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Pot growers eye high-tech future at New West Summit

The tie-dyed set of indie marijuana growers may still have its place, but an industrial approach to cannabis seems to be on the horizon.

James Martin
James Martin is the Managing Editor of Photography at CNET. His photos capture technology's impact on society - from the widening wealth gap in San Francisco, to the European refugee crisis and Rwanda's efforts to improve health care. From the technology pioneers of Google and Facebook, photographing Apple's Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Google's Sundar Pichai, to the most groundbreaking launches at Apple and NASA, his is a dream job for any documentary photography and journalist with a love for technology. Exhibited widely, syndicated and reprinted thousands of times over the years, James follows the people and places behind the technology changing our world, bringing their stories and ideas to life.
James Martin
The rapidly growing recreational marijuana industry is moving on from the "stoner" stereotype. Tie-dye has been traded in for suits and ties.
1 of 12 James Martin/CNET

The rapidly growing recreational marijuana industry is moving on from the "stoner" stereotype. Tie-dye has been traded in for suits and ties.

The nascent cannabis industry, once primarily small businesses, is quickly automating processes from handmade to industrial scale to keep up with demand.
2 of 12 James Martin/CNET

The nascent cannabis industry, once primarily small businesses, is quickly automating processes from handmade to industrial scale to keep up with demand.

Baker is a customer relationship management, or CRM, tool designed to help dispensaries grow their business and build relationships with customers.
3 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Baker is a customer relationship management, or CRM, tool designed to help dispensaries grow their business and build relationships with customers.

SunGrown Zero provides solar driven indoor cultivation systems.
4 of 12 James Martin/CNET

SunGrown Zero provides solar driven indoor cultivation systems.

Attendees of the New West Summit conference in Oakland, California, take a break in the sound-bathing room.
5 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Attendees of the New West Summit conference in Oakland, California, take a break in the sound-bathing room.

The Stashaweigh is a Bluetooth-connected smart scale and locking container for storing marijuana. It's operated via a phone app.
6 of 12 James Martin/CNET

The Stashaweigh is a Bluetooth-connected smart scale and locking container for storing marijuana. It's operated via a phone app. 

An array of vaporizer technology, like this piece from Vuber Vaporizer, was on display at the New West Summit conference.
7 of 12 James Martin/CNET

An array of vaporizer technology, like this piece from Vuber Vaporizer, was on display at the New West Summit conference.

Swami Chaitanya, co-founder of Swami Select and president of the Mendocino Cannabis Industry Association, spoke at the New West Summit.
8 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Swami Chaitanya, co-founder of Swami Select and president of the Mendocino Cannabis Industry Association, spoke at the New West Summit.

Marijuana startup owners pitch their businesses and find their path to venture capital on "The Marijuana Show."
9 of 12 James Martin/CNET

Marijuana startup owners pitch their businesses and find their path to venture capital on "The Marijuana Show."

PathogenDX microbe detector
10 of 12 Stephen Shankland/CNET

A PathogenDX sample holder can be used to detect 40 bacterial contaminants in each of 12 samples with a 6-hour test process. The company showed a new version of its technology at the New West Summit marijuana show.

Balloon bong at New West Summit
11 of 12 Stephen Shankland/CNET

A "balloon bong" by balloon artist Addi Somekh at the New West Summit marijuana show.

PathogenDX CEO Milan Patel
12 of 12 Stephen Shankland/CNET

PathogenDX CEO Milan Patel

PathogenDX CEO Milan Patel explains his company's microbe-detecting technology at the New West Summit marijuana show.

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