The Emerald Cup has been celebrating Northern California’s legendary cannabis harvests since 2004 with its annual event bringing cultivators, purveyors and smokers of all kinds together. It’s the preeminent cannabis competition in the world, rooted in the mystery and magic of the Emerald Triangle — Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino counties — and the cannabis culture that is its economic lifeblood. It’s also a really good time.
The Academy Awards of Cannabis Move to SoCal
This year, for the first time ever, the Emerald Cup got glitzy in Los Angeles, with cannabis aficionados flocking from around the state to the heart of Hollywood for the gala. The kickoff for the 18th Annual Emerald Cup took place last December in Santa Rosa, honoring its NorCal roots with the Emerald Cup Harvest Ball; and on May 14th, the awards show took over the massive Ricardo Montalbán Theater for a red (green) carpet event. It was starry, it was smoky, it was everything you could ask for from the “Academy Awards of Cannabis,” as Rolling Stone once called it.
Emerald Cup Founder Tim Blake and his daughter Taylor were joined onstage for the show by guest presenters from the cannabis community including the very funny Ngaio Bealum, Josephine & Billie’s CEO Whitney Beattie, and famed cannabis couple Nikki Lastreto and Swami Chaitanya of Swami Select. Winners from each Emerald Cup category scored a beautiful hand-blown glass trophy created by artist Ryan Fitt in collaboration with Puffco.
Judging the Best Cannabis in the World
Smoking and comparing the best weed in the world sounds like the best job in the world, but it’s no joke. A select group of hand-picked judges sampled over 700 entries in 50 categories including mixed-light, certified sungrown, and environmentally conscious indoor flower. The Emerald Cup says that it is committing to the culture that's crafting clean, high-quality cannabis. This may seem like an obvious declaration, but it’s something of a radical statement in today’s California market, which has seen a proliferation of white-labeling and multi-acre “mega farms” since Prop. 64 went into effect in 2018. Supporting the small farmers who created the industry we all benefit from is important to Tim Blake, who told High Times, “It’s our culture, it’s our community. And they just feel the love. We don’t do it for the money, we do it to really do something special… at the Harvest Ball last year, we gave away over 50 free booths.” The awards also included a personal use category so that people who don’t hold an expensive commercial license could participate.
Big winners of the night included LitHouse, who swept the Mixed Light Flower category with Modified Grapes, Jealousy and Lemon Lava as 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners respectively. Another fan favorite, Fig Farms, took home 1st and 3rd Place in the Indoor Flower category with Animal Face and Blue Face, as well as the Indoor Flower Breeder’s Cup for Holy Moly! There was a lot of buzz around Fig Farms’ entries as people clamored to get their hands on samples. Farmer & the Felon also did well, with several wins for Sungrown Flower. One first-place win that I was very happy to see went to Sovereign for Best Infused Solventless Extract Pre-Roll (Geode Joint - Modified), as well as 6th Place for Indoor Flower with Lemon Vuitton — notable since Sovereign’s licensing is “sunsetting.” Sovereign owner Brandy Moulton has been cultivating in Mendocino for 24 years, but she’s set to lose her indoor cultivation business due to a provision established by county supervisors in 2017 in an effort to push growers out of residential neighborhoods.
And the Lifetime Achievement Award Goes to…
In the most starry Hollywood moment of the night, longtime cannabis advocate and beloved actor Woody Harrelson was honored onstage with the 2022 Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement award, recognizing his decades of activism on behalf of cannabis culture, veganism, and a healthy questioning of the status quo. Harrelson joins a deeply respected pantheon of past winners including Winona LaDuke, Tommy Chong, and, of course, Willie Nelson himself. The timing of Harrelson’s being feted was auspicious, as his West Hollywood dispensary The Woods had just opened the day before. (Tune in next week for our review!)
Attendees at the gala were a who’s who of weed in the Golden State, with cultivators, extract artists, journalists, scientists, activists and celebrities enjoying the show with musical performances by Andreas One, Jasmine Solana, and Lafa. After the hours-long ceremony, everyone headed to the rooftop to congratulate the winners and sample some of their entries — and it got so packed, the fire marshal shut it down. It was a heady time, it was the best of times. Full list of winners below!
