The 2024 California State Fair Cannabis Awards celebrated the best of California’s cannabis industry with an expanded competition format that included six new product categories and 16 product types. The event drew over 500 submissions from some of the finest cultivators across the state. This prestigious competition, a historic first in the United States, sits proudly alongside the State Fair's annual contests in wine, craft beer, olive oil and cheese.
Budist: The Key Partner
This year’s awards saw the inclusion of Budist, the industry’s first social review platform for cannabis products and brands. Budist provided a panel of cannabis experts to assess the quality and craftsmanship of each entry using a standardized methodology. Co-founded by Jocelyn Sheltraw and Claudio Miranda, Budist offers a 100-point rating system (similar to the one used to rate wine) and features reviews from certified “Ganjiers,” cup judges, journalists, tastemakers and connoisseurs.
"Our mission is to be the industry standard for cannabis connoisseurship and product appreciation. We aim to be a trusted resource for navigating the complex, ever-evolving product landscape, giving consumers the tools they need to find the right product for their particular needs and use cases," explains Budist’s website.
The competition was open to all licensed cannabis growers, manufacturers, and brands in California, with entrants vying for over 100 awards, including silver, gold, and double gold medals and nine coveted Golden Bear trophies for the "Best of California."
Sungrown Division Winners
| Award | Farm | Cultivar | Award Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | ||
| Gold | Emerald Spirit Botanicals | Pink Boost Goddess | Ocimene |
| Silver | North Fork Garden Society | Panama Red | Ocimene |
| Gold | Farmer and the Felon | Jet Fuel OG | Myrcene |
| Silver | Farmer and the Felon | Sherb | Myrcene |
| Gold | Perimeter 21/Green Shock Farms | Green Lantern | Caryophylene |
| Silver | Esensia | Esensia OG | Caryophylene |
| Gold | Savage Farms | Savage Rose | Pinene |
| Silver | Sunbright Gardens | Éclair Delight | Pinene |
| Gold | Lakes Own | Garlic & Bananas | Limonene |
| Silver | True Mom & Pop | Peanut Butter Breath | Limonene |
| Gold | Esensia | Rose Petal | Terpinolene |
| Silver | Ghost Dance | Nimbus Snacks | Terpinolene |
| Gold | Sunrise Mountain Farms | Burmese Mimosa | MCL |
| Silver | Farmer and the Felon | Jet Fuel OG | MCL |
| Gold | Emerald Spirit Botanicals | Pink Boost Goddess | Total Terpenes |
| Silver | Farmer and the Felon | Sherb | Total Terpenes |
| Gold | Mombacho Farms | Gods Breath | THCa |
| Silver | Lakes Own | Green Crack | THCa |
| Gold | Emerald Spirit Botanicals | Emerald CBG | CBGa |
| Silver | Higher Heights | Governmint Oasis | CBGa |
| Gold | Emerald Spirit Botanicals | Rose Queen | CBDa |
| Silver | Sonoma Hills Farm | Chemberry CBD | CBDa |
Indoor Division Winners
| Award | Farm | Cultivar | Award Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | ||
| Gold | Moca Humboldt | Grape Cookies | Ocimene |
| Silver | Mercy Wellness Grow | Pie Scream | Ocimene |
| Gold | Green Smart Farmer | Ghost Vapor OG | Myrcene |
| Silver | Mercy Wellness Grow | Pie Scream | Myrcene |
| Gold | Frogville Farms | Durban Mintz | Caryophylene |
| Silver | Ember Valley | Riff OG | Caryophylene |
| Gold | Snowtill | Pie Scream | Pinene |
| Silver | Green Smart Farmer | Ghost Vapor OG | Pinene |
| Gold | Moca Humboldt | Marshmellow OG #9 | Limonene |
| Silver | Mercy Wellness Grow | GMO Sherbquake | Limonene |
| Gold | Pure Beauty | New Jack City | Terpinolene |
| Silver | Moca Humboldt | Sour Candy | Terpinolene |
| Gold | Green Smart Farmer | Ghost Vapor OG | MCL |
| Silver | Mercy Wellness Grow | Pie Scream | MCL |
| Gold | Green Smart Farmer | Ghost Vapor OG | Total Terpenes |
| Silver | Mercy Wellness Grow | Pie Scream | Total Terpenes |
| Gold | Mercy Wellness Grow | Pie Scream | THCa |
| Silver | Moon Valley Cannabis | Hash Burger | THCa |
| Gold | Moca Humboldt | Grape Cookies | CBGa |
| Silver | Mercy Wellness Grow | Pie Scream | CBGa |
Mixed Light Division Winners
| Award | Farm | Cultivar | Award Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | ||
| Gold | Glass House Farms | Lilac Diesel | Ocimene |
| Silver | Heritage Canopy | Tuscan Gelato | Ocimene |
| Gold | Baggie Buds | GSC 3.5 Flower | Myrcene |
| Silver | na | na | Myrcene |
| Gold | Baggie Buds | Durban Cookies | Caryophylene |
| Silver | Urbn Leaf | Governmint Oasis | Caryophylene |
| Gold | Baggie Buds | GSC 3.5 Flower | Pinene |
| Silver | Skyline Farms | Modified Sherbert | Pinene |
| Gold | Skyline Farms | Modified Sherbert | Limonene |
| Silver | Loud Pack/Greenfield Organics | Bubble Bath | Limonene |
| Gold | Glass House Farms | Lilac Diese | Terpinolene |
| Silver | na | na | Terpinolene |
| Gold | Skyline Farms | Modified Sherbert | MCL |
| Silver | Baggie Buds | Durban Cookies | MCL |
| Gold | Glass House Farms | Lilac Diesel | Total Terpenes |
| Silver | Skyline Farms | Modified Sherbert | Total Terpenes |
| Gold | Urbn Leaf | Governmint Oasis | THCa |
| Silver | Skyline Farms | Modified Sherbert | THCa |
| Gold | Baggie Buds | Durban Cookies | CBGa |
| Silver | Glass House Farms | Lilac Diesel | CBGa |
| Gold | Pacific Reserve Nursery | Rank Rose | CBDa |
| Silver | na | na | CBDa |
Other Division Winners
| Award | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| BEVERAGES | ||
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | |
| Gold | Reefresh | Strawberry Lemonade (10mg) |
| Silver | Olala | Root Beer (10mg |
| CARTRIDGES | ||
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | |
| CARTRIDGES: Solvent | ||
| Gold | Forbidden Roses (Live Diamond Sauce Cartridge) | Halara/Sota Extracts Inc |
| Silver | Gush Mintz – 5g Live Resin W | Wildseed |
| CARTRIDGES: Solventless | ||
| Gold | 100% Live Rosin Syrup Lantz All-in-One (73u) | Arcata Fire (Ridgeline Farms Collaboration) |
| Silver | Lemon Dog Live Rosin | Cookies |
| CONCENTRATES | ||
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | |
| CONCENTRATES: Solvent | ||
| Gold | HIGHUASCA | CANNABIOTIX |
| Silver | Super Jack Live Resin Diamonds B | BEAR Labs |
| CONCENTRATES: Solventless – Hash | ||
| Gold | 6 Star Full Melt – Whitethorn Rose | Ay Papi x Huckleberry Hill Farms |
| Silver | Hash Burger Ice Water Hash | Moon Valley |
| CONCENTRATES: Solventless – Rosin | ||
| Gold | Z | HAF (Hash & Flowers) |
| Silver | Sour Papi Live Rosin Jam | Ay Papi (Mattole Valley Farms) |
| EDIBLES | ||
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | |
| EDIBLES: Candies Product | ||
| Gold | CBD 1:1 Assorted Flavors | Space Gem |
| Silver | Whitethorn Rose Gummies | Ay Papi |
| EDIBLES: Baked Goods/Chocolates | ||
| Gold | White Cheddar Popcorn | Big Top |
| Silver | Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Indica | Emerald Sky |
| PRE-ROLLS | ||
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | |
| PRE-ROLLS: Non-Infused | ||
| Gold | Zlurpeee Rollz | City of Trees Ventures Inc |
| Silver | 6pk Prerolls Blue Limonene | Autumn Brands |
| PRE-ROLLS: Infused – Solvent | ||
| Gold | Orange Creamsicle Diamond Pre-Roll 3pk | The Pairist |
| Silver | Nami Supernova Sherbanger – Roadie: 3pk, Infused Blunt | Rockstar Cannabis |
| PRE-ROLLS: Infused – Solventless | Whitethorn Rose Rosin Pre-Roll Single | The Pairist |
| Silver | OCal Cereal Milk x Cereal Milk Rosin Infused Pre-Rolls | Jetty Extracts |
| Silver | OCal Cereal Milk x Cereal Milk Rosin Infused Pre-Rolls | Jetty Extracts |
| WELLNESS | ||
| Golden Bear | Announced July 27, 2024 | |
| WELLNESS: Tablets/Capsules | ||
| Gold | HYBRID X TABS | KIKOKO |
| Silver | Sherbet Haze – 25mg Tablets – Sativa | Emerald Bay Extracts |
| WELLNESS: Topicals | ||
| Gold | CBD RELEAF BALM [150MG] 3:1 CBD:THC | PAPA & BARKLEY |
| Silver | Topical Healing Cream | Blue Sage THC |
| WELLNESS: Tinctures | ||
| Gold | Lights Out Tincture | Yummi Karma |
| Silver | Nightime Tincture | Beard Bros / Fluids Manufacturing, Inc. |
The event was produced by Fair Play Ventures in partnership with the California Exhibition & State Fair. The 2024 California State Fair Cannabis Awards and Experience will be on display at the State Fair from July 12-28, 2024, at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento, California.
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Cover image made with AI
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Comments
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
Cannabis is evolving – don’t get left behind!
Curious about what’s next for the industry and how to leverage California’s unique market?
Join top executives, policymakers, and investors at the Benzinga Cannabis Market Spotlight in Anaheim, CA, at the House of Blues on November 12. Dive deep into the latest strategies, investment trends, and brand insights that are shaping the future of cannabis!
Get your tickets now to secure your spot and avoid last-minute price hikes.