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.
2026 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 $50 entry fee per cultivar.
Prepare Your Samples You can drop 1 oz in one jar or you can divide them into 281g samples. They will be placed in a different bag for judging.
Sample Bud. Include an extra bud for the sample jar. Select your findest and maker it sample jar. If you do not add an extra bud for sample jar we will pull it from your 1 oz and you will get one less judges score.
Drop Off. Intake takes place between March 31 and April 28. Drop your samples off at any of the NYSF events. Additional drop off locations to be announced. Follow us on instagram and newsletter to be updated. Clearly label sample with your name, brand, and cultivar. Please complete the entry form and payment before drop off. Drop offs without entry form and payment cannot be returned. Make sure the info on you drop off matches entry form.
do not place samples for more than one cultivar in carrying bag.
Drop-Off
📅March 31 between 2pm - 7pm
📍 Location:Savage Wonder Studio.
139 Main Street Beacon, NY 12508
📅 April 28 2pm- 7pm
📍 Location: Barbagallos Tavern
6344 E Molloy Rd, East Syracuse, NY 13057
Follow us on instagram or sign up for our newsletter for regional drop off announcements and award dates.
🔹 Clearly label submissions with: Cultivar Name, Grower Name / Brand / or Farm Name - make sure this matches entry form.
🔹 Drop-off stations available at the door & inside the event. Event ticket not needed to drop off.
Awards Party Saturday, June 20 Oasis Brewery. All Cup entrants get 1 free ticket to awards party.
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! 📌 Entry Form | 🎟 Get Tickets for the 2026 Golden Road to NY Craft Flower Cup