14 expert picks from across the US and Canada.

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Our Leafly experts and readers concur: These 11 strains make them go Prrrr.

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The Prairie State is known for so much more than just vast stretches of grassland. Now four years after we launched the first Illinois: People’s Choice Edition, we’ve seen a wide variety of cannabis products and brands take home a coveted High Times trophy. But this year in particular, Illinois cannabis brands have given it everything they’ve got.

We announced the launch of this year’s Illinois: People’s Choice Edition 2023 earlier this summer, and gathered up some of the state’s finest products spanning 15 different categories, both adult-use and medical. But we previously held the hugely successful Illinois: People’s Choice Edition in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Here’s a glimpse of the trending strains and other products that won over our resident judges back then.

Even though the world was still waist-deep in the pandemic at the time, Illinois cannabis brands came through with shining colors. At the Illinois: People’s Choice Edition 2020, the fourth People’s Choice Edition competition to launch following the 2020 Hemp Cup, Oklahoma, and Colorado, with only seven categories. Back then, Revolution Cannabis brought home trophies with Florida Orange, Gorilla’d Cheese, and Turbo Lemon Cake, while we also saw wins from Bedford Grow with Grape Sugar Cookies, Velvet Glove with Columbia Care, Jenny Kush with Aeriz, Private Stock Mag Landrace with Verano, and Red Line Haze with Cresco, in addition to many other worthwhile wins from other product categories.

In 2021 the category list increased up to eight, and Revolution Cannabis took home numerous trophies for strains such as Blueberry Clementine, Mac & Cheese (Spicy Papaya Cut), Banana Runtz, along with Seed & Strain’s Velvet Glove, Aeriz’s Ice Cream Cake and Jenny Kush, Cresco’s Lemon Bean, and Triple 7’s Tropical Runtz and Rainbow Runtz.

That same year, NuEra, Seed & Strain, and Aeriz won in the pre-rolls category. In concentrates, Revolution Cannabis’s Blueberry Clementine Live Resin, Bedford Grow’s Highwayman Live Resin, and Aeriz’s Bundy OG Budder took home a win. Not to mention in edibles, Illinoisans rated edibles from Bedford Grow, Sweet Releaf, Revolution Cannabis, and Bhang, too.

In 2022 our category list increased again, this time to eleven. Brands such as RYTHM entered the game strong with Brownie Scout (and Orange Herijuana in the medical flower category), Fig Farms brought its famous Figment strain, along with UPNORTH’s Durban Poison, Floracal’s Vanilla Cake, and Verano Reserve’s Guru 0 for medical flower. But the previous year’s winning brands also came in with Bedford Grow’s I-95 and Revolution Cannabis’s Peach Crescendo, Miami Punch, and Gorilla’d Cheese (as well as Buttermilk Biscuits in the medical flower category). Revolution Cannabis, RYTHM, and Floracal were also chosen as the winning concentrates and extracts as well.

This time capsule of winners from the past three years shows the evolution of popular brands in Illinois, as you’ll see below. Exceptional cannabis is still being cultivated by Revolution Cannabis, RHYTHM, Aeriz, Verano, Fig Farms, and so much more, but you’ll also find a handful of new brands that joined the competition this year. So without further ado, here is the official list of Illinois: People’s Choice Edition 2023 winners.

In the meantime, the High Times Cannabis Cup: People’s Choice Edition continues to gain speed, so keep an eye out for winners in other regions such as Oregon in December, Massachusetts in January 2024, followed by Arizona in February 2024.

