History of the High Times Cannabis Cup

Founded in 1988 in Amsterdam, the High Times Cannabis Cup is the world's most famous cannabis competition. Let's take a look back at its history, its role in the democratization of the great strains and its evolution towards the American legal markets.

History of the High Times Cannabis Cup

The first edition of the most famous cannabic event took place in 1988 in Amsterdam. The initiative came from Steve Hager, a writer, journalist and producer. For a long time, it remained a Dutch event, in view of the tolerant nature of the country cannabis legislation, but since 2010 has been exported in America as legalization proceeds. It is now established wherever the recreational use of cannabis is now legal. The next edition, the Midwest Cannabis Cup, will take place in Clio, Michigan, in early September.

The competition puts the best cannabis strains in competition Several categories are in competition, the best known being «Best Indica», «Best Sativa» and «Best Hybrid».

Among the qualities assessed, in addition to smell, taste and effect, the judges pay attention to the terpene profile, consistency and appearance of the plants, as well as their reaction to combustion. In this way, they reward the genius botanists and scientists who, by dint of cross-breeding, offer the best possible experience to cannabis enthusiasts.

Breeders' paradise

Win a prize at the Cannabis Cup is synonymous with notoriety and recognition for breeders and some varieties that seem commonplace today have been discovered and disseminated thanks to the festival. The competition is a win-win for growers and consumers alike. In 1988 it was the Skunk, one of the first hybrids with high production capacity, which won the competition and has since become the basis for further experimentation.

Each year, the festival showcases the latest cannabis varieties The competition is becoming increasingly fierce. Numerous crosses and perfected production techniques give rise to plants that concentrate all the sought-after qualities and have an increasingly refined genetic profile.

The quest for the highest yield, the best taste and the best appearance combined with ever-increasing effects has since given rise to exceptional varieties such as the Northern Lights, Blueberry, Super Silver Haze, Jack Herer,Amnesia, G-13, Tangerine Dream etc., all democratized by Cannabis Cup.

The 2014 winner of the Indica category with the Kush cookies, a cross between Girl Scout Cookies and the OG Kush, has succeeded in developing a variety that flowers extremely quickly, with a minty chocolate taste and a powerful effect.

The second prize for the best hybrid of the same year, a cross between the Skywalker OG Kush and the RD #2, Star Killer, reached a rate of THC of 20% and has become a benchmark to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

Emblematic winners include White Widow in 1995 (Green House Seeds), the Super Silver Haze three years running (1997, 1998, 1999), the’AK-47 in 1999, the Arjan's Haze #1 in 2004, the Chocolope in 2007.

From Amsterdam's coffeeshops to America's legal markets

For 25 years, the Cannabis Cup has been closely linked to Amsterdam and the coffeeshops Dutch. In 2013, Dutch regulations banning foreign tourists from coffeeshops put an end to the Amsterdam edition in its original form, as foreign consumers could no longer legally take part in the tastings.

The Cannabis Cup then moved en masse to the United States, carried by the wave of legalization: Colorado, Washington, California, then Michigan, Illinois and Alaska. The format also evolved: from 2014 onwards, the professional jury was gradually replaced by a system of «People's Choice, paying visitors vote, making the competition more accessible but also more criticized for its lack of scientific rigor.

High Times and the Cannabis Cup have since experienced financial difficulties linked to the turbulence in the industry. The editions are nevertheless maintained, and the reputation of the «Cannabis Cup winner» label remains a strong commercial argument for breeders and dispensaries.

The benefits of the Cannabis Cup

The Cannabis Cup it's not just a competition: it's also a forum that brings together the entire cannabis industry, supporters of legalization and the curious, with concerts, stands, conferences and exhibitions. In addition to flowers, the event features a wide range of by-products such as dabs, bongs, vapos, hemp-based clothing, cannabis beverages, and the like. edibles....

For budding growers, it's a wealth of tips and advice that also promotes the latest technological advances in cultivation. The concentration of cannabis professionals is also of interest, both to their counterparts and to the curious.