The California State Fair is one of the most iconic events of the year for the Golden State. For 165 years, Californians have gathered for just over two weeks of exhibitions, rides, food, and agricultural competition. And while the legendary celebration is still months away, weed brands hoping to be part of the groundbreaking California State Fair Cannabis Awards are already preparing their finest.
The submission window for competition entries officially opened today and runs through May 4th. Now in its fourth year, the Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair is returning bigger and better than ever with expanded categories and new medals to win. Regulated cannabis brands will vie for the coveted Best-in-Show Golden Bear trophy, while Gold, Silver, and newly-minted Bronze awards will also be up for grabs.
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This year’s competition categories are:
- Indoor flower
- Outdoor flower
- Mixed-Light flower
- Beverages
- Cartridges
- Concentrates
- Edibles
- Pre-Rolls
- Wellness
These main competition categories will be further broken out into sub-categories. New for 2025 are awards for blunts, hash, and chocolates. Once again, entries will be subject to rigorous scientific testing as well as expert judging from a panel of esteemed Budist critics.
Last year, the California State Fair made history by adding on-site cannabis consumption and sales through partner retailer Embarc. The team from Embarc will once again have a major presence at the State Fair this summer, offering a wide variety of products from Cannabis Awards winners and entrants.
“At Embarc, we believe in fostering community connections through education and responsible access to cannabis,” Lauren Carpenter, CEO of Embarc, told GreenState. “Our continued partnership with the California State Fair allows us to demystify cannabis for the public, celebrate the achievements of local producers, and positively contribute to the evolving narrative of cannabis in California.”
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Visitors to the California State Fair can also explore a large exhibit outlining the history of cannabis in the region, in addition to the awards display, on-site dispensary, and consumption lounge. Carpenter added, “Integrating cannabis into the California State Fair alongside wine, cheese, and other agricultural staples underscores this industry’s significance in our state’s culture and economy.”
The California State Fair runs from July 11-27 at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Golden Bear winners for this year’s California State Fair Cannabis Awards will be announced at this time. After getting national attention for the event in 2024, this year’s soiree is promising to raise the bar even higher.