Indica Flower

First Place: nuEra – Cobra Milk

Second Place: RYTHM – Animal Face

Third Place: Revolution – Purple Monarch

Sativa Flower

First place: RYTHM – Jack Herer

Second Place: Revolution – Raspberry Shortcake

Third Place: Seed & Strain – White Grapefruit Cookies

Hybrid Flower

First Place: RYTHM – Slapz

Second Place: Revolution – Crockett’s Dawg

Third Place: Verano Reserve – Yum Yum Reserve Flower

Non-Infused Pre-Rolls

First Place: Revolution – Blueberry Clementine

Second Place: Paul Bunyan – Macnanna

Third Place: Dogwalkers – Mini Dogs – Animal Face

Infused Pre-Rolls

First Place: Moon Walkers – Coffee Creamer Solventless Live Rosin Moon Walkers

Second Place: Revolution – Future Kush Rocket

Third Place: Bedford Grow – Diamond-Infused Pre-Roll – Hot Mint Sundae

Solvent Concentrates

First Place: aeriz – Florida Oranges

Second Place: Superflux – Live Resin Strawberry Bubbles Budder

Third Place: RYTHM – Live Resin – Super Silver Cookies

Non-Solvent Concentrates

First Place: Fig Farms – Blue Face

Second Place: RYTHM – Rosin – Sunset Sherbet

Third Place: Revolution – Moon Boots

Vape Pens & Carts

First Place: Revolution – Florida Orange Live Rosin

Second Place: Superflux – Strawberry Bubbles Live Resin

Third Place: On the Rocks – Fresh Powder Live Rosin Cartridge

Edibles: Gummies

First Place: Goody Bag – Pink Lemonade

Second Place: nuEra – Pink Lemonade Live Resin Gummy

Third Place: Hedy – Sour Cherry Lime Gummies

Edibles: Chocolates & Non-Gummies

First Place: Incredibles – Peanut Budda Buddha Bar

Second Place: KIVA – Churro Bar

Third Place: Mindy’s – Caramelized Chocolate Marshmallow Graham

Edibles: Beverages

First Place: Señorita – Mango

Second Place: CQ – Cola

Third Place: Artet – Mango Ginger Spritz

Topicals, Tinctures, & Capsules

First Place: Doctor Solomon’s – Restore Transdermal Lotion

Second Place: Avexia – Pain Relief Balm 1:1 CBD:THC

Third Place: Remedi – Rest 1:5 Capsules

Medical Flower

First Place: Revolution – Blueberry Clementine

Second Place: RYTHM – Black Afghan

Third Place: Verano Essence – Strawberry Guava Essence

Medical Vape Pens

First Place: Revolution – Blueberry Clementine Live Rosin Cart

Second Place: Beboe – Inspired Vape Pen

Third Place: Verano Reserve – Coconut Cream Pie Reserve Live Resin Cart

Medical Edibles

First Place: Nature’s Grace and Wellness – French Toast White Chocolate Crunch Bar 1:1:1 THC:CBD:CBG

Second Place: Bedford Grow – Sea Salt Caramels

Third Place: On the Rocks – Sour Apricot Apple – Cherry Punch Live Rosin Gummies

A special thank you to our partners and sponsors!

Official Intake Partners:

• Rise Dispensary
• nuEra
• Zen Leaf
• Beyond Hello
• Lux Leaf
• Star Buds

Bronze Sponsor: Kaviar

General Sponsor: Legacy

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Last Saturday, the 18th Annual Emerald Cup Awards was held at The Montalbán Theatre near Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood in Los Angeles, California—and 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 categories—over 50—and 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.

“It’s our culture, it’s, it’s our community … they feel like there’s 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 don’t 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 we’re coming from.

“We’re not a big crew, our local people, and we love our, our community. And so it’s 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 LA—the largest cannabis market in the world, the largest media market in the world,” Blake said. “This is where they need it, we’re 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, Tim’s 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 people—farmers, judges, entertainers, and attendees.

The Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award

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 couldn’t get their permit to open. We didn’t 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, I’m gonna come out there and join you guys. And I’ll 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 Woody’s 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.

It’s 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 it’s 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.”

Wooks, Wizards, and Warlocks

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, it’s exciting for a lot of these hill people to have a reason to come out, come down here and get dressed up. And they’re not they’re not pitching at all. They’re excited. And they’re 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 isn’t 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 couldn’t display things; they were going after small farmers and people … in their booth smoking, you know, it’s like that personal stuff. So we had to continue that educational process. But it’s so critical for farmers and brands to have direct access to consumers … We need to open that up. And so it’s 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 it’s so critical for the consumers and for the farmers.”

