Last Saturday, the 18th Annual Emerald Cup Awards was held at The Montalbn Theatre near Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood in Los Angeles, Californiaand it was truly a spectacle to behold.

As people shuffled in, creating a continuous stream of advocates, patients, breeders, and growers, the venue filled quickly. Some attendees made their way to the dab bar and drink bar at the Mezzanine level, and others made their way up to the rooftop, which is where the real magic began.

I walked through a vine-covered corridor into the rooftop party area where vendors such as LitHouse and Fig Farms handed out generous gift bags with eighths and double pre-rolls. A sprawling 360-degree view of downtown Hollywood provided the backdrop. Musical performances by Andreas One, Jasmine Solana, and Lafa.

As for the ceremony itself, there was a whopping number of categoriesover 50and it was hosted by a number of special guests including Ngaio Bealum, Whitney Beattie, and the clear fan favorite hosts, Swami Chaitanya and Nikki Lastreto of Swami Select, who we also recently profiled in print.

We were impressed by the powerful sense of community. On one hand, the ceremony felt like the Academy Awards, as Rolling Stone puts it, but on the other hand, there was a strong craft farmer and hippie vibe undercurrent. For instance, when the hosts asked a question, the crowd answers back loud and clear.

Its our culture, its, its our community they feel like theres an ownership here because of my deep roots and connection to the community, Tim Blake told High Times. And they just feel the love. We dont do it for the money, we do it to really do something special. You know, at the Harvest Ball last year, we gave away over 50 free booths. And people just know who we are and where were coming from.

Were not a big crew, our local people, and we love our, our community. And so its just a mutual love affair, Blake added. And people feel it. Individual, personal use categories were included, so that people without expensive licensing could participate.

The Emerald Cup and Blake are both mostly associated with the Emerald Triangle encompassing Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity Counties, but this year the event was moved to Los Angeles to represent a strategic move.

In 2017, legalization came in, I knew then that for our contestants and our vendors and sponsors that the future was LAthe largest cannabis market in the world, the largest media market in the world, Blake said. This is where they need it, were gonna do their Academy Awards in the cannabis industry.

The judges had to go from 700 entries, all top-shelf, and narrow them down to just 182 winners. In some categories this year, the process involved blind or doubleblind methods in order to prevent bias for any one farm or company.

The trophies were hand-blown by glass artist Ryan Fitt in collaboration with Puffco. The event was overseen by executive producer Taylor Blake, Tims daughter, who is increasingly taking in the reins of the enterprise.

It took 150 expert judges to find the winners including Alec Dixon of SC Labs, Bill and Jeff Levers, Eric Brandstand, Guy Rocourt, Jimi Devine, Maya Elisabeth, The Dank Duchess, Abdulah Saedd, and too many others to list. The crew of judges mobilized last February, and according to Swami Chaitanya, were confined to a room until they could narrow down the contestants.

Dennis Hunter from Farmer and the Felon had to return to the stage many times, as the team won award after award. I was able to snag some Farmer and the Felon seeds. LitHouse, Rebel Grown, and Fig Farms also took home several awards that night. The crowd went wild when Huckleberry Hill Farms won an award.

Since 2004, the Emerald Cup has served as a grassroots celebration of the cannabis plant and harvest, and as an unbiased, free, and fair competition, but Blake and the leadership of the event emphasize that it is really about peoplefarmers, judges, entertainers, and attendees.

Woody Harrelson was the guest of honor, receiving the coveted Willie Nelson Lifetime achievement award. Past winners include Winona LaDuke, Tommy Chong, Valerie Corral, and Willie Nelson himself. Harrelson was an advocate going back decades, with a proven track record of serious activism.

So we got the information to Woody, and he checked us out, Blake said. And, you know, he almost thought about not taking the award this year, because Green Street lost their permit. And then The Woods couldnt get their permit to open. We didnt have a venue. And so what was he going to do? And in the course of one week, we found this place, and he got a permit to open his place. And he called me up and we had a long talk. And he said, you know, heck, Im gonna come out there and join you guys. And Ill tell you what, I was tickled pink, I told him, I said, You know what, you have no idea what this means to us. And now, seeing The Woods open up.

