mostly work with prior to creating Cannatrol?

You can find the patented Vaportrol Technology in hundreds of artisan cheese aging and meat curing facilities around the country. You’ll also find some of my inventions in large commercial heating systems all over the world from my days in the heating industry.

Since your professional experience as a groundbreaking inventor goes back to the 1970’s, did you ever envision you’d be inventing curing machines for a billion-dollar cannabis industry?

The short answer is NO! It was a complete accident that brought us to the cannabis industry by way of a solution for the cheese industry. In fact, we met the operator of our very first beta installation at a cheese competition!

Given the many patents that you hold and your decades creating innovative technology, what exactly led a seasoned inventor such as yourself to the creation of Cannatrol? Where did you see a need for those machines within either the Vermont industry or a neighboring state’s industry?

I’m not really the ‘tinkering’ type inventor. I look for ways to provide simple solutions to real problems. Cannatrol was created because we identified a significant gap in the post-harvest process among cannabis cultivators. The problem of inconsistent and often poor-quality cannabis exists worldwide. We started selling our home units (Cool Cure) in Vermont first, but they quickly became a hit among home growers all over the world.

From a scientific standpoint, how do the Cannatrol machines assist in the cannabis drying/curing process? If curing machines such as Cannatrol aren’t used in the curing process, what could happen to the quality of the cannabis instead?

Our technology controls the vapor pressure in the space, which is the primary force of drying. Simply put, we are harnessing the power of physics. With this technology, the cultivator has the tools and the level of control to consistently produce superior products. Products that are dried using traditional methods (HVAC/Dehumidifiers) are inconsistent, unpredictable and usually overdried. We’ve fixed that problem.

Because the regular climates of states with legal cannabis can differ so drastically, with recreational cannabis being legal everywhere from Alaska to Arizona, how do the Cannatrol machines lessen the considerable impact that local climates usually have on the entire cultivation process?

This really gets to the heart of what we do. We give multistate operators (MSOs) the ability to deliver the same product in every state they operate in. A consumer in Colorado should be able to have the same flower quality in Florida. So, this means not only is the consumer buying a brand they trust because it is consistent, but the operator benefits from having the same SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in every facility. Imagine the efficiencies for any cultivator!

From your experience with Cannatrol and surely meeting a number of cannabis professionals, how would you describe the state of the Vermont cannabis industry? I feel like so many consumers either look over the Vermont industry or assume that cannabis is still illegal there, so I wanted to ask about the state’s industry.

Cannabis is legal in Vermont – homegrow, medical and recreational. We have a really healthy craft market here. The state did the right thing by keeping out the largest multistate producers. Our small producers grow some fantastic flower, but of course, they struggle with all the issues that everyone has in the industry with taxes, banking restrictions, etc.

Because you’re a certified electrician yourself, what are some very vital ways that electricians are useful in both cannabis operations and working with cultivation and curing machines such as Cannatrol?

It’s important to have a knowledgeable electrician (not to mention other trades) in every facility. There are complexities with lighting, exposure to wet locations, electrical loads and overall safety that are critical. I’ve heard of some very dangerous situations where the electrical work was done DIY resulting in fires or worse.

What are some future plans you have for Cannatrol? Also, how would a federal rescheduling from Schedule I to III change the operations and technology of Cannatrol as a company?

Rescheduling will have a huge impact on the industry. It will allow cultivators to operate and compete under ‘normal’ economic conditions. Of course, freeing up funds will allow cultivators to invest money back into their grows to take advantage of the newest technology. Our team is in high growth mode and we are ready to support the industry with the level of control they need to produce superior flower—every day.

I’d expect that as the feds get more involved in the industry, there will be more requirements to produce shelf-safe and stable products. This will require Good Manufacturing Processes (GMP) that we provide for the post-harvest process.

Thank you for joining us, David! For more information on Cannatrol’s machines and technology, please visit its website.