The California State Fair Cannabis Awards, the country’s first state-sanctioned weed contest, made history last weekend in Sacramento. The awards show was held in the very first legal consumption area at a State Fair, and celebrated the best that California cannabis has to offer.
Now in its third year, the California State Fair Cannabis Awards expanded the competition for 2024. The contest included not just flower, but finished goods like edibles, pre-rolls, and concentrates for a total of nine categories and several sub-categories.
Silver and Gold medals were announced before the California State Fair, but the best-in-show Golden Bear trophies were kept under wraps until the official ceremony last weekend. Fair attendees could purchase the award-winning weed at the on-site dispensary, courtesy of Embarc. It was the first time legal cannabis sales were permitted at a State Fair.
There were reportedly over 500 submissions for the contest. Flower samples underwent SC Labs potency testing, which identified entries with the highest results in a variety of cannabinoids and terpenes. Those top-testing samples were then judged by Budist critics, using their 100-point scale to assess appearance, flavor, aroma, and effect. The Budist critics also judged entries in the other non-flower categories.
Dustin Moore, co-founder of Embarc, dubbed the event “the Oscars of Cannabis.” He told GreenState 2024 was just the first in many years of celebration to come.
“This is a ‘pinch-me’ moment,” Moore said on the “green” carpet before the show. “We’re going through a lot as an industry, and to see the hope and the smiles on everybody’s faces today, it’s just so special. We’ve created a wave here, and it’s not going away.”
“A dream come true…”
Award winners arrived at the show in style, with medals placed around their necks at check-in. After a Hollywood-worthy photo op and interview at a step-and-repeat, guests made their way into the consumption tent for a pre-show toke. GreenState editor Rachelle Gordon hosted the award show, which featured an industry leader in each category.
Golden Bear winners included:
Sungrown Flower – Pink Boost Goddess by Emerald Spirit Botanicals
Mixed Light Flower – Lilac Diesel by Glass House Farms
Indoor Flower – New Jack City by Pure Beauty
Concentrates – Whitethorn Rose Six Star Full Melt Whitethorn Rose by Ay Papi and Huckleberry Hill Farms
Cartridges – Lantz 100% Live Rosin Syrup by Arcata Fire and Ridgeline Farms Pre-Rolls – Whitethorn Rose Rosin by The Pairist
Edibles – CBD 1:1 by Space Gem
Beverages – Mandarin Tumeric Ginger Little Strong Drink by Pure Beauty
Wellness – Hybrid X Tabs by KIKOKO
The historic nature of the occasion was not lost on anyone, as other states look to California as a model for celebrating cannabis in a mainstream setting.
“I feel like it’s a little Chicago girl’s dream to win the California State Fair for edibles,” gushed Wendy Baker, founder of Space Gem.
Jessica Pender of Ghost Dance Ranch shared Baker’s sentiments.
“To win the silver medal at the California State Fair and be part of the first 100 to sell our cannabis here is like a dream come true for us in the cannabis industry.”
History in the making
Two special awards were given out in addition to the nine Golden Bears. California cannabis icon Pebbles Trippet received the first annual Lifetime Achievement Award for helping the state establish the Trippet Standard. The precedent ensures cannabis patients and producers can transport their goods. The award will bear Trippet’s name in the years to come.
“I am so grateful for this honor,” Trippet said in a video tribute played during the presentation of her award. “I’m very grateful to the Fair for being the first to have come out in favor of something that the world already supports and allowing us to partake on those fairgrounds. Wow!”
James Leitz, founder of FairPlay Ventures and curator of the California State Fair’s cannabis exhibit, also received a Visionary Award. Leitz was previously honored at a worldwide fair exhibit competition for his work, and the Embarc team surprised him on stage with the accolade.
“It’s my dream, and I’m sure the dream of many here tonight, that cannabis will soon be a part of every state fair across the country,” Moore said on stage, telling Leitz he “set the bar high” for what cannabis can look like in a fair setting.
The 2024 California State Fair Cannabis Awards were indeed groundbreaking, and excitement is already building for the future. The production team, winners, and esteemed guests honored the community but also set a new standard for what’s possible as weed becomes more mainstream across the country.