Harrelson was chosen not because of his celebrity star power, but based on his activism in the cannabis space. That dates back to Woodys symbolic protest by illegally planting a hemp seed in Kentucky in 1996 and his vocal activism in favor of environmental sustainability, veganism, and regenerative agricultural practices.

Its the same environmentally healthy practices that are already a part of the Emerald Cup.

For the first time ever, we had more indoor than the sungrown entries, which is, you know, pretty big change, Blake said. The beverages and the edibles are just blowing up. The enhanced beverages are unbelievable and the pre-rolls had gone from like afterthought D grade trim to where its like just stunning representations. We did a classification system separating the terpenes into classification systems and gas and desserts and sweets and whatnot, so that we could really do an educational process not only for our judges, but for our community, and get people really to break out of that mold and looking for the highest THC and start looking for the right cannabinoid profile fits best for them.

Some guests were dressed up as wizards, and another was dressed in a zoot suit period piece. Others looked as though the hippie lifestyle never faded at all since the 60s. Pebbles Trippet was a center of attention, being a longtime advocate, and she received devotionals from both Blake and Harrelson.

People down here are pretty cool, Blake said. And they get to get dressed up for a show like this. And now people are just, its exciting for a lot of these hill people to have a reason to come out, come down here and get dressed up. And theyre not theyre not pitching at all. Theyre excited. And theyre coming up and telling me how wonderful it is.

I returned to the rooftop where the most fun was to be found. There, I bumped into Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down who was there to promote his flower from 22Red. I found a shrine with beautiful Hindu representations.

Throwing events such as this isnt all fun and games when the rules become involved, but Blake is hopeful.

This year, the DCC [Department of Cannabis Control] came in heavy at the Harvest Ball, Blake said. They were telling small farmers that they couldnt display things; they were going after small farmers and people in their booth smoking, you know, its like that personal stuff. So we had to continue that educational process. But its so critical for farmers and brands to have direct access to consumers We need to open that up. And so its educating the DCC so that we set the bar and show them how to do it so that these farmers markets and all kinds of events, not just ours, can happen all over the state because its so critical for the consumers and for the farmers.

Coverage of the 18th Annual Emerald Cup Awards at the Montalbn Theatre will be provided by ALTRD.TV. You can watch all taped educational fireside chats, exclusive interviews, and the ceremony. A full list of winners, provided by the Emerald Cup, is below:

FLOWER

Sungrown Flower Category Winners1st Place Farmer and the Felon Lemon Sponge Cake2nd Place Rebel Grown Double OG Chem3rd Place Farmer and the Felon x Cookie Fam Genetics Georgia Pie4th Place Farmer and the Felon Double OG Chem5th Place Full Moon Farms Black Water OG6th Place Canna Country Farms #267th Place Rebel Grown Natty Bumpoo8th Place Farmer and the Felon 92 OG9th Place Huckleberry Hill Farms Moms Weed10th Place Esensia Lime Juice

Sungrown BREEDERS CUP Category Winner1st Place Rebel Grown Double OG Chem

Mixed Light Flower Category Winners1st Place LitHouse Modified Grapes2nd Place LitHouse Jealousy3rd Place LitHouse Lemon Lava4th Place Safier Family Farms x Peak Humboldt x Mattole Uplift Cooperative Angel Food Cake5th Place Healing Herb Farms Lemon Head OG x Zkittlez6th Place Monterey Kush Co Matchalato7th Place LitHouse Paragon8th Place Bono-Ape Ice Cream Cake9th Place Monterey Kush Co Citra-Lato10th Place Booney Acres Strawberry Jelly Flower

Mixed Light BREEDERS CUP Category Winner1st Place Healing Herb Farms Lemon Head OG x Zkittlez

Indoor Flower Category Winners1st Place Fig Farms Animal Face2nd Place Panacea Pablos Revenge3rd Place Fig Farms Blue Face4th Place NUG Chocolatina5th Place Fig Farms Holy Moly!6th Place Sovereign Lemon Vuitton7th Place STIIIZY Blue Burst8th Place Cure Company Marathon OG9th Place Source Cannabis Quest10th Place Atrium Cultivation Juice Z

Indoor Flower BREEDERS CUP Category Winner1st Place Fig Farms Holy Moly!

Sungrown Greenhouse Flower1st Place Local Cannabis Co Sherbhead2nd Place Glass House Farms Glass House Farms Waiting Game3rd Place Local Cannabis Co Ice Cream Cake4th Place Local Cannabis Co Orange 435th Place Harborside Farms The Mac6th Place Harborside Farms x Bloom Farms SFV OG7th Place Humboldt Redwood Healing x The Humboldt Brand Sour G8th Place Country Club Cannabis EVB Rainbow Frootz9th Place Ridgeline Farms Ridgeline Runtz10th Place Harborside Farms Motorhead

Personal Use Flower1st Place Parker PZ Moselle Ohrangatang Titties2nd Place Colin Teurfs x Dan Pomerantz Double OG Chem 43rd Place Matt Jones Cheese4th Place Brandy Schneider AM Lime5th Place Mary Polson Pink Champagne

3rd Party Certified Sungrown Flower1st Place Emerald Spirit Botanicals Farm Cut Pink Boost Goddess

3rd Party Certified Mixed Light Flower Category Winners1st Place Old Briceland Cannabis Company Epiphany2nd Place Old Briceland Cannabis Company Area 413rd Place Old Briceland Cannabis Company White Gummies #1

Best in Show Category Winner1st Place Farmer and the Felon Lemon Sponge Cake

PRE-ROLLS

Pre-Roll Infused Solventless Extract Category Winners1st Place Sovereign Geode Joint Modified Lemons2nd Place El Toro Verde El Toro Verde Cannagar3rd Place Vital Grown x Sticky Fields x Compassionate Heart x Massive Creations x Feeling Frosty Mendo Massive

Pre-Roll Infused Solvent Extract1st Place Paletas Paletas Mothers Milk Infused Blunt2nd Place Sugar Daddy Sugar Daddy Indica 2.5G Infused Blunt3rd Place Weedwoodz Weedwoodz XOXO

Pre-Roll Non Infused Category Winners1st Place Lost Paradise Organics Gelonade 6pk Flower Pre-Roll2nd Place Atrium Cultivation Juice Z Pre-Roll3rd Place Country 1:1 Good Neighbor Pre-Roll 6pk

SOLVENTLESS CONCENTRATE

Ice Water Hash Category Winners1st Place Heritage Hash Co Whitethorn Rose Live Bubble Hash2nd Place el Krem Papaya Bomb Ice Water Hash3rd Place Papas Select Amarelo #9 90u Ice Water Hash4th Place Feeling Frosty Banana Cream Cake x Jealousy 120u Ice Water Hash5th Place Kalya x Dancing Dog Ranch Double Rainbow

Rosin Category Winners1st Place Rosin Tech Labs x Luma Farms Papaya2nd Place Heritage Hash Co Whitethorn Rose Live Rosin3rd Place Kalya x LUMA Farms Lemon Limez4th Place FIELD FIELD Papaya Cold Cured Live Rosin5th Place Rosin Tech Labs Garlic Cookies6th Place Rosin Tech Labs Garlic Juice #3 Cold Cure7th Place el Krem Strawberry Runtz Rosin8th Place Moon Valley Hash Co Strawberry Banana Cold Cure Live Rosin9th Place Doc Greens White Buffalo Cold Cured Live Rosin10th Place Have Hash Zkittlez Cold Cure Live Rosin (Headstash)

Personal Use Solventless Category Winners1st Place Alice Reis x Flynn Abeln Wooksauce Winery Screaming Mimis2nd Place Brett Byrd Modified Grapes Full spec 45-159 creme brulee consistency w/THC-A layer3rd Place Brett Byrd Gush Mints Full Spec 45-1594th Place Brett Byrd Modified Grapes Full Spec 45-1595th Place Brett Byrd Apple Fritters Full Spec 45-159

CARTRIDGE

C02 Cartridge Category Winners1st Place Haku Haku CO2 Live Resin2nd Place Featured Farms x Burzt Farms Burzt by Featured Farms3rd Place Wildseed Co x Cannabis Refined Cherry Wife CO2 Cartridge

Distillate Cartridge Category Winners1st Place LEGION Monarch Strawberry Banana Cannabis Derived Terpenes2nd Place GoldDrop x Fig Farms Kush Mint Cookies Nug Run Vape Cartridge3rd Place Beezle Brands Orange Blossom Buzz Cartridge

Live Resin Cartridge Category Winners1st Place URSA Extracts Liquid Diamond Sauce Humboldt Jack2nd Place Arcata Fire x Humboldt Seed Co Raspberry Live Resin Sauce Cart3rd Place Lemon Tree x Holy Water x Orchard Beach Farms Kiwi tree Single Source Live Resin Cartridge4th Place ColdFire Extracts x Turtle Pie Co Prickly Pear Juice by ColdFire Extracts5th Place Friendly Farms Friendly Farms Liquid Live Resin Apple Fritter6th Place The Bohemian Chemist The Bohemian Chemist Cart Blanche .5g Hotsy-Totsy Live Resin Cartridge7th Place Halara GMO Live Diamond Sauce8th Place Friendly Farms Liquid Live Resin Flight #239th Place ColdFire Extracts UpDog Juice by ColdFire Extracts10th Place Oakland Extracts Papaya Pucker

Solventless Cartridge Category Winners1st Place Doc Greens Runtz Live Rosin Vape Cartridge2nd Place Jetty Extracts Fatso Solventless Vape3rd Place Arcata Fire x Highwater Farms Key Lime Pie Solventless

SOLVENT CONCENTRATE

Hydro-Carbon Solid Category Winners1st Place Beezle Brands x Luma Farms Key Lime Paya Live Resin Budder2nd Place Beezle Brands x Earthen Farms Gary Payton Live resin Budder3rd Place URSA Extracts -Live Badder Modified Grapes4th Place Cookies x ArcataX Day Day5th Place PaperPlanes Extracts x Land Hammer Farms Donnie Burger #5 Live Resin Batter

Hydro-Carbon Liquid Category Winners1st Place Cosmic x Peak x Feeling Frosty White Runtz2nd Place FIELD x Wizard Trees x Doja FIELD x Wizard Trees x Doja RS-11 Live Resin3rd Place Cosmic x Peak x Feeling Frosty Orange Daiquiri4th Place Terphogz Live Resin Sauce Melon Brainz5th Place Orchard Beach Farms x Holy Water Kiwi Tree

TOPICALS

Therapeutic Topical Category Winners1st Place Care By Design CBD Joint & Muscle Cream2nd Place Kush Queen Kush Queen Transdermal THC Water Based Personal Lubricant3rd Place OM x Feeling Frosty Sweet Dreams CBN Rosin Bath Bomb

Cosmetic Topical Category Winners1st Place Proof Face Serum2nd Place OM x Feeling Frosty Himalayan Kush Rosin Bath Bomb

Personal Use Topical Category Winner1st Place Erica A Deep Muscle Rub Liniment Lotion

TINCTURES

Tincture Category Winners1st Place Care By Design Refresh Drops 1:1 MAX2nd Place Santa Cruz Mountain Tops La Luna3rd Place Lempire Farmaseed LEM OG 1000mg Rosin Tincture

EDIBLES

Edibles Beverage Category Winners1st Place HiFi Sessions x Lagunitas x Absolute Xtracts HiFi Hoppy Chill2nd Place Pure Beauty Little Strong Drink3rd Place K-Zen Beverages Mad Lilly Passion Fruit Mango Spritzer

Edibles Beverage Enhancer Category Winner1st Place S*Shots Berry Blast

Edibles Gummies Category Winners1st Place Kalya x Elephante Papaya Rosin Gummies2nd Place Space Gem Sweet Sleepy Fig3rd Place Queen Mary Enchanted

Edibles Sweet Category Winners1st Place Cosmic Edibles x Kalya Solventless Rosin Plant-Based Chocolate Chip Sprinkles Cookie Dough2nd Place Oasis Peanut Butter Cup Minis3rd Place Mammamia Capri Lemon Cake Bites

Edibles Savory Category Winners1st Place Potli x SF Roots Shrimp Chips2nd Place TSUMo Snacks TSUMo Snacks Classic Cheese Crunchers

ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOIDS

Alternative Cannabinoid Flower Category Winners1st Place Pure Beauty Terry T & Gelato 332nd Place Glass House Farms Jelly Fish3rd Place Glass House Farms Tangelo Flow

Alternative Cannabinoid Flower Breeders Cup Category Winner1st Place Pure Beauty Terry T & Gelato 33

Alternative Cannabinoid Hemp Flower Category Winners1st Place Flowgardens Orange Glaze #322nd Place Flowgardens Grapefruit

Alternative Cannabinoid Edible Category Winners1st Place Papa & Barkley Sleep Releaf2nd Place Granny B Goods 1:1 Canamels3rd Place Hi Burst Raspberry Lemonade Fruit Chews

Alternative Cannabinoid Beverage Category Winner1st Place KHEMIA Chakra Chai

Alternative Cannabinoid Topical Category Winner1st Place Carters Aroma Therapy Designs Rasta Roll-On

Alternative Cannabinoid Tincture Category Winners1st Place Sunrise Mountain Farms PACIFIC Full Spectrum CBD Rich Tincture2nd Place PROOF CBN Tincture3rd Place Fiddlers Green Kindred Spirit Raw Tincture

Alternative Cannabinoid Cartridge Category Winners1st Place Chemistry Serpentine2nd place Kurvana CBD All-In-One Banana Smoothie 5:1:5

Hemp-Derived Ingestible Category Winners1st Place Green Truth Trifecta Immune (CBDA-CBGA-CBDVA)2nd Place Kurvana CBD Dream 2:1:3

Hemp-Derived Topical Category Winners1st Place WeedSport WeedSport CBD Muscle Stick2nd Place Pure Dharma Glow CBD Activated Oil Serum

Most Innovative Product Consumable Category Winner1st Place Holy Water x Honey Suckle Lotus Jelly Ranchers. Unholy Rosin/Resin Split Jar

Most Innovative Product Industry Asset Category Winner1st Place Huckleberry Hill Farms Sow Your Own Magic

Breeders Hall Of Fame Category Winner1st Place Greg McAllister

Visionary Award for Glass Artistry Category Winner1st Place Scott Deppe Mothership Glass

Regenerative Farm Award Category Winner1st Place Emerald Spirit Botanicals Farm Cut

Best Photo Contest Winner Amateur Category Winner1st Place Claudia Price Pancake Stomper No. 5

Best Photo Contest Winner Professional Category Winner1st Place Benjamin Neff The Heart

Best Dispensary Northern California Category Winner1st Place Mercy Wellness Redwood Dr Cotati

Best Dispensary Central California Category Winner1st Place Big Sur Canna + Botanicals Carmel Rancho Ln Carmel

Best Dispensary Southern California Category Winner1st Place Cornerstone Wellness Colorado Blvd Los Angeles

Eco-Conscious Packaging Category Winner1st Place Sol Spirit Farms

Environmentally Conscious Indoor Category Winner1st Place Moon Valley Cannabis

See the article here:
The Emerald Cup Awards Rocks Hollywood with Unforgettable Genetics and Guests - High Times