By Miguel Ordoñez


We’ve come a long way in terms of cannabis legalization and acceptance. Once classified as a dangerous drug, the plant is now accepted for therapeutic and/or recreational use in many countries around the world.

With legalization comes the concept of craft cannabis. In a nutshell, it describes products resulting from the hard work and new-school techniques of today’s top growers, breeders, and retailers.

See, today’s growers are no longer sticking to traditional methods passed down from older generations. They’ve perfected these practices to come up with their very own strains, with more enhanced attributes and a keener focus on quality.

If you’re part of the growing number of herb-lovers around the world, the concept of craft cannabis may pique your interest. This article aims to further explain what the buzz is all about. We'll even shed light on the necessary knowledge for becoming a craft cannabis grower yourself!

Craft Cannabis: What You Need To Know

So, what does craft cannabis mean, exactly? As mentioned in our intro, craft weed is the result of dedication, and involves numerous finely tuned processes from seed to harvest and beyond.

First off, craft cannabis tends to be a small-scale operation. Like craft beer, or any other craft product for that matter, production is kept small, with an emphasis on quality over quantity. Moreover, craft operations tend to prioritise reducing harm to the environment and maintaining natural and organic practices.

Many craft cannabis growers start from seed, enabling them to breed high-quality new-school varieties that harness all the good (and none of the bad) from the parent strains. The curing process is equally intricate. It involves a much slower and steadier drying process to enhance potency—a similar procedure as ageing whiskey in an oak barrel.

Though we’ll be referring primarily to craft cannabis flower, the concept of craft weed extends to concentrates, edibles, of all-manner of cannabis smokeables and consumables. After all, why should the quality practices stop with the flower itself? Extraction and edibles production can benefit just as much from a “craft” perspective.

Craft Cannabis: What You Need To Know
  • A Brief History of Craft Cannabis

Craft cannabis may be a relatively new concept to most, but it’s actually a practice that goes back generations. Although it derives from multiple influences, craft cannabis can be traced back to the Valencian town of Guadalest in Spain.

Back then, farming families used eco-friendly methods to grow their plants. Pest control, for example, harnessed ladybugs and no pesticides, and the water used to enrich the soil came from nearby waterfalls.

For their drip irrigation systems, these old-school farmers used recycled bottles. And, as protection from wild animals or trespassers, they ingeniously surrounded their crops with bells on a string. These bells would then sound off should an intruder attempt to break in.

Such methods were treated as trade secrets of sorts, passed down from one generation to the next. Over time, this knowledge transcended Guadalest and made its way to further mountainous regions, such as Castell de Castells.

Eventually, a group of Carpathian hippies that immigrated to the Iberian peninsula learned these methods and adopted them into their own processes.

But, it was the Guadalest cultivators who came up with an upgrade to the already popular Critical strain. These growers are believed to have produced the best phenotype, and thus one of the first “craft” cannabis variants was born.

Today, the legacy of craft cannabis is perhaps most evident in California. Indeed, California craft cannabis is believed to be a cut above the rest, as growers there have the space and resources to legally grow top-quality cannabis under specific parameters.

A Brief History of Craft Cannabis

What Are the Pros and Cons of Craft Cannabis?

Even with the seemingly extravagant or complex processes involved in craft cannabis, it does have its drawbacks. But, before we go through the cons, let's tackle the obvious pros.

Pros of Craft Cannabis

Quality control
Most craft cannabis growers run small operations, allowing them greater oversight when it comes to production and quality control. In turn, growers can maintain the utmost consistency in their crop to ensure a top-quality product that delivers on what it promises.
Preservation of trichomes
Part and parcel with the above, a smaller grow-op means craft cannabis growers trim buds by hand. This allows them to better preserve the trichomes, which are the resinous “hairs” containing terpenes and cannabinoids on cannabis buds.
More sustainable practices
Craft cannabis growers don’t require large quantities of water and electricity to thrive. This makes their processes a lot more sustainable and eco-friendly.
Supports small businesses
Who doesn’t love taking some money away from the rich and putting it in the pockets of smaller operations?