Coverage of the 18th Annual Emerald Cup Awards at the Montalbán 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 Winners
1st Place Farmer and the Felon – Lemon Sponge Cake
2nd 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 Category Winner
1st Place Rebel Grown – Double OG Chem

Mixed Light Flower Category Winners
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 Category Winner
1st Place Healing Herb Farms – Lemon Head OG x Zkittlez

Indoor Flower Category Winners
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 Category Winner
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 Category Winners
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 Category Winner
1st Place Farmer and the Felon – Lemon Sponge Cake

PRE-ROLLS

Pre-Roll – Infused Solventless Extract Category Winners
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 Category Winners
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 CONCENTRATE

Ice Water Hash Category Winners
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 Category Winners
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 Category Winners
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

CARTRIDGE

C02 Cartridge Category Winners
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 Category Winners
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 Category Winners
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 Category Winners
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 CONCENTRATE

Hydro-Carbon Solid Category Winners
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 Category Winners
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 Category Winners
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 Category Winners
1st Place Proof – Face Serum
2nd Place OM x Feeling Frosty – Himalayan Kush Rosin Bath Bomb

Personal Use Topical Category Winner
1st Place Erica A – Deep Muscle Rub – Liniment Lotion

TINCTURES

Tincture Category Winners
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

Edibles – Beverage Category Winners
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

Edibles – Beverage Enhancer Category Winner
1st Place S*Shots – Berry Blast

Edibles – Gummies Category Winners
1st Place Kalya x Elephante – Papaya Rosin Gummies
2nd Place Space Gem – Sweet Sleepy Fig
3rd Place Queen Mary – Enchanted

Edibles – Sweet Category Winners
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

Edibles – Savory Category Winners
1st Place Potli x SF Roots – Shrimp Chips
2nd Place TSUMo Snacks – TSUMo Snacks Classic Cheese Crunchers

ALTERNATIVE CANNABINOIDS

Alternative Cannabinoid Flower Category Winners
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 Category Winner
1st Place Pure Beauty – Terry T & Gelato 33

Alternative Cannabinoid Hemp Flower Category Winners
1st Place Flowgardens – Orange Glaze #32 
2nd Place Flowgardens – Grapefruit

Alternative Cannabinoid Edible Category Winners
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 Category Winner
1st Place KHEMIA – Chakra Chai

Alternative Cannabinoid Topical Category Winner
1st Place Carter’s Aroma Therapy Designs – Rasta Roll-On

Alternative Cannabinoid Tincture Category Winners
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 Category Winners
1st Place Chemistry – Serpentine
2nd place Kurvana –  CBD All-In-One – Banana Smoothie 5:1:5

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

Hemp-Derived Topical Category Winners
1st Place WeedSport – WeedSport CBD Muscle Stick
2nd Place Pure Dharma – Glow CBD Activated Oil Serum

Most Innovative Product – Consumable Category Winner
1st Place Holy Water x Honey Suckle Lotus  – Jelly Ranchers. Unholy Rosin/Resin Split Jar

Most Innovative Product – Industry Asset Category Winner
1st Place Huckleberry Hill Farms – Sow Your Own Magic

Breeders Hall Of Fame Category Winner
1st Place Greg McAllister

Visionary Award for Glass Artistry Category Winner
1st Place Scott Deppe – Mothership Glass

Regenerative Farm Award Category Winner
1st Place Emerald Spirit Botanicals – Farm Cut

Best Photo Contest Winner – Amateur Category Winner
1st Place Claudia Price – Pancake Stomper No. 5

Best Photo Contest Winner – Professional Category Winner
1st Place Benjamin Neff – The Heart

Best Dispensary – Northern California Category Winner
1st Place Mercy Wellness – Redwood Dr – Cotati

Best Dispensary – Central California Category Winner
1st Place Big Sur Canna + Botanicals – Carmel Rancho Ln – Carmel

Best Dispensary – Southern California Category Winner
1st Place Cornerstone Wellness – Colorado Blvd – Los Angeles

Eco-Conscious Packaging – Category Winner
1st Place Sol Spirit Farms

Environmentally Conscious Indoor – Category Winner
1st Place Moon Valley Cannabis

The post The Emerald Cup Awards Rocks Hollywood with Unforgettable Genetics and Guests appeared first on High Times.

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For better or for worse, it’s holiday time again, but good news! That means it’s also time to splurge on your favorite cannabis products in honor of this wonderful and chaotic time of year.

