From light to phyto compound: indoor cultivation and environmental modulation as an innovative alternative in the production of medicinal cannabis

Introduction and historical use of Cannabis sativa L.

Cannabis sativa L. is a plant known and used for thousands of years, with its fibers and seeds being used for various purposes long before the emergence of modern medicines (Górski et al., 2025). Currently, Cannabis has taken on a new role: that of a health ally. Studies have shown that this plant is rich in phytocannabinoids, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), compounds with therapeutic potential in the treatment of refractory epilepsy, chronic pain, anxiety, sleep disorders, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis (Bilbao & Spanagel, 2022; Sampaio et al., 2024).

Challenges of traditional cultivation and the need for control

Faced with this therapeutic potential, many countries have started to allow the cultivation of medicinal Cannabis, opening up space for new research, technologies, and therapeutic advances. However, traditional cultivation in open fields does not always offer quality and safety. Factors such as climate, soil, and pests can directly interfere with the production of bioactive compounds that are of real interest to medicine (Kappers et al., 2025).

Indoor cultivation and urban agriculture

Cultivation in a closed environment (indoor) in urban agriculture offers advantages such as climate control and safety. In this system, precise management of environmental factors such as light, temperature, relative air humidity, ventilation, and nutrients (Kumar et al., 2024) creates ideal conditions for plant growth and production, promoting high yields. In addition, this type of cultivation offers protection against pests and diseases, resulting in a more stable and consistent production (Namdar et al., 2019; Summers et al., 2021). It is like turning urban spaces into true "factories" of phytotherapeutics.

Abiotic elicitation as a complementary strategy

In this context of a controlled environment, it is also possible to add complementary strategies, such as abiotic elicitation. Although the term may sound technical, its concept is quite simple: it involves the application of physical stimuli, such as lights with different intensities and colors, heat, cold, or even natural substances that "signal" to the plant that it needs to protect itself. This response, in turn, stimulates the production of medicinal compounds (Thiry et al., 2024), being a natural and efficient strategy to increase harvest quality.

Smart Farming and intelligent agriculture

The precise application of these stimuli can be optimized through a trend called Smart Farming, or "Intelligent Agriculture." This approach integrates sensors, cameras, automation, and artificial intelligence to monitor plants in real time and continuously adjust the ideal conditions for their development. Thus, the integration of controlled environments, elicitation strategies, and digital technologies represents a new paradigm in the cultivation of medicinal Cannabis, making it more efficient, standardized, and focused on the production of bioactive compounds of medicinal interest.

Spectral quality of light and physiological responses

Regarding the spectral quality of light, different wavelengths have distinct and complementary effects on the cultivation of medicinal Cannabis. Blue light is associated with the regulation of photomorphogenesis, promoting more compact plants, higher stomatal density, increased photosynthetic capacity, and stimulation of secondary metabolite synthesis, including cannabinoids and terpenes. Red light, in turn, decisively influences the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus, cell elongation, leaf expansion, and floral induction, directly influencing productivity and the development of inflorescences.

A balanced combination of red and blue light favors the integration between efficient vegetative growth and metabolic activation, while the use of broader spectra, such as white light, contributes to more stable physiological responses, mimicking natural conditions and promoting greater uniformity among plants. Additionally, specific wavelengths, such as UV and far-red light, can be controlled as agents of moderate stress (abiotic elicitation), stimulating biosynthetic pathways related to plant defense and the accumulation of bioactive compounds of therapeutic interest (Cui et al., 2025; Zheng et al., 2025; Phillips et al., 2025).

Technological, economic, and regulatory impacts

These technological innovations not only represent a scientific leap by enabling precise control of the growth conditions of these plants but also reflect and drive the expansion of the global market for medicinal Cannabis. According to Kolkar et al. (2024), this sector is expected to generate more than 73 billion dollars by 2027. In Brazil, the scenario is also beginning to change: changes in legislation already allow the cultivation of the plant for scientific purposes, creating a favorable environment for researchers, entrepreneurs, and the development of new Cannabis-based medicines.

Final considerations

With so many advances, Cannabis sativa L. ceases to be just a historical plant and begins to play a major role as an ally of modern medicine. The combination of tradition, science, and technology allows not only for more effective treatments but also to build a more sustainable, safe, traceable, and innovative production model. In Brazil, the opening for scientific cultivation represents a real opportunity to strengthen national research, drive new therapeutic solutions, and transform lives.

Authors

Bianca Cristina de Lima Conceição Purcino; Paula Sperotto Alberto Faria; Luciana Arantes Dantas; Fábia Barbosa da Silva; Lucas Loram Lourenço; Esther de Oliveira Sena; Kelly Christyna Gularte da Silva; Alexia Giulia Vasques Silva; Aurélio Rubio Neto; Fabiano Guimarães Silva.

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