The great cannabis cultivation debate: hand- or machine-trim?

Choosing whether to trim cannabis by hand or machine is a decision that impacts both the final aesthetic and the perceived quality of marijuana buds as well as a cultivator’s operational efficiency and the bottom line.As the cannabis market matures and consumer preferences evolve, cultivators must evaluate consistency, cost-effectiveness and the overall value proposition of each approach.

ADVERTISEMENT “The industry acknowledges that hand-trimming is definitely more precise,” said David Risley, director of cultivation at Missouri-based multistate operator Shangri-La Dispensaries, which recently opened a 40,000-square-foot cultivation and manufacturing facility in Connecticut.Many growers use both hand- and machine-trimming methods, depending on the quality of the cannabis they’re processing.

Cultivators typically trim higher-quality flower by hand but use trimming machines to save time and labor costs for lower-end strains.“With hand-trimming, you can be gentler with the product and not disturb as many trichomes as if you put it through a machine trimmer,” said Joey Hoover, director of cultivation at Des Moines, Iowa-based Bud & Mary’s.

“People who are experienced (cannabis users) can tell the difference.” Marijuana operators weigh efficiency versus precision One person can trip about 1 pound of cannabis in an eight-hour shift.A properly trained employee operating a trimming machine can trim 10-15 pounds in about an hour, Hoover said.

“If you machine trim, it’s a lot cheaper and labor costs are more efficient, but it depends on what you’re growing for and the quality of the product,” Hoover said.Victor Hernandez, national head of cultivation for New York-headquartered multistate operator iAnthus Capital Holdings, acknowledges that while machine trimming has improved, the major differentiating factor between the two methods is how the final bud looks.

He also notes that the more...