California State Fair announces Cannabis Awards winners in first-ever competition

The first-ever cannabis tournament to be officially sanctioned by the State of California announced its first lineup of winners ahead of this year’s celebrations at the California State Fair.

The California State Fair Cannabis Awards on June 23rd announced the best strains and breeders in California with a full list of award winners. Over 300 entries resulted in 60 trophies and medals, including gold and silver medals, as well as the coveted Golden Bear Award for the overall Best of California winners.

Cal Expo Fairgrounds is home to the California State Fair, an independent state agency incorporated by law under state statutes. This year’s state fair will take place from July 15 to July 31, but consumption is not permitted.

The science-based competition divided the cannabis flower entries into three categories: Indoor, Mixed Light and Outdoor. Additionally, the categories have been separated by terpenes and cannabinoids rather than traditional subdivisions like sativa or indica.

Laboratory tests were conducted by SC Labs to determine winners in 10 categories: cannabinoids, consisting of CBDa, CBGa and THCa, and terpenes, including myrcene, beta-caryophyllene, limonene, ocimene, terpinolene, pinene and a “co-dominant” Category.Each entry had to pass California compliance testing requirements to maximize public safety and accurately identify genetics.Each award winner provides a PhytoFact report.

MOCA Humboldt Head Cultivator Sarah Wright / Photo by CEO Matt Engel

At first glance, MOCA Humboldt, Esensia and Greenshock Farms took home the most wins in this year’s competition. MOCA Humboldt won gold for Wookies, Grape Cookies (2x), and ZOG in multiple categories ordered by terpenes and cannabinoids. Ridgeline Farms also took home three Silver wins for Apples & Bananas, Green Lantern and Ridgeline Runtz.

Perhaps the most interesting finds include Emerald Spirit Botanicals, which took home the special Outdoor Unique category for Pink Boost Goddess, which is high in THCV. Joseph Haggard is Farm Manager and Public Relations at Emerald Spirit Botanicals and his mother Katie Jeane bred Pink Boost Goddess.

“It is with great gratitude and honor that we are recognized as winners in the inaugural year of the California State Fair Cannabis Awards,” Jeane told High Times. “Pink Boost Goddess represents patient, painstaking, and prayerful breeding to create new medicine for mankind.”

Jeane continues: “Six years ago I asked the spirit of cannabis how I could support its evolution and was guided to focus on THCV. Through targeted, spiritual and scientific breeding work, I was able to identify and strengthen THCV in Pink Boost Goddess. To me, THCV represents focus, joy, a change of perspective, and an opportunity to reflect on how we consume. THCV is known to regulate appetite, improve concentration, regulate blood sugar in diabetics, and in some situations relieve neuropathic pain. I think it’s important to recognize that there is so much more to cannabis than THC, and THCV is an example of that.”

It is through these lesser-known cannabinoids that consumers can truly achieve better healing. “By understanding smaller cannabinoids, we can better understand the healing powers of the cannabis plant. It is amazing to see how Pink Boost Goddess has received seven major awards over the last two years including two 1st Place Emerald Cup Awards, an award for Most Unique Cannabinoid Profile, an award for Exotic Terpene Profile, an award for Highest THCV Flower in California and now this award for Most Unique Flower in California.”

Pink Boost Goddess offers an uplifting, happy, and focused experience with smooth floral notes and hints of peppery gas. Your flower is available through Farm Cut locations throughout California and through a few other brands listed on emeraldspiritbotanicals.com.

Others shared the good qualities of cannabis that make them award winners and how the event itself helps enhance the cannabis experience. “The addition of cannabis cultivation alongside wine, craft beer, cheese and olive oil fitted perfectly into the CA State Fair’s history of celebrating California’s rich agricultural history,” said Jess Durfee, Executive Chair of the California Exposition and State Fair. “We look forward to our first winners.”

KOLAS Technology SBM, a subsidiary of KOLAS, will provide each winner with a registered digital certification via blockchain technology to authenticate and protect the winning product.

“We love the science-based lab testing associated with this competition and are honored to be a part of the legendary CA State Fair,” said Aaron Salles, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at MOCA Humboldt. “This relationship gives legitimacy to our industry and gives us the opportunity to educate people about the many benefits of the cannabis plant.”

There will be a no-use ceremony for the winners at the upcoming CA Cannabis Exhibit at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento, California.

Esensia co-founders Marley Lovell and Ben Blake / Photo by Syra McCarthy (@syranara)

“We are honored and honored to be recognized for our craft, among top California farmers and alongside the best agricultural products the state has to offer,” said Ben Blake, co-founder of Esensia. “It takes three to four years of meticulous work for us to develop a variety from scratch to sale, much like winemaking, it’s really an artisanal process.”

Click here for a full list of award winners.