How do I become a Cannabis Cup judge?

For lovers of good weed, becoming a judge in a cannabis competition can be a goal in itself.

The prospect of tasting dozens of cannabis varieties Each one is more refined than the next, and having access to all kinds of cannabis-derived products is enough to excite any gourmet—but as tempting as it may seem, this role is not to be taken lightly. A number of prerequisites must be met, and although the profession does not officially exist, one must be a connoisseur and, ideally, be recognized within the local or international cannabis community.

How Can You Be a Good Judge?

For certain public events, «judge» passes are available for purchase. All you have to do is select this option when purchasing a ticket to become a judge.

In private competitions, which are more demanding, you have to be a a recognized expert in the cannabis industry.

Most major events combine both formats, featuring a panel of expert judges and a panel of amateur judges. To be considered an expert, it’s best to already have connections within the cannabis industry that demonstrate a certain level of scientific knowledge about the plant. You also need to have a keen sense of smell and taste to be able to assess the quality of products based not only on their effects but also on their texture, smell, and appearance.

Finally, of course, you need to be familiar with certain basic principles, such as:

• the differences between terpenoid profiles
• the plant's aesthetic characteristics, such as flower structure, color patterns…
• textural nuances such as the density of the flowers or the consistency of the concentrates

Judges are selected in advance because some preparation is necessary. They must familiarize themselves with the voting system and be equipped to smoke all evening (food, drinks, good ventilation, etc.). In fact, judges usually receive samples of the competing products at home. Their Tolerance needs to be boosted At most: they may sometimes have to taste about a hundred types of weed in about ten days, sometimes less.

It’s definitely best not to have anything important to do and to already have some tolerance to cannabis before embarking on such a marathon. The judges then take notes on the products they taste and assign them scores.

Their work has real consequences: it brings recognition to the winning weeds, which then sell better in legal stores and at the festival.

The invisible work of the breeders and growers is also recognized at the same time, which can lead to major contracts. On our side of the Atlantic, judge passes are offered, for example, for the Amsterdam High Times Cannabis Cup (fairly accessible, with price being the only drawback) or Da-Ba-Doo, which specializes in concentrates and is reserved for connoisseurs.