Cons of Craft Cannabis

More complicated/expensive processes
Finding the best strain to begin the growing process is an enormous challenge in itself. As a result, it also takes a while (and quite some cash) to develop products.
Higher price point
Because of the intricate processes involved, craft cannabis strains naturally come at a higher price point. That makes them less affordable to many, especially those who aren’t willing to shell out a large portion for weed.
Lack of regulation
Since craft cannabis has yet to be regulated, many growers still run guerrilla-like operations. As a result, growers are made to pay millions just to enter the market.

Craft vs Commercial Cannabis

As opposed to commercial cannabis operations, which focus mainly on THC content, craft cannabis producers look to optimise the aroma and flavor (terpenes) as well as the cannabinoid levels of their product.

Not only that, but many craft cannabis operations focus on being 100% organic, and on minimising environmental impact. Few commercial operations can make such claims.

Instead, commercial operations tend to shirk quality in hopes of turning a profit. That’s not to say all commercially produced cannabis is bad, per se; but it’s unlikely to be held to an equivalent standard as craft cannabis.

How To Become a Craft Cannabis Grower

Truly, becoming a champion craft cannabis grower requires in-depth knowledge of breeding and cultivation. It’s what separates regular growers from the masters—and it’s how legendary strains come about.

Interested in becoming a craft grower yourself? If so, prepare for some serious work. Whether or not you’re willing to take the leap, here’s what it takes to grow craft cannabis.

Genetic Preservation

Finding the perfect genetics plays a huge role in craft cannabis. Part of this practice involves picking out the best traits of one strain and combining them with another.

That said, you’ll need to know how to preserve the genetics of particular strains. Here are some ways to do just that.

  • Cloning

In certain cases, some of the best variants come only in clone form. For growers, the best option is to then take cuttings to preserve the genetics.

In a nutshell, cloning is the process of taking a cutting from one plant and allowing it to grow some roots. Most practices involve taking clones from vegetating mother plants or young vegetative plants.

For aspiring craft cannabis growers and breeders, knowing how to clone (and getting good at it) will work to your advantage.

  • Selfing

Many plants have the ability to self-fertilise—cannabis being one of them. This process is known as "selfing", and is used by many home breeders.

In this case, a female marijuana clone can produce seeds on its own. But, for this to happen, the grower must encourage the process of self-pollination by inflicting sufficient stress or through other means. This causes hermaphroditism, which, in turn, causes plants to form both male and female sex characteristics, pollinating themselves as a result.

Genetic Preservation

Small-Scale Breeding

Growing craft cannabis ultimately involves small-scale breeding. This can be performed in a few different ways.

  • Breeding From the Same Batch

Breeding strains from the same batch of (regular) seeds is a traditional practice that goes way back. It’s usually done outdoors, and could work indoors as well. Before you do this, it’d be wise to perform some practice runs first by collecting pollen and making seeds.

  • Breeding Polyhybrids

When you crossbreed two hybrid strains, you get a polyhybrid. It’s an efficient and effective method of combining the best and most unique traits of different plant varieties. Creating polyhybrid strains can be a long, arduous process. Be sure you have everything documented to avoid losing track of which plants you bred together.

  • Backcrossing

The creation of new cannabis strains involves crossing two parent strains with specific desirable traits, resulting in the new generation. Backcrossing is the process of taking a strain from this new generation and breeding it with one of its parent strains. What this type of inbreeding does is enhance the presence of the parent’s preferable genes in the progeny.

If you’re a craft cannabis grower, this is one way to create the ultimate strain you can be proud of.

Knowledge About Regular Cannabis Seeds

Knowledge of regular seeds is crucial, and these are the type that allow you to take viable clones later on. In a nutshell, regular cannabis seeds have a 50% chance of growing into a male or female plant.

While most growers prefer feminized seeds, regular seeds have sturdier and more resilient genetics for breeding. Cuttings are in abundance on these plants, making them very suitable for cloning.

Knowledge About Regular Cannabis Seeds

Craft beer rose in popularity because of the demand for unique, locally produced products that were deemed to be of “higher quality”. Despite its higher price point, consumers were more than willing to pay their hard-earned money for this new experience.

Cannabis lovers share the same enthusiasm for all things “craft”. There is already a booming market for the craft cannabis connoisseur, regardless of the price tag attached.

Sure, there are regulatory hurdles that need to be dealt with. But, ultimately, the takeover of craft cannabis is just a matter of time.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: