My brother lives a few miles from a large scale grow in Mexico. What they do there (not sure about other places) is plant, do no sexing, come back in a few months, harvest with reckless abandon. There usually is no drying period other than the time it takes for it to get processed while it bakes in the sun. The cure happens while it is in brick form while being transported north. It really all depends on what kind of operation it is.....large scale south of the border...pretty much what I said above, smaller scale and usually someone takes the time and love the plants need to properly care for, trim, dry and cure.