Why has Product Quality Gone Downhill? Why Are All Big Companies Seemingly Providing Mids?

Conveyor belt of brown dried bad marijuana|cannabis in a dingy dark warehouse — A conveyor of brown, dry mids being prepared for packaging by every MSO

In the fast-growing cannabis world, a trend has emerged that’s leaving consumers frustrated—many feel that product quality from big companies is slipping. At Clutch Plug, we take a different approach, maintaining high standards with our products and our farming partners. Here’s why this issue is becoming industry-wide, and how Clutch Plug stays committed to delivering top-tier quality you can trust.

The Big Scale Problem: Quantity Over Quality

Many large cannabis companies focus on maximizing profits, which often means fewer workers handling increasingly massive grow operations. The result? Less attention on each plant. It’s not one huge mistake—it’s a series of small oversights that lead to stressed, underperforming plants. At Clutch Plug, we work exclusively with farms that prioritize proper personnel-to-canopy ratios, ensuring each plant gets the care it deserves.

Rigid Schedules vs. Plant Needs

Big operations often impose rigid schedules to meet market demands, harvesting plants before they’re truly ready. This compromises the quality of the cannabinoids and terpenes. At Clutch Plug, we respect each plant’s natural cycle, partnering with farms that only harvest when the plants have reached peak maturity, delivering quality cannabinoids that meet our high standards.

Overstretched Resources and Strain-Specific Needs

To meet the demand for strain diversity, many large companies push their infrastructure to its limits. Often, multiple strains with different nutritional needs are grouped under a single irrigation system, causing nutrient imbalances—correcting a deficiency in one strain can lead to toxicity in another. At Clutch Plug, we take a different approach. Our farms tailor their nurturing processes to meet the specific needs of each strain, ensuring every plant thrives.

Incentives Misaligned with Quality

In large-scale operations, the focus is often on quantity—like grams per square foot—rather than quality. This emphasis can yield impressive numbers that may mask a dip in product quality. Clutch Plug aligns incentives with quality metrics, such as terpene profiles and cannabinoid richness, not just overall yield.

Passion vs. Profit

As big cannabis companies grow and bring in executives from traditional industries, there’s often a shift from a consumer-focused approach to a corporate one. When decision-makers aren’t consumers themselves, they may lose touch with what makes a quality product. At Clutch Plug, we’re passionate connoisseurs, committed to products we’re proud to use ourselves. We believe in the artisanal approach, like in the craft beer industry, where quality and consumer satisfaction drive decisions.

Clutch Plug’s Commitment

We know it can be challenging to find high-quality cannabis products in today’s market. That’s why Clutch Plug remains committed to doing things differently. We focus on sourcing boutique-quality products with no shortcuts in cultivation, harvesting, or production. When you choose Clutch Plug, you’re choosing a brand that values quality as much as you do.

In an industry where big companies often sacrifice quality for scale, Clutch Plug stands firm in our commitment to excellence and safety. We’re here to keep raising the bar, ensuring you always receive the best.