California State Fair opens with historic weed first
The California State Fair is officially open, bringing crowds of people to Sacramento for tasty treats, agricultural delights, and plenty of entertainment. For 170 years, the storied Golden State get-together has celebrated everything that makes the West Coast the best coast. More than 700,000 people explore the Cal Expo grounds every year, and starting today, guests 21 and over have a brand new experience to enjoy: a cannabis consumption lounge and on-site dispensary.
Embarc Oasis, the dynamic State Fair cannabis experience, starts with an educational exhibit. Attendees can learn more about the legacy of California cannabis and check out a wide range of brands, cultivators, and industry organizations. The brand-new on-site dispensary will be right outside the exhibit’s back doors. Non-inhalable consumption is permitted within the Oasis (although no consumption may occur within the exhibit itself).
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Patrons can then walk a short distance to the Consumption Garden, which allows guests to smoke, dab, and imbibe in whatever way they see fit. The Consumption Garden will also play host to the Craft Stage, featuring a wide range of programming, panels, and concerts (GreenState will be there too, so don’t miss it!). Heads up: for the first two days of the fair, only non-inhalable products will be sold. Beginning Sunday, 7/14, inhalable sales and the consumption lounge will open. Both the dispensary and consumption lounge will be closed on July 19th.
Dustin Moore, co-founder of the fair’s cannabis retail partner Embarc, believes offering attendees the chance to both buy and smoke weed at Cal Expo is a groundbreaking opportunity to normalize the plant and set a standard the rest of the country can look to.
“The California State Fair has had a world-class cannabis exhibit and science-based flower competition for the past two years, recognizing California’s cannabis farmers alongside other renowned farmers in wine, cheese, olive oil, and more,” Moore told GreenState.
“Integrating onsite sales and consumption into this cannabis experience for the first time at any state fair is a massive step in our collective effort to destigmatize cannabis, particularly in front of such a diverse and widespread audience at this scale.”
Cal Canna Awards expansion adds to excitement
The on-site dispensary and consumption lounge aren’t the only new additions to the California State Fair cannabis experience. The Cal Canna Awards, the country’s first state-sanctioned weed contest, is spreading its wings. Now in its third year, the contest has expanded to include not just flower, but wellness, edibles, drinks, concentrates, vapes, and pre-rolls.
Judging protocols have also evolved. All flower entries are still subject to testing by SC Labs, with silver and gold medals awarded to bud with the highest test results for various terpenes and cannabinoids. Those top-tier entrants were then distributed to a panel of Budist judges, who critiqued unmarked jars using the Budist 100-point scale.
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Judges assessed aroma, flavor, and bud structure, and favorites won the coveted best-in-show Golden Bear award. The six new categories were solely judged by the Budist panel.
Legendary cannabis operator and Ganjier co-founder Kevin Jodrey felt the addition of Budist judges like himself leveled up the competition—and the community itself.
“The goal has always been to create a framework where like-minded professionals can objectively bring to light the highest in quality products the industry has to offer so the consumer can shop and partake with insight and trust,” Jodrey said. “Objective, accurate, and honest assessments are the standards I’m proud to represent as a Budist.”
Budist judge Luna Stower, chief impact officer at Ispire, shared Jodrey’s sentiments.
“My involvement is driven by a commitment to educate and inspire the community about the artistry and innovation in our industry,” Stower said. “It’s an honor to be part of this journey and to help elevate the appreciation for top-tier cannabis!”
The gold and silver winners were announced earlier this week, but the Golden Bear trophies will be given out at an invite-only awards show on July 27th on the Craft Stage. In addition to the accolades, Cal Canna Awards winners will have the opportunity to have their products sold in select Embarc stores.
Fairs are more fun with a touch of green
The State Fair is as American as apple pie. Having cannabis alongside other local crops, folk art, and funnel cake stands is a big step forward in terms of normalization. The fact that the historic first is taking place in California is lost on no one; the Golden State has long been an epicenter of weed culture. As legalization spreads across the country, other fairs may soon see joints next to the corn dogs, too.
