How It’s Made
How Craft Cannabis Is Made
What makes craft cannabis different from other cannabis products? Let’s look at the hands-on methods Licensed Producers use to create seed-to-shelf artisanal cannabis.
Last updated October 16, 2025 | Published on April 19, 2021
Just like artisanal chocolates, craft cannabis is created with care, using a slow, thoughtful approach to growing, processing and packaging.
At the OCS, we define craft cannabis as dried flower that’s been hang-dried, hand-trimmed and hand-packaged and grown in a small-batch facility that produces less than 10,000 kg of dried cannabis a year.
Here’s how they do it.
Step 1: Choosing a craft strain
Because craft cannabis is created with smaller yields, craft producers often experiment with new, regional or specialty strains, or those that require more care and attention. While any cannabis strain is compatible with craft methods, certain ones require the hands-on treatment. For example, very sticky strains can’t be machine-processed as they will gum up the equipment.
Step 2: Cultivating the crop
Craft cannabis producers use a range of growing methods. While it’s not required, many use eco-conscious techniques.
The environment cannabis plants are grown in greatly affects the result. While indoor growing usually depends on hydroponics — a soilless method that allows for maximum control of air, temperature, water, nutrients and other variables — outdoor growing leaves a lot up to nature.
A study done at Columbia University found that growing cannabis outdoors in soil that contains decomposing plant material, minerals, bacteria, worms and other natural elements can significantly boost the plants’ cannabinoid and terpene content. The researchers found that terpenes and trichomes in outdoor plants also acted as part of the plants’ defence system against pests.
When it comes to pests, both indoor and outdoor growers can use “good” bugs to beat the “bad” ones. Known as beneficial predators, certain insects can be deployed in growing rooms and fields to help control pests such as aphids, thrips and spider mites.
Water is another critical component of cannabis growing: A single cannabis plant needs up to 23 litres of water every day. Some Licensed Producers have devised innovative ways to recycle grey water, capture rainwater and reduce the overall amount of water needed to produce high-quality plants and yields. Some methods are high-tech, using sensors, automation and other tools to help manage humidity and recycle water. Others rely on tried-and-true methods developed in conventional agriculture and water treatment, and others still combine the two approaches.
Step 3: Trimming and harvesting
Key to the OCS’s definition of craft cannabis is that the flower is hand-processed. This is where craft cannabis producers can really get their hands dirty.
Hand trimming and mechanical trimming are the two main ways cannabis flower is pruned from the plant. Hand trimming is a slower, more precise and careful method of cultivation that can yield more beautiful and complete buds, since a person — not a machine — selects how to cut them.
Hand trimming can be done wet or dry, meaning before or after the plants have been dried, and there are pros and cons to each approach. For instance, wet trimming can prevent the formation of mould because less plant material is involved in the drying process. Dry trimming is a less sticky harvesting method, which can help protect the structural integrity of the flower.
Hand trimming also allows harvesters to get close to the plants to examine them for any signs of stress. Regular interaction with plants in the lead-up to harvest can catch problems early, helping to prevent the spread of fungal infections and pests.
Step 4: Drying and curing
Some Licensed Producers use trays and high heat to accelerate the drying process, while craft producers hang full branches to dry for several weeks in a dark temperature- and humidity-controlled room. The nutrients and cannabinoids flow down through the flower, preserving the aroma and potency, and ensuring proper moisture content.
Once the flower is sufficiently dried, it’s onto curing, which is also done slowly to retain the aromatic and flavourful terpenes. The dried flower is placed in large bags and boxes in a cold room for at least two weeks, allowing the moisture to equalize and the residual chlorophyll and sugars to break down, ensuring a smooth-burning final product.
After it’s been dried and cured, the flower is ready to be packaged or, in the case of some craft producers, milled and rolled into pre-rolls.
Step 5: Testing, one, two, three
All legal cannabis products must be tested in accordance with the Cannabis Regulations.
Canadian regulations require that each batch of cannabis products be tested for the quantity or concentration of major cannabinoids — namely, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) — as well as contaminants. Testing can happen before or after packaging, but it must be done on the final form of the product.
Some Licensed Producers have in-house testing, while others use Health Canada–accredited third-party labs. Each batch must come with an analysis report to ensure maximum traceability.
Step 6: Package it up, ship it out
To preserve the delicate trichomes that have been carefully handled up to this point, craft cannabis is typically hand-packaged. Some Licensed Producers pack dried flower in recyclable UV-resistant glass jars that are air-sealed to keep the product fresh. Resealable mylar bags are another popular choice, as they are light-resistant and help control humidity.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers are easier to recycle than other plastics. They’re a good alternative to glass jars, as they are resistant to moisture and UV exposure, and some forms of HDPE prevent chemicals from the container leaching into the cannabis.
Once packaged and labelled — with all legal requirements, such as the standardized cannabis symbol, brand name, THC and CBD content, and health warning message, plus the federal excise stamp, which shows the product is certified legal — the products are shipped across the country.
Look for the OCS craft cannabis badge on your favourite dried flower and pre-rolls.