2022 Emerald Cup Award Winners
FLOWER
Sungrown Flower
1st Place - Farmer and the Felon - Lemon Sponge Cake2nd Place - Rebel Grown - Double OG Chem
3rd Place - Farmer and the Felon x Cookie Fam Genetics - Georgia Pie
4th Place - Farmer and the Felon - Double OG Chem
5th Place - Full Moon Farms - Black Water OG
6th Place - Canna Country Farms - #26
7th Place - Rebel Grown - Natty Bumpoo
8th Place - Farmer and the Felon - 92 OG
9th Place - Huckleberry Hill Farms - Mom's Weed
10th Place - Esensia - Lime Juice
Sungrown - Breeder’s Cup
1st Place - Rebel Grown - Double OG Chem
Mixed Light Flower
1st Place - LitHouse - Modified Grapes
2nd Place - LitHouse - Jealousy
3rd Place - LitHouse - Lemon Lava
4th Place - Safier Family Farms x Peak Humboldt x Mattole Uplift Cooperative - Angel Food Cake
5th Place - Healing Herb Farms - Lemon Head OG x Zkittlez
6th Place - Monterey Kush Co - Matchalato
7th Place - LitHouse - Paragon
8th Place - Bono-Ape - Ice Cream Cake
9th Place - Monterey Kush Co - Citra-Lato
10th Place - Booney Acres - Strawberry Jelly Flower
Mixed Light - Breeder’s Cup
1st Place - Healing Herb Farms - Lemon Head OG x Zkittlez
Indoor Flower
1st Place - Fig Farms - Animal Face
2nd Place- Panacea - Pablo's Revenge
3rd Place - Fig Farms - Blue Face
4th Place - NUG - Chocolatina
5th Place - Fig Farms - Holy Moly!
6th Place - Sovereign - Lemon Vuitton
7th Place - STIIIZY - Blue Burst
8th Place - Cure Company - Marathon OG
9th Place - Source Cannabis - Quest
10th Place - Atrium Cultivation - Juice Z
Indoor Flower Breeder’s Cup
1st Place- Fig Farms - Holy Moly!
Sungrown Greenhouse Flower
1st Place - Local Cannabis Co - Sherbhead
2nd Place - Glass House Farms - Glass House Farms Waiting Game
3rd Place - Local Cannabis Co - Ice Cream Cake
4th Place - Local Cannabis Co - Orange 43
5th Place - Harborside Farms - The Mac
6th Place - Harborside Farms x Bloom Farms - SFV OG
7th Place - Humboldt Redwood Healing x The Humboldt Brand - Sour G
8th Place - Country Club Cannabis - EVB Rainbow Frootz
9th Place - Ridgeline Farms - Ridgeline Runtz
10th Place - Harborside Farms - Motorhead
Personal Use Flower
1st Place - Parker PZ Moselle - Ohrangatang Titties
2nd Place - Colin Teurfs x Dan Pomerantz - Double OG Chem 4
3rd Place - Matt Jones - Cheese
4th Place - Brandy Schneider - AM Lime
5th Place - Mary Polson - Pink Champagne
3rd Party Certified Sungrown Flower
1st Place - Emerald Spirit Botanicals - Farm Cut - Pink Boost Goddess
3rd Party Certified Mixed Light Flower
1st Place - Old Briceland Cannabis Company - Epiphany
2nd Place - Old Briceland Cannabis Company - Area 41
3rd Place - Old Briceland Cannabis Company - White Gummies #1
Best in Show
1st Place - Farmer and the Felon - Lemon Sponge Cake
PRE-ROLLS
Pre-Roll – Infused Solventless Extract
1st Place - Sovereign - Geode Joint - Modified Lemons
2nd Place - El Toro Verde - El Toro Verde Cannagar
3rd Place - Vital Grown x Sticky Fields x Compassionate Heart x Massive Creations x Feeling Frosty - Mendo Massive
Pre-Roll – Infused Solvent Extract
1st Place - Paletas - Paletas Mother's Milk Infused Blunt
2nd Place - Sugar Daddy - Sugar Daddy Indica 2.5G Infused Blunt
3rd Place - Weedwoodz - Weedwoodz XOXO
Pre-Roll - Non Infused
1st Place - Lost Paradise Organics - Gelonade 6pk Flower Pre-Roll
2nd Place - Atrium Cultivation - Juice Z Pre-Roll
3rd Place - Country - 1:1 Good Neighbor Pre-Roll 6pk
SOLVENTLESS CONCENTRATES
Ice Water Hash
