Will Artisanal Cannabis be able to Compete with Corporate Marijuana?

Will Artisanal Cannabis be able to Compete with Corporate Marijuana?

Will Craft Cannabis be able to Compete with Corporate Marijuana from CannabisNet on Vimeo.

BEWARE OF BIG MARIJUANA! This is a fear shared by both prohibitionists and artisanal cannabis growers. Is it possible for artisanal cannabis to compete with Mega corporations pushing tons of cannabis each year? I think so.

As the dust settles on cannabis reform and new players enter the marketplace, corporate cannabis would probably handle the majority of mass cultivation supplying to the consumer. This will be similar to the alcohol industry, where brand names will be plastered on storefronts at a cheaper more accessible price.

This corporate weed however would probably not be as potent as most of the strains on the market today as federal regulations will place a limit on THC levels. The corporate version of weed will also probably not be focused on Buds, but rather on infusing products with cannabis. This means cannabis drinks, foods and extracts to be the primary focus of the corporate cannabis market.

Nonetheless, the consumer market over the past twenty years have grown accustom to designer strains. Within a corporate model, focusing on multiple strains and making minute shifts in genetics isn’t worth the money. They prefer to have standardized strain production in order to create standardized products. Perhaps a corporate entity would grow three different strains where artisanal growers can change their crop every season.

This is similar to how craft beer works within the alcohol industry. Just like craft beer, artisanal weed will find its niche within the marketplace. Cannabis Connoisseurs would much rather spend a few extra dollars to get a unique strain of cannabis as opposed to buying the “generic brands” delivered by corporations.

The Artisanal weed game will diminish though. Corporate cannabis will take the lump sum of the consumer market. People who don’t really care where their weed comes from; they just want the product. The future of weed, in terms of consumption practices would most likely be 80-90% corporate weed and 10-20% of artisanal weed.

The connoisseur market will never disappear completely. Some people like to grow weed for the sake of growing weed. I can imagine weed-type farmer’s markets in the near future, where you can source weed from individual growers as opposed to dispensaries.

This connoisseur market might even create a few celebrity growers and chefs who would position themselves within the niche.

Will Corporate Weed be Bad?

I know that some people are thinking that corporate weed might not be bad. You lose a lot when it comes to mass cultivation practices. The end-goal of any corporation is to reduce costs, increase efficiency and grow profit margins.

This means that they won’t use the best nutrients or lighting systems to grow their weed, they would focus on the most efficient.

When comparing corporate weed with artisanal weed you would immediately be able to tell the difference. Where corporate weed would be “good”, artisanal weed would be exceptional.

Nonetheless, I don’t think that consumers would settle for subpar weed either. Corporate weed would probably range between 10% - 15% THC and some strains might be under 10% as well. They would standardize weed, find the equilibrium between shitty cannabis and awesome buds.

One thing certain about corporate weed is that it would be easily accessible, efficient and meant for mass consumption. It will come in the form of edibles, drinkables, pre-rolled joints and blunts, extracts and so forth, but I truly believe that the corporate side of cannabis will focus a lot more on infusions than actual buds.

From a corporate perspective, it only makes sense to streamline production and create standardized products. Buds and individual strains are far too volatile to be incorporated within an enterprise structure.

While some of you might vow today that you’ll never smoke the Walmart of weeds, in all likeliness you will. There will come a point in time when buying a pack of joints will be a possibility. When that time comes, and you find yourself without weed in a remote town…you’re probably going to be buying the corporate stuff.

That’s okay though. This weed will be good. It won’t be the best, but it definitely will be good enough that the majority of the people will be okay with it.

In the future, if you’re going to be looking for high potency strains that have been crafted over years of cross breeding…then the artisanal market will be what you’re looking for. You’ll have to pay more for it, but the option will still be available.

In short, the recreational market comprised of both artisanal and corporate cannabis can coexist. They will coexist and while you might not have the opportunity to become the Walmart of Bud, you will be able to make a name for yourself within this select niche.

One thing is certain, in the near future you will always have weed legally available, no matter where you are.

Will Craft Cannabis be able to Compete with Corporate Marijuana from CannabisNet on Vimeo.