High Times has been in the cannabis retail business for two years now, and we’re excited to share with you some of the leading brands that you can find available for sale within our High Times Cannabis Markets and through delivery. Whether you’re stocking up for yourself or searching for the perfect stocking stuffer for your loved ones and friends, we have you covered this holiday season.

Top Shelf Flower

Fig Farms

Fig Farms claims that it offers some of the most sought-after cannabis in the entire state of California—and the quality of Fig Farms buds is undeniable. The company is 100 percent owned by growers operating out of an Oakland, California facility. Fig Farms features numerous strains on its website (with beautiful strain photography, by the way) and has a wide selection of different phenos, such as Animal Mints, with its scent of “tennis ball and lemon.”

www.figfarms.com

Jungle Boys

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who isn’t familiar with the Jungle Boys brand and legacy. Established in 2006 in Los Angeles, California, this company has long since perfected the art of pheno hunting to both discover and cultivate truly unique strains. Striving to take their “jungle to new heights,” Jungle Boys continues to do what it does best, especially with strains such as TropCherry, a cross between Tropicanna and Cherry Cookies that will have you wanting more.

jungleboys.com

The Cure Company

Cultivating since 1996, The Cure Company has long since become famous for its premium cannabis flower. The company’s operation utilizes a two-story seed-to-sale facility in Downtown Los Angeles, along with an eight-room cultivation space upstairs and the City Compassionate Caregivers (CCC) dispensary downstairs. Check out strains like The Cure Company’s Curelato, which is a cross of Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies that has been found to be fruity and uplifting.

thecurecompany.com

The Originals

Located in a nearly 100-year-old building in the heart of Los Angeles, California, The Originals Factory & Weed Shop is a family-owned and operated business that has become a mainstay cannabis destination. With quality in mind, The Originals employs expert cultivators (with a total of over 100 years of experience in the industry) who grow everything in-house. The dispensary offers a wide variety of products available to consumers, as well as its own line of cannabis flower, such as Oaksterdam OG.

originalslashop.com

Green Dragon

Green Dragon is no stranger to cultivating exotic strains. Take for example its Fourth Place winner at the High Times Cannabis Cup Northern California for its Mamba Mints strain in the Indica category—Mamba Mints is a dessert-like strain if we ever heard of one, featuring creamy citrus flavors followed by amazingly potent effects. Check out Green Dragon’s wide selection at its North Hollywood location.

greendragoncoop.com

Farmer & The Felon

This amazing brand is making waves in the fight to advocate for social justice. It aims to right the wrongs on the War on Drugs by partnering with the Last Prisoner Project to “bring restorative justice through the power of cannabis.” Farmer & The Felon’s Unlocked products offer the very best of outdoor-grown, California cannabis with strains like Triangle Kush, White Tahoe Cookie, Blackjack, Daydream, Dogwalker OG, Grape Stomper, Pai Gow, Starfruit and Sundae Driver.

farmerfelon.com

Almora Farm

Driven by a passion for cultivation, Almora Farm only grows cannabis with the best genetics—probably because it employs an expert team of “farmers, artists and magicians.” Organically growing cannabis outdoors in California, Almora Farm’s goal is to share its love for flower, such as its Berry White Single Origin Cannabis Flower.

almorafarm.com

Dime Bag

Dime Bag grows its organic cannabis flower in California “for the people who just want to get high and have fun.” Dime Bag’s flower is widely available in a variety of forms, such as eighths, ounces, pre-rolls and concentrates. In terms of this company’s flower selection, we’re big fans of its High Potency sativa strain, for the days when you need a serious pick-me-up.

dimebagco.com

Panacea

When it comes to Panacea, the two words that come to mind are quality and value. Panacea is known to consumers everywhere due to its mission to deliver therapeutic benefits through its premium flower and natural extracts. Overall, if you’re looking for a brand that has your well-being of both body and mind as its highest priority, then look no further than Panacea. Better yet, Panacea flower is going to pack a punch in your mind and body (and not so much in your wallet), as its 3.5G Flower Midz is top-shelf flower at a great value.

