The High Times Cannabis Cup returns to New York in 2025

The High Times Cannabis Cup is officially back! For the first time in New York, the selection process will be open to the public, making this edition a historic moment for the event.

Traditionally, The Cannabis Cup relied on a small group of 28 to 35 expert judges to determine the winners. However, since the The pandemic has impacted live events. To take a break, the competition has reinvented itself. From now on, New Yorkers themselves will decide which products deserve the trophy: 228 kits per category will be offered to the judges.

Dates and Categories

Entries from competitors are due by October 10-13, 2025, in a reception venue located in Brooklyn. The October 21st, judgment kits will be made available at select authorized retailers, giving consumers two months to test and rate the products. The evaluation period will run from October 21 to December 21, 2025, with the final awards ceremony scheduled for January 16, 2026.

This year's contest includes 12 categories:

• Indica Flowers
• Sativa Flowers
• Hybrid flowers
• Pre-rolled
• Infused pre-rolls
• Solvent-based concentrates
• Solvent-free concentrates
• Vape pen
• Edibles gummies
• Edibles: other than gummies
• Edibles: drinks
• Topical products and dyes

Each entry must comply with the strict regulations of the New York Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). All products must be accompanied by compliant packaging, certificates of analysis, and invoices. Participating quantities are standardized: for example, competitors in the flower category must provide 228 one-gram samples, while edibles are limited to 100 mg of THC per package. Topicals and tinctures are capped at 1,000 mg of THC per unit.

As the organizers explain, these requirements ensure fairness, safety, and compliance with the state's legal framework.

A unique opportunity for brands

The Cannabis Cup presents a great opportunity for companies in the sector to showcase themselves to New York State consumers. The judges’ comments provide public feedback on the products, while the winners receive recognition across all High Times platforms, most recently taken over by Josh Kesselman, the founder of Raw.

As the event description notes, «This is a great opportunity to introduce your products to hundreds of new customers who will share their feedback with you and generate thousands of views.».