1st Place - Heritage Hash Co - Whitethorn Rose Live Bubble Hash
2nd Place - el Krem - Papaya Bomb Ice Water Hash
3rd Place - Papa's Select - Amarelo #9 90u Ice Water Hash
4th Place - Feeling Frosty - Banana Cream Cake x Jealousy 120u Ice Water Hash
5th Place - Kalya x Dancing Dog Ranch - Double Rainbow
Rosin
1st Place - Rosin Tech Labs x Luma Farms - Papaya
2nd Place - Heritage Hash Co - Whitethorn Rose Live Rosin
3rd Place - Kalya x LUMA Farms - Lemon Limez
4th Place - FIELD - FIELD Papaya Cold Cured Live Rosin
5th Place - Rosin Tech Labs - Garlic Cookies
6th Place - Rosin Tech Labs - Garlic Juice #3 Cold Cure
7th Place - el Krem - Strawberry Runtz - Rosin
8th Place - Moon Valley Hash Co - Strawberry Banana Cold Cure Live Rosin
9th Place - Doc Green's - White Buffalo Cold Cured Live Rosin
10th Place - Have Hash - Zkittlez Cold Cure Live Rosin (Headstash)
Personal Use Solventless
1st Place - Alice Reis x Flynn Abeln - Wooksauce Winery Screaming Mimis
2nd Place - Brett Byrd - Modified Grapes Full spec 45-159 creme brulee consistency w/THC-A layer
3rd Place - Brett Byrd - Gush Mints Full Spec 45-159
4th Place - Brett Byrd - Modified Grapes Full Spec 45-159
5th Place - Brett Byrd - Apple Fritters Full Spec 45-159
CARTRIDGES
C02 Cartridge
1st Place - Haku - Haku CO2 Live Resin
2nd Place - Featured Farms x Burzt Farms - Burzt by Featured Farms
3rd Place - Wildseed Co x Cannabis Refined - Cherry Wife CO2 Cartridge
Distillate Cartridge
1st Place - LEGION - Monarch - Strawberry Banana - Cannabis Derived Terpenes
2nd Place - GoldDrop x Fig Farms - Kush Mint Cookies Nug Run Vape Cartridge
3rd Place - Beezle Brands - Orange Blossom Buzz Cartridge
Live Resin Cartridge
1st Place - URSA Extracts - Liquid Diamond Sauce Humboldt Jack
2nd Place - Arcata Fire x Humboldt Seed Co - Raspberry Live Resin Sauce Cart
3rd Place - Lemon Tree x Holy Water x Orchard Beach Farms - Kiwi Tree Single Source Live Resin Cartridge
4th place - ColdFire Extracts x Turtle Pie Co - Prickly Pear Juice by ColdFire Extracts
5th place - Friendly Farms - Friendly Farms Liquid Live Resin Apple Fritter
6th place - The Bohemian Chemist - The Bohemian Chemist Cart Blanche .5g Hotsy-Totsy Live Resin Cartridge
7th place - Halara - GMO Live Diamond Sauce
8th place - Friendly Farms - Liquid Live Resin Flight #23
9th place - ColdFire Extracts - UpDog Juice by ColdFire Extracts
10th place - Oakland Extracts - Papaya Pucker
Solventless Cartridge
1st Place - Doc Green's - Runtz Live Rosin Vape Cartridge
2nd Place - Jetty Extracts - Fatso Solventless Vape
3rd Place - Arcata Fire x Highwater Farms - Key Lime Pie Solventless
SOLVENT CONCENTRATES
Hydro-Carbon Solid
1st Place - Beezle Brands x Luma Farms - Key Lime Paya Live Resin Budder
2nd Place - Beezle Brands x Earthen Farms - Gary Payton Live resin Budder
3rd Place - URSA Extracts - -Live Badder Modified Grapes
4th Place - Cookies x ArcataX - Day Day
5th Place - PaperPlanes Extracts x Land Hammer Farms - Donnie Burger #5 Live Resin Batter
Hydro-Carbon Liquid
1st Place - Cosmic x Peak x Feeling Frosty - White Runtz
2nd Place - FIELD x Wizard Trees x Doja - FIELD x Wizard Trees x Doja RS-11 Live Resin
3rd Place - Cosmic x Peak x Feeling Frosty - Orange Daiquiri
4th place - Terphogz - Live Resin Sauce Melon Brainz
5th place - Orchard Beach Farms x Holy Water - Kiwi Tree
TOPICALS
Therapeutic Topical
1st Place - Care By Design - CBD Joint & Muscle Cream