panacea21.com

Pre-rolls

Packwoods

Packwoods is a longtime staple in the Los Angeles cannabis scene that strives to produce high-quality and consistent pre-roll products. For those who want that blunt experience without the side effects of nicotene, then Packwoods has you covered. The brand’s products are made with 100 percent tobacco-free PACKS wrap. We’re especially impressed with the company’s Packwoods Packarillos, which include three mini hand-rolled blunts with a glass tip and a tobacco-free wrap. Currently offered in a number of different strains, Packwood’s Jobstopper and Purp Invaders Packarillos really caught our eye.

packwoods.net

Dodi

Founded by former NFL star Marshawn Lynch, Dodi offers craft blunts made with the highest of quality. Each blunt comes in a reusable tube, in case you don’t end up finishing it all in one sesh, to maintain freshness and address sustainability. The blunt itself is made from an all-natural, glue-free, tobacco-free hemp wrap, and comes with an essential filter for a slow burn. Oh, and no big deal, but these blunts are also covered in pure THCA crystalline for the ultimate experience.

dodiblunts.com

Cream of the Crop Gardens

The High Times Cannabis Cup Northern California 2021 yielded many high-quality products in a variety of categories—including the first place winner for pre-rolls, Cream of the Crop Gardens’ 1.4 gram Diamond Barrel Infused Pre-roll. The brand also offers other sought-after products, like half-gram pre-rolls that are perfect for a quick smoke sesh. The company’s sleek package design is just the beginning of what makes Cream of the Crop so great. It also offers a variety of cannabis flower and concentrates through many regions of California.

creamofthecropgardens.com

Napalm Brands

Napalm Brands’ joints are without a doubt some of the largest on the market. The brand’s monstrous pre-roll, called the Grenade XXL Infused Pre-Roll, contains seven grams of premium Gary Payton flower from Cookies, including one gram of live resin and Lift Tickets Infused Rolling Paper to boot. Any cannabis aficionado would be ecstatic to get their hands on this explosive package, but Napalm Brands also offers a selection of live resign cartridges and batteries, infused chocolates and rolling papers too.

napalmbrands.com

Loudpack

Loudpack’s brand, Kingpen, has been a pioneer in cannabis for over eight years. With Kingrolls, Kingpen wanted to expand into new formats to grow with the market. Kingroll Juniors offer the same highly potent, smooth smoking experience in a pocket-friendly design for shareable situations. The company’s experienced cultivation and extraction teams work together to pair each unique strain combination, resulting in fire every time. The brand’s multistep sifting process leaves only trichomes, which are the THC and terpenes that enhance potency and flavor.

loudpack.com

Concentrates

710 Labs

If you seek quality, you can’t get much better than products by 710 Labs. The company strives for rich flavors in its cannabis products, which are free from pesticides and deliciously potent. 710 Labs selects its cannabis from only the best, most renowned breeders in the business—and as a result, its concentrates are out of this world. One of our favs is the Cake Crashers Water Hash, which is a light-yellow appearance and contains a beautiful scent profile with sweet notes of “sugary berries, plum and grape juice.”

710labs.com

Cannabiotix

The highly decorated High Times Cannabis Cup recipient Cannabiotix has won over 15 Cannabis Cup wins in the past. Cannabiotix was founded by Neema Samari and J.B., who are two expert cultivators on a mission to provide only the best flower and concentrates. Cannabiotix’s Live Rosin is produced by hand-selecting material from harvest and freezing it immediately. It’s hand-washed in a medical grade stainless steel vessel with chilled R/O water and ice. Then the material is hand-stirred and the resin is collected using micron screens, placed into pharmaceutical freeze dryers to dry the Bubble Hash. The taste is unmatchable.

cannabiotix.com

Raw Garden

Winners of the 2019 Bay Area Cannabis Cup, the team behind Raw Garden has carved a name for itself as a NorCal heavyweight, with delightful concentrates to share with the world. Raw Garden is located in the hills of Santa Ynez, in Santa Barbara’s famed wine country. The live resin is made using entirely organically-based and Clean Green-certified farming techniques that is Cryogenically Flash-Frozen immediately at harvest. It contains approximately four to seven percent terpenes and comes in a drier consistency than Raw Garden Sauce. You can also find other juicy consistencies from the Raw Garden pool of products.

rawgarden.farm

URSA

Looking for those rich terps and for potency that packs a punch, minus the aftertaste? URSA’s Master Extractors carefully pull the essential cannabinoids and terpenes from the fresh flower in small, select batches. It’s all Clean Green-certified from Santa Barbara County. URSA’s cannabis oil artisans then melt together the combination of terpenes and diamonds from the same strain to create the extraordinary experience you get from each and every URSA product. Pictured is Pink Lemonade Live Resin bursting with terpenes, providing a wonderful taste that is both tart with a rich sweetness.

ursaextracts.com

Wonderbrett

The only thing juicier and tastier than Wonderbrett flower is the company’s concentrates, often bursting with tropical flavors in selections like Pineapple Live Badder. The Wonderbrett cultivation facility is located in the heart of Long Beach, California. Its facility is one of the largest in North America and was designed to create small batch, craft style premium products at scale. In the summer of 1997, Brett Feldman was gifted the original OG Kush, a legendary West Coast strain of mythic proportions, and everything changed after that point. Over the years, Wonderbrett has partnered with bands like Sublime with Rome.

wonderbrett.com

Vapes

Jetty Extracts

When it comes to the concentrate game, Jetty Extracts is clearly winning. Utilizing its one-of-a-kind solventless extraction process allows the brand’s offerings to hit the mark every time in terms of purity, potency and true-to-strain flavor. One example of its solventless offerings is Jetty SOLVENTLESS Papaya Bomb vape, which also happens to be its first-ever High Times exclusive. Crafted by Jetty, it’s a unique, hybrid cross of THC Bomb x Papaya. With sweet, tropical notes and a little bit of spice, it brings the cool, potently-mellow vibes. And because it’s Jetty SOLVENTLESS, this vape never touches a chemical, made simply using ice, water, heat and pressure. Available for a limited time.

jettyextracts.com/hightimes

Good News

This could be the greatest news you’ve heard all day. Good News is a brand that’s available in California, Illinois and Michigan and offers some of the most potent vape products to its consumers with over 80 percent THC in every puff. Vapes by Good News are disposable and contain 0.3 grams of premium cannabis concentrate full of botanical terpenes. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or a friend this holiday season, the brand is offering four vape varieties of Brunch (Hybrid), Vegas (Sativa), Friyay (Sativa) and Me Time (Indica).

wearegoodnews.co

Bloom Farms

Named for its sumptuous flavor, Bloom Farms Live Resin offers an unparalleled experience. Flavorsome extract of fresh-frozen flower transports the palate to the moment of harvest with exquisite terpene brilliance. The purity and clarity of Liquid Diamonds elevates potency without skewing the most vital expression of the plant. The brand’s In the Pines – Sativa offering isn’t just heavy on the pineapple sativa elements from its heritage. In the Pines delivers a mellow, smooth-yet-focused high along with satisfying relaxation that spreads throughout the body. While tropical hints infuse its aroma and flavor, the lingering notes are earthy, herbal and spicy.

Other varieties like the Raskal’s Fire OG – Hybrid satisfies with well-balanced mind and body effects, inducing calm contentment and cerebral stimulation while diminishing physical tension. Its Supernova – Indica variety provides an out-of-this-world experience right from your couch with this positively potent chronic. Its deep indica effects are echoed by sweet accents of deep berry flavor in a base of earthy pine, but Supernova offers a surprising boost to creativity and mental stimulation.

STIIIZY

It’s always time to take a hit off your STIIZY. STIIIZY offers a line of premium cannabis products—most famous for its pens—that have elevated the bar, setting a new industry standard for portability and convenience. STIIIZY’s proprietary pod system has garnered a cult-like following since its launch and has emerged as a leading lifestyle brand in cannabis. STIIIZY uses state-of-the-art lab technology for all of its extraction process needs. As everyone knows, it takes excellent flower to make excellent extracts, and this is why STIIIZY’s cultivators take the best strains. Recent projects include supporting veterans by teaming up with The Blacklist, a veteran-owned company.

stiiizy.com

AbsoluteXtracts

High Times Cannabis Cup-winning AbsoluteXtracts (ABX) is the leader in strain-specific, high-THC cannabis oils. AbsoluteXtracts was created by and for independent individuals in search of portable solutions for daily cannabis use. Established in 2014 by long-time cultivators and industry experts, ABX provides reliable, consistent cannabis concentrates in a variety of formats to fit any lifestyle. ABX products are made with the best sungrown, whole-plant cannabis that California has to offer. Many products are extracted using CO2 without the use of toxic solvents or additives, in a variety of convenient and precisely-dosed applications.

abx.org

Mistifi 

High Times Cannabis Cup-winning Mistifi’s beautiful vape pens redefine the art of the draw. The pens are designed to work in harmony with some of the world’s finest Extra Virgin Cannabis Oil, and the Mistifi cannabis vape pen balances precise airflow, voltage and temperature to deliver the delicate balance of terpenes, terpenoids and cannabinoids in its unique triple-strain blends. Using proprietary Hi-Phi extraction technology that precisely conserves the integrity of the native cannabis flower instead of altering it, Mistifi has created first-of-their-kind ultra-premium, triple-strain vape pens. The Hi-Phi extraction method fine-tunes high-pressure and low temperature for a unique effect.

mistifi.com

Pacific Stone

Pacific Stone is a family-owned and operated brand that prides itself on selling what it grows, cures and packs, and now consumers can enjoy its farm-direct cannabis in quality concentrate form. For example, its 805 Glue cured resin is a strain-specific, cannabis-derived terpene-rich extract of Pacific Stone’s indoor greenhouse flower. Extracted to taste and feel like a Pacific Stone cannabis, this 1g cartridges have a ceramic core to maximize flavors.

pacificstonebrand.com

LBS DISTRIBUTION PUFF

There isn’t always a best time for a smoking experience, and the PUFF line of disposable vapes is perfect when you want to keep things quick and discreet. Its PUFF line of high quality ceramic core vape pens contain Live Resin Sauce in strain specific blends. They are charged and ready to go right out of the package, so you can just grab one and go, and just incase the battery runs out before you do, there is an added emergency charging port, so you will never run out of juice until its empty. The PUFF line also includes 100 percent all flower pre-rolls and PUFF LOADED Pre-rolls, which are painted in a layer of PUFF brand cannabis oil and then rolled in a coating of blonde kief.

lbsdistribution.com/brand/puff

Edibles

Heavy Hitters

Since 1996, Heavy Hitters has been dedicated to only producing the highest quality, purest and most potent products on the marketplace. For something as important as a sleep product, the brand didn’t just follow what was already out in the marketplace, it made it the Heavy Hitters way: stronger, cleaner, better.

One and done mentality, Heavy Hitters has created the heaviest hitting sleep gummy in the world, packing 20mg of THC with 20mg of CBN in every piece (10:10 per serving), more than two times the industry average. Infused with the same Ultra cannabis oil found in our bestselling vape carts (Indica). And since the gummy testing team had to start setting multiple alarms in the morning, naming the product “Lights Out” seemed fitting.

Wyld

Wyld produces the best tasting edibles and beverages on the market, using real fruit and all natural flavoring. Consistent quality and stunning packaging makes Wyld an ideal choice to take on life’s adventures. Wyld was founded in 2016 by three college friends working over a two-burner stove in a tiny farm building outside of Bend, Oregon.

Since its humble beginnings, Wyld has become one of the leading cannabis edible producers in the country. With flavors inspired by the Pacific Northwest, high quality ingredients, real-fruit and consistent dosing, Wyld is formulated specifically with you in mind. Wyld is currently self distributing in four states; Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado and Arizona with plans to launch in Michigan, Washington and Canada before the end of 2021. The company’s drive to offer the best tasting edibles is matched only by its gratitude and appreciation for your support. Wyld invites you to bring its products along for all your adventures, no matter how big or small.

Wyld’s Marionberry gummies are made with real fruit and an Indica-enhanced botanical terpene blend, making them a great addition to the end of any long day. Whether eaten around a campfire, or in the comfort of your own home, these gummies are great for unwinding.

Kiva

Kiva is an industry-leading edibles company that offers a variety of products to keep you going throughout the year. In honor of the holiday season, we invite