What is Craft Cannabis, Really?
The term "craft cannabis" doesn’t have a single, agreed-upon definition, but most people in the industry know it when they see it. It’s about more than just canopy size or production scale—it’s about quality, care, and intention. Craft growers take a hands-on, eco-conscious approach, focusing on unique strains and sustainable practices. The best craft cannabis is small-batch grown, hand-harvested, hang-dried on the stem, and carefully hand-trimmed to preserve those divine trichomes and the plant’s full potential.
There’s no hard-and-fast rule about how much space a craft grow should take up. Yield varies depending on the grower’s skill, the genetics of the plant, and whether it’s grown indoors, outdoors, or in a greenhouse. That said, most craft cannabis operations produce anywhere from 20 to 500 pounds per grow cycle (seed to harvest).
Ownership matters, too. While there’s no strict limit on how many owners a craft business can have, one thing is clear—big corporations aren’t craft. Instead, craft cannabis is typically grown by small, independent, family-owned, or sole proprietor-run operations that put passion and hands-on attention into every plant.
How Does New York Define Craft Cannabis?
In New York, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has its own definition of craft cannabis. To qualify, the product must:
Be flower or pre-rolls (or any cannabis product that meets their craft designation).
Be hang-dried, processed, and manufactured exclusively by:
A licensed Tier 1 cultivator (with a specific canopy limit under NY regulations), using only cannabis grown on-site.
A licensed microbusiness.
NOT include cannabis or cannabis materials from other cultivators, processors, or licensees.
How Does New York Small Farma Define Craft Cannabis?
We consider craft as flower that has been independently and locally produced in NY, small-scale, with care and attention for the plant, the land it is cultivated on, the community where the grow exists, and the team who helps to bring out its full genetic potential. Craft flower is the fire and the sticky-icky that makes so many devoted to the cultivation of this plant and it uses practices that maintain the artisan values central to any craft industry.
Please drop us a note if you would like to contribute to this definition.
2025 NY Craft Flower Cup is Now Open for Entries
How to Enter
Fill out the Entry Form. You’ll receive 1g sample bags by mail.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO ENTRY FORMPay the $25 entry fee per cultivar.
Receive 1g sample bags at the address you provided on the form. Only entry forms accompanied by payment will receive bags.
Prepare Your Samples. Divide each cultivar into 1g samples & place them in the provided bags.
Package Entries. Place all 1g samples into a larger carrying bag labeled bag with your Cultivar Name & Brand/Farm/Grower Name (as registered).
do not place samples for more than one cultivar in carrying bag.
Drop-Off
📍 Location: NYSF 2025 Farmers.
Forum 6o South River St. Coxsackie, NY 10251
📅 Dates & Times: Friday, May 2 or Saturday, May 3 | 10 AM - 6 PM
🔹 Each cultivar must be divided into 1g sample bags and in a separate carrying bag clearly labeled with Cultivar Name, Grower Name / Brand / or Farm Name
🔹 Drop-off stations available at the door & inside the event. Event ticket not needed to drop off.
Judging & Scoring
👥 Judges: Cultivation experts, NY budtenders & consumers.
🏆 Scoring: 1-5 scale based on:
✅ Aroma ✅ Bag Appeal ✅ Taste
✅ Smokability ✅ Potency ✅ Vibe
Categories
🥇 Best Homegrown
🥈 Best Licensed
🥉 Best of Cup
What Do Winners Get?
🏆 Custom NYSF Craft Flower Cup Trophy
🎤 Awards Ceremony Recognition
🔥 Bragging Rights & Industry Exposure
📖 Feature in Skunk Magazine
Do You Have to Buy a Forum Ticket to Drop-Off?
❌ No ticket required! But we’d love for you to join us at the Farmers Forum.
📌 Entry Form | 🎟 Get Tickets for the 2025 Farmers Forum