2nd Place - Kush Queen - Kush Queen Transdermal THC Water Based Personal Lubricant
3rd Place - OM x Feeling Frosty - Sweet Dreams CBN Rosin Bath Bomb
Cosmetic Topical
1st Place - Proof - Face Serum
2nd Place - OM x Feeling Frosty - Himalayan Kush Rosin Bath Bomb
Personal Use Topical
1st Place - Erica A - Deep Muscle Rub - Liniment Lotion
TINCTURES
1st Place - Care By Design - Refresh Drops 1:1 MAX
2nd Place - Santa Cruz Mountain Tops - La Luna
3rd Place - Lempire Farmaseed - LEM OG 1000mg Rosin Tincture
EDIBLES
Beverage
1st Place - HiFi Sessions x Lagunitas x Absolute Xtracts - HiFi Hoppy Chill
2nd Place - Pure Beauty - Little Strong Drink
3rd Place - K-Zen Beverages - Mad Lilly Passion Fruit Mango Spritzer
Beverage Enhancer
1st Place - S*Shots - Berry Blast
Gummies
1st Place - Kalya x Elephante - Papaya Rosin Gummies
2nd Place - Space Gem - Sweet Sleepy Fig
3rd Place - Queen Mary - Enchanted
Sweets
1st Place - Cosmic Edibles x Kalya - Solventless Rosin Plant-Based Chocolate Chip Sprinkles Cookie Dough
2nd Place - Oasis - Peanut Butter Cup Minis
3rd Place - Mammamia - Capri Lemon Cake Bites
Savory
1st Place - Potli x SF Roots - Shrimp Chips
2nd Place - TSUMo Snacks - TSUMo Snacks Classic Cheese Crunchers
ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOIDS
Alternative Cannabinoid Flower
1st Place - Pure Beauty - Terry T & Gelato 33
2nd Place - Glass House Farms - Jelly Fish
3rd Place - Glass House Farms - Tangelo Flow
Alternative Cannabinoid Flower Breeder's Cup
1st Place - Pure Beauty - Terry T & Gelato 33
Alternative Cannabinoid Hemp Flower
1st Place - Flowgardens - Orange Glaze #32
2nd Place - Flowgardens - Grapefruit
Alternative Cannabinoid Edible
1st Place - Papa & Barkley - Sleep Releaf
2nd Place - Granny B Goods 1:1 Canamels
3rd Place - Hi Burst Raspberry Lemonade Fruit Chews
Alternative Cannabinoid Beverage
1st Place - KHEMIA - Chakra Chai
Alternative Cannabinoid Topical
1st Place - Carter's Aroma Therapy Designs - Rasta Roll-On
Alternative Cannabinoid Tincture
1st Place - Sunrise Mountain Farms - PACIFIC - Full Spectrum CBD Rich Tincture
2nd Place - PROOF - CBN Tincture
3rd Place - Fiddler's Green - Kindred Spirit - Raw Tincture
Alternative Cannabinoid Cartridge
1st Place - Chemistry - Serpentine
2nd place - Kurvana - CBD All-In-One - Banana Smoothie 5:1:5
Hemp-Derived Ingestible
1st Place - Green Truth - Trifecta Immune (CBDA-CBGA-CBDVA)
2nd Place - Kurvana CBD Dream 2:1:3
Hemp-Derived Topical
1st Place - WeedSport - WeedSport CBD Muscle Stick
2nd place - Pure Dharma - Glow CBD Activated Oil Serum
Most Innovative Product - Consumable
1st Place - Holy Water x Honey Suckle Lotus - Jelly Ranchers. Unholy Rosin/Resin Split Jar
Most Innovative Product - Industry Asset
1st Place - Huckleberry Hill Farms - Sow Your Own Magic
Breeders Hall Of Fame
Greg McAllister
Visionary Award for Glass Artistry
Scott Deppe - Mothership Glass
Regenerative Farm Award
Emerald Spirit Botanicals - Farm Cut
Best Photo Contest Winner - Amateur
Claudia Price - Pancake Stomper No. 5
Best Photo Contest Winner - Professional
Benjamin Neff - The Heart
Best Dispensary - Northern California
Mercy Wellness - Redwood Dr - Cotati
Best Dispensary - Central California
Big Sur Canna + Botanicals - Carmel Rancho Ln - Carmel
Best Dispensary - Southern California
Cornerstone Wellness - Colorado Blvd - Los Angeles
Eco-Conscious Packaging
Sol Spirit Farms
Environmentally Conscious Indoor
Moon Valley Cannabis