The cannabis industry has experienced explosive growth in recent years, with the global market expected to reach US$49.56bn by 2029, according to a report by Statista. This rapid growth comes with a significant shift in production methods, leading to the emergence of two primary categories: commercial weed and craft cannabis.
Commercial cannabis is a large-scale production which brings most of the revenues of the industry. Craft cannabis is locally grown, and growers increasingly opt for small batches instead of mass production. This ever-increasing preference has caused a debate that focuses on quality, ethics, and sustainability. These differences can help you make more informed decisions regarding which cannabis crop to grow, whether you’re an old-timer in the game or a new cannabis grower entering the market.
In this article, we’ll explore what sets commercial weed apart from craft cannabis, the factors that influence the perceptions of consumers, and how market dynamics are shaping the future of cannabis production.
What is Craft and Commercial Cannabis
Craft cannabis is the term for small-batch, locally grown marijuana, focusing on quality, unique flavours, and sustainability. Most often, this type of cannabis is produced by independent growers who prefer artisanal methods rather than mass production.
Commercial cannabis, on the other hand, is the large-scale, mass-produced type, mainly to meet the demand for it and maximize profits. Let us discuss their characteristics in detail.
Defining Characteristics of Craft vs. Commercial Cannabis
While the term “craft cannabis” may seem subjective, there are a few defining characteristics that set it apart from commercial weed. These include cultivation practices, scale of production, and product quality. Let us understand both of them in detail below.
1. Craft Cannabis
Craft cannabis cultivation is characterized by small-batch production, which independent growers or boutique farms mainly carry out. Its primary goals are quality, genetics, and growing techniques. Plants are primarily raised in controlled environments, so growers can tailor the conditions for the strain they are working with.
Characteristics of Craft Cannabis
Several key criteria define craft cannabis:
- Small-Batch Production: Craft cannabis is grown in smaller batches, which means more attention to detail and individualized care throughout the cultivation process.
- Genetics and Terpenes: Craft producers often focus on unique genetics, breeding for specific characteristics like flavor, potency, and aroma, with an emphasis on rich terpene profiles.
- Organic and Sustainable Practices: Many craft growers use organic farming methods, which avoid synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and focus on soil health and water conservation.
- Artisanal Craftsmanship: The process of growing the plant is often more manual, as growers observe every phase of the growth cycle to ensure the highest-quality product.
- Local and Ethical Sourcing: Craft cannabis producers are usually small, independent businesses that focus on supporting local economies and ethical labor practices. Many also aim to reduce their environmental footprint and contribute positively to their communities.
- Unique, Limited-Edition Strains: Unlike commercial cannabis, craft producers often experiment with unique or limited-edition strains, offering consumers diverse and exclusive options that can’t be found in mass-market products.
Emphasis on Flavor and Effects: Craft cannabis is grown specifically to achieve the desired flavor, aroma, and effect. Its growers are well aware of the differences that various cultivation techniques will bring to the end product.
2. Commercial Cannabis
Commercial weed, on the other hand, is cannabis produced on a much larger scale. These operations tend to focus on yield, consistency, and efficiency, often using technology such as automated systems, hydroponics, and extensive facilities to grow cannabis. Commercial producers are less likely to focus on the uniqueness of individual plants because they have to meet the demands of a broad consumer base.
Characteristics of Commercial Cannabis
The key characteristics of commercial cannabis production include:
- Mass Production: Commercial cannabis is produced on a much larger scale, involving industrial-sized facilities built for high output and mass production.
- Standardization and Consistency: The focus is on uniform products with consistent quality, potency, and appearance. This is crucial in the market, where the need for standardization ensures brand reliability.
- Efficiency Over Individuality: Commercial growers focus on efficiency in the cultivation process and often utilize high-tech, automated, and optimized growing systems to increase yield and reduce costs.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Commercial cannabis is usually cheaper because of economies of scale. Large operations can reduce the cost of production by buying in bulk and using automated processes.
- Regulatory Compliance: Stringent regulatory requirements, such as testing for contaminants, potency, and label accuracy, are binding these growers to comply with the law in different regions.
- Synthetic Inputs: Commercial producers may utilize synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and artificial lighting to speed up reproduction and enhance crop yields. However, this can compromise some of cannabis’s organic characteristics.
- Mass Distribution: Commercial cannabis operations’ products are often distributed widely. They are available in dispensaries, wholesalers, and online retailers and are usually sold across multiple states or countries.
Now, let us discuss some skepticisms that revolve around craft and commercial cannabis.
The Skepticism Around Large-Scale Cannabis Production
As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, there is now a visible separation between commercial weed and craft cannabis. While large-scale industrialized operations have dominated the market, there is a growing sense of skepticism among many cannabis enthusiasts. Some of them are:
1. Larger-Scale Production vs. Personal Touch:
- Large-scale commercial weed production fails to replicate the personal love and uniqueness of the craft cannabis plant, which is an essential experience for long-time cannabis users.
- Commercial production tends to focus on massive output, with yield outweighing the personal care that smaller production can offer.
2. Loss of Craftsmanship:
- The personalized cultivation practices so cherished by cannabis enthusiasts are lost in large-scale operations.
- Mass production may compromise quality, where producers are more interested in increasing yield rather than fine-tuning the product.
3. Risk of Compromised Quality:
- To increase yield, commercial weed producers may utilize synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and artificial lighting. All these methods can damage the organic nature of cannabis.
- This would reduce the earthy, natural flavor many marijuana users associate with quality.
4. Consistency Over Diversity:
- Commercial production of the same product, with a high focus on consistency and standardization, can lead to low strain diversity.
- Cannabis consumers who enjoy different tastes and effects from various cannabis strains may not find much interest in commercial weed. Most of the time, they have a preference for the more limited variety offered by smaller craft producers.
Next, let us understand exactly what cannabis growers prefer.
A Preference for Personalized, Localized Cannabis
For many cannabis consumers, it all comes down to this one factor: authenticity. Here’s why craft cannabis often gets the nod:
1. Unique, Refined Experience:
- Craft cannabis is grown in smaller batches, and there’s a more hands-on approach.
- The focus on genetics, environmental control, and deep knowledge of the plant yields a more distinct product.
2. Distinctive Flavors and Effects: - Craft producers tend to produce cannabis with a focus on unique terpenes, flavours, and effects.
- Organic, environmentally friendly cultivation methods, such as natural nutrient uptake and very careful life cycle management, are used.
3. Attention to Detail: - Even the most minute detail while germinating to harvest would be attended to. Resulting in cannabis that is more aromatic and potent and better meets the consumer’s preference.
- Commercial cannabis, on the other hand, is usually produced on a larger scale; standardization and efficiency may sometimes compromise the level of individual care and quality.
4. Local Community Support:
- Most small-craft cannabis producers are focused on local economies and sustainable practices.
- Consumers who choose craft cannabis want to support ethical, community-focused operations—ensuring fair wages and eco-friendly production.
5. Ethical Business Practices:
- Small-scale operations also tend to be more transparent about sourcing and production, which many cannabis enthusiasts appreciate.
- Ethical practices, from fair labor to eco-conscious cultivation, set craft producers apart from significant commercial operations.
Focusing on these critical attributes, craft cannabis producers produce a product that is not only of greater quality but also connects with the consumer on an emotional level—whether through taste, sustainability, or support for local businesses.
Aspect | Craft Cannabis | Commercial Cannabis |
Production Scale | Small-batch, limited production, often by independent or boutique farms. | Large-scale production, often by corporate farms for mass distribution. |
Focus | Quality, unique genetics, terpenes, and artisanal craftsmanship. | Quantity, consistency, and meeting market demands. |
Growing Methods | Organic and sustainable farming, often without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. | Conventional farming methods, often with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. |
Genetics and Terpenes | Emphasis on unique genetics and rich terpene profiles for flavor and aroma. | Focus on high-yield strains with less emphasis on unique characteristics. |
Cultivation Techniques | Manual, hands-on approach, often with controlled environments for each strain. | Automated systems and mass production to maximize output. |
Ethical and Local Sourcing | Supports local economies, ethical labor practices, and sustainable sourcing. | May source materials globally with less emphasis on local impact. |
Product Variety | High variation in strains, with unique characteristics in each batch. | Limited variety, focused on consistency and scalability. |
Market Appeal | Appeals to connoisseurs and those seeking premium, artisanal products. | Appeals to a broader, price-sensitive market seeking affordable options. |
Price Point | Higher price due to quality and labor-intensive production. | Lower price due to economies of scale and mass production. |
Next, let us understand the quality expectations of commercial and craft weed.
Quality Expectations and Attributes: How Craft and Commercial Weed Differs
Many consumers expect consistency in commercial weed, but consistency doesn’t necessarily mean quality. In the pursuit of large-scale production, more significant producers often compromise on nutrients, environmental control, and growing conditions. Here’s how each factor influences the craft and commercial weed:
1. Nutrient Quality and Environmental Control:
- Commercial Weed: Mass farms often use chemical nutrients to rapidly increase production, which shifts the taste and overall product quality.
- Craft Cannabis: Manufacturers will focus on organically applied fertilizers, pest control, and environmentally controlled growing rooms. The result will be a more complex product with greater depth that tastes better and will appeal to enthusiasts.
2. Scale of Facility and Effect on Quality:
- Commercial Weed: Large operations tend to standardize and automate growing conditions like temperature, humidity, and light. In this scenario, fine-tuning the conditions for every plant is not possible.
- Craft Cannabis: The small-scale farm allows the ability to control every detail in cultivation and provides attention to each plant and environmental fine-tuning.
3. Ethical and Sustainable Practices
- Commercial Weed: Profit-driven and focused on scalability, commercial activities often sacrifice sustainability for mass production and might use practices that are not environmentally friendly.
- Craft Cannabis: It emphasizes ethics in growing, often through renewable energy sources, waste reduction, and sustainable cultivation techniques that appeal to the environmentalist consumer.
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Now that you know the key factors influencing craft vs. commercial cannabis, let’s understand the market dynamics that help you determine them.
Market Dynamics: How Consumer Preferences Shape Perception
The cannabis market has evolved rapidly due to the main influences on consumer preferences. Today’s cannabis users are much more informed and selective than the rest of the world combined, and factors such as sustainability, ethical practices, and product quality greatly influence purchasing decisions. Here is how these preferences are shaping the perception of commercial weed and driving the rise of craft cannabis:
- Informed Consumers: With more information than ever before, consumers are becoming more selective about what they buy in cannabis products. They want brands that reflect their values of sustainability, ethical production, and transparency.
- Sustainability and Ethics Matter: As awareness grows, consumers are taking care to ensure their practices are environmentally friendly. Craft cannabis often leads the way in sustainable cultivation methods, such as organic fertilizers and carbon footprint reduction, which speaks to the environmentalist-minded buyer.
- The Desire for Quality: More and more consumers are moving away from mass-produced commercial weed in favor of cannabis that offers a unique, high-quality experience. This is driven by the belief that smaller-scale producers can offer more carefully curated, potent, and flavorful strains.
- The Craft Trend: The growth of craft cannabis is mirroring trends in other industries, such as craft beer and wine. Just as beer enthusiasts seek out local, small-batch brews, cannabis users are increasingly looking for unique, limited-edition strains that reflect individual craftsmanship and attention to detail.
- Pressure on Commercial Weed: While commercial weed still is the leader in volume, its share is facing increasing pressure from craft producers. These craft weed players can offer more bespoke, higher-quality products that consumers seek that commercial products cannot meet.
- Local Connection: Many consumers appreciate the connection to their local community that comes with supporting craft cannabis. Smaller producers often emphasize their ties to the region, making the product feel more authentic and personal.
- Personal Values Over Convenience: A growing number of consumers prioritize personal values over convenience and price when making purchasing decisions. They are increasingly willing to pay a premium to purchase products that align with their values, from buying locally to supporting environmentally responsible and ethical labor practices throughout the supply chain.
- Cannabis Growth in a Natural Environment: Growing cannabis organically in its natural environment requires minimal chemicals and organic fertilizer, with little interference, allowing the plants to grow as they naturally would. This method often results in healthier and cleaner products with minimal effort, but often proves difficult to produce an ideal crop as weather, pests, and nutrient imbalances can affect it all.
Let PlanaCan simplify this process for you. Through easy automation and scheduling of cultivation tasks, you can be certain that every aspect of your grow operation is monitored closely-from soil health to watering cycles. PlanaCan helps you keep your plants in a consistent environment, giving every strain the care it needs to thrive naturally, but free up your time for more artistic pursuits: growing fine cannabis.
Regulations and Compliance: A Comparison of Craft and Commercial Producers
The regulatory environment shapes the cannabis industry, and that’s an area where commercial weed and craft cannabis usually differ. Here is how the regulatory frameworks influence the producers of both kinds:
Commercial Weed Producers:
1. Tighter Compliance: High-volume commercial producers face higher regulatory requirements because of their size. These include:
- Testing for contaminants such as pesticides, molds, and heavy metals.
- Compliance with safety and health regulations in manufacturing and distribution.
- Guideline on packaging, marking as well as distribution within its states and federal statutes compliance.
2. High Compliance Cost: The cost of doing good business is the bureaucratic aspect of regulatory compliance is pretty expensive, but big producers are usually well-capitalized
Operations that are large enough to efficiently manage the costs of compliance as well as testing and attorney’s fees.
3. Favoring Big Players: The costs and scale of regulation often work against smaller producers, driving the little guy out or at least making them not competitive with the more significant player.
Craft Cannabis Producers:
1. Different Regulatory Barriers: Smaller craft cannabis producers have different compliance hurdles:
- Smaller producers cannot afford to perform the extensive testing that more significant players will, and they also cannot afford the infrastructure to meet compliance requirements.
- One of the challenges craft producers often face is keeping up with the pace of regulation, which can differ significantly from region to region.
2. Special Compliance Challenges: Smaller craft cannabis producers face different regulatory challenges:
- Ethical Practice: Most craft producers go further than ensuring their operations are only in compliance but somewhat in excess of regulatory expectations in the following:
- Sustainability: Craft producers tend to be more concerned with green practices, such as organic farming, water conservation, and waste reduction.
- Labor Practices: Small-batch growers usually adhere to high ethical standards in labor practices and pay employees fairly, leading to a more open and community-based approach.
3. Flexibility and Innovation: Craft producers are often more agile and willing to experiment with innovative growing methods or product lines, even when their budget is smaller. Many are focused on developing unique, high-quality strains and building loyal customer bases through personalized service and transparency.Now, after everything that we know about commercial weed, what does the future hold for cannabis production? Let us dive in.
The Future of Cannabis Production
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, the line between commercial weed and craft cannabis is becoming more defined. This growth is creating a need for clarity and more defined categories. Here’s why this distinction matters and what the future may hold:
1. Technology Upgradation in Cannabis Production
Modern tools and innovations are helping producers enhance the precision of their operations, reduce costs, and produce higher-quality products.
- Automation & Monitoring Systems: Automated tools monitor environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light and manage watering/nutrient schedules for consistency and efficiency.
- Data Analytics and AI: AI and data analytics predict crop outcomes, optimize yields, and identify problems early on (such as pests or nutrient deficiencies).
- Vertical Farming & Controlled Environments: Vertical farming maximizes space and reduces water usage, while controlled environments allow growers to create ideal conditions for cannabis cultivation.
- Cultivation Tracking: Cultivation Tracking: Real-time tracking of plant growth, health, and development stages; helping growers monitor progress and make data-driven decisions for optimal yields.
The Interactive Calendar from PlanaCan helps you visualize your entire cultivation process, making it easier to plan and track tasks. You can schedule work months in advance while managing daily activities easily. You can make changes whenever needed to remain flexible and responsive to changing requirements. With all tasks in one place, every team involved will clearly understand what needs to be done to ensure nothing escapes.
2. Growing Demand for High-Quality, Sustainable Cannabis
Consumers are increasingly focused on high-quality cannabis that is sustainably and ethically produced. - Craft Cannabis Demand: The demand for craft cannabis answers this call with small batch production, organic farming, and a focus on sustainability. Transparency will find consumers looking for ethical practices in producers, and this bodes well for craft.
- Commercial Producers’ Pressure: Commercial weed manufacturers must adjust to this demand or lose their market share. They must use organic production, minimize waste, and use biodegradable packaging materials.
3. Need for Proper Definitions
Why Definitions Matter?
Clear industry-wide definitions are essential to ensure transparency among consumers who will have quality, ethics, and sustainability-based choices. Commercial weed is very different from craft cannabis and will decide while buying on the grounds of quality, ethics, and sustainability. Here’s how:
Craft Cannabis: - Typically grown on a smaller scale by small-scale growers.
- Quality over quantity with traditional, organic growing techniques.
- Often hand-trimmed, with unique genetics and a focus on sustainability.
Commercial Weed: - Produced on a larger scale, often by corporate entities.
- Focus on efficiency, yield, and consistency.
- Often industrialized methods (e.g., automation, synthetic fertilizers, large-scale indoor cultivation).
Collaboration and Shared Insights - Collaboration Opportunities: Increased collaboration between commercial producers and craft producers could help balance large-scale efficiency with small-batch quality. Sharing best practices and insights into everything from sustainability and cultivation techniques to consumer engagement could benefit the entire cannabis ecosystem.
PlanaCan‘s Team Management Tools help you work together more effectively by centralizing all the task information. With access via Android and iOS mobile, team members can see, update, and mark as complete anywhere. Add notes to a task so there is less room for confusion and save everyone time. This helps keep the entire team on the same page, no matter where you are. - Growing into the Future: They could meet consumers’ increasing expectations while staying compliant with changing regulations.
Conclusion
As the cannabis industry grows and adapts, so will the distinctions between commercial weed and craft cannabis-only. Consumers are becoming more picky, wanting transparency over their products and high-quality, sustainable quality. Clear industry definitions, together with cooperation between commercial and craft producers, will guarantee that consumer expectations are met while continuing ethical and sustainable practices.
For cannabis growers, scaling up operations or maintaining the artisanal touch of craft cultivation requires effective production management. That is where PlanaCan can make a difference. PlanaCan provides a holistic solution that streamlines cannabis production processes, from cultivation to compliance. Intuitive tools help track plant health, manage resources, and ensure regulatory compliance, ensuring that operations run smoothly and sustainably.
Schedule a free call today to learn how PlanaCan can support your growth and help you navigate the future of cannabis production with ease.
