California State Fair to host cannabis competition for the first time

Next year, California cannabis producers will be able to participate in a state-sponsored competition—the first of its kind—at the State Fair, event organizers announced.

While companies in the cannabis industry have been participating for years in various private competitions such as the High Times Cannabis Cup, this is the first time a state government agency will organize such an event.

This announcement comes about five years after California voters approved an initiative to legalize cannabis for adults. Participants in the 2022 competition will be treated the same as sellers of wine, beer, and cheese—a strong sign of the normalization of the cannabis industry.

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«We are pleased to celebrate California’s legal and licensed cannabis industry as part of the 2022 CA State Fair,» said Jess Durfee, board director of the California Exposition & State Fair, in a press release.

«Over the past 166 years, the CA State Fair »has always been a trailblazer, leading the State Fair circuit with innovative programming and large-scale competitions that celebrate the best the state has to offer, making the addition of cannabis culture a natural new category."

The California Exhibition & State Fair, which is an independent state agency established by law under the California Food and Agriculture Code, will work with the cannabis marketing and events agency Cultivar Brands to present the event's awards.

«The launch of state-sanctioned awards will showcase California farmers, both large and small, and the incredible cannabis flower the state has to offer,» said Brian Applegarth, CEO of Cultivar Brands. «We’ll also educate the public, demystify the plant, and challenge stereotypes.».

Unlike many other private cannabis competitions, this one will not be judged based on the subjective evaluations of marijuana enthusiasts. Instead, the winners will be determined based on a «scientific analysis conducted and certified by SC Labs,» a cannabis testing company.

«SC Labs will provide all participants with the required certificates of analysis (COAs), as well as a PhytoFacts® chemometric report that will identify all unique compounds in the submission in order to determine the award winners,» the press release states.

The contest will be open to all licensed cannabis growers in California, and participants will be divided into separate categories for cannabis grown indoors, outdoors, and greenhouses. A total of 77 medals will be awarded, including a «Golden Bear» trophy for «Best of California.».

Participants will be able to register From November 1, 2021, to March 30, 2022.