The legalization of cannabis has been a very long debate spanning several decades. However, in the last decade, several authorities have legalized the use of this drug for different purposes. A drug that was once shunned by many is currently being used by people for therapeutic, recreational, and medicinal reasons. With the legalization of cannabis in various parts of the world, vendors and producers have come up with creative ways to make the drug accessible to customers, one of which is craft cannabis.
To perfect craft cannabis, breeders and growers have been developing new techniques to help them perfect new strains of cannabis featuring enhanced attributes. This article is designed to help weed lovers understand more about craft cannabis.
What you Need to Know About Craft Cannabis
Craft cannabis is usually a small-scale operation similar to that of craft beer and other craft products. These operations are usually kept on a smaller scale to ensure quality. Aside from maintaining quality, these weed growers are also focused on maintaining natural and organic practices while reducing their impact on the environment.
To perfect their strain, craft cannabis growers start from the seed, developing high-quality varieties by harvesting only the good from the original strain. They then follow a delicate curing process that involves a slow and steady process of drying to enhance potency. Despite craft cannabis being centered on the flower, the concept behind it extends to edibles, consumables, smokeable, and concentrates.
The History of Craft Cannabis
Most people may not be aware of the concept behind craft weed. However, this practice has been with us for several generations. The concept of craft cannabis can be traced to Guadalest in Spain. During those ties, farmers employed eco-friendly methods to nurture and grow their crops. For example, farmers used natural pest control methods to deal with pests. To protect their animals from wild animals and trespassers, the farmers surrounded their crops with bells attached to strings. These bells would then ring in case an intruder tries to access the farm. It’s the farmers from Guadalest who are credited with the production of the critical strain, the very first craft cannabis variants.
The farming methods used by these farmers would then extend to other borders reaching California. Craft cannabis growers in California are believed to produce some of the best quality strains. This is mainly because of the freedom and space to grow quality weed under specific guidelines.
Pros and Cons of Craft Cannabis
Despite the intricate processes followed to develop craft cannabis, there are pros and cons that growers need to weigh before trying it out.
Pros of Craft Cannabis
Quality control– most growers manage small operations that give them greater control in terms of production and quality control.
Preservation of trichomes– a small operation means the grower trims the buds by hand. This way, they can preserve the trichomes containing cannabinoids and terpenes.
Supports small businesses– enables you to run a small weed business.
Sustainable practices- craft cannabis growers don’t need tons of water or electricity to nurture their crops. This makes the practice sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Cons of Craft Cannabis
Complicated and expensive process– finding the right strain takes a while needing the grower to invest some cash.
Higher price point– due to the delicate process used to make craft cannabis, the growers tend to increase the charges on their produce.
Lack of regulation– there are little to no regulations on craft cannabis; as a result, breeders and growers are forced to pay a lot of money to enter the market.
Will Craft Cannabis be as popular as Craft Beer?
Most consumers tend to move towards products that guarantee top quality. In the case of craft beer, the product attracted many people because of its local production and unique taste. Like beer lovers, herb lovers also enjoy products of high quality. Despite the high prices charged by craft cannabis growers, customers are increasingly opting for this strain over regular weed. To answer the question, yes, craft cannabis will eventually become popular. All it needs is time.
Marijuana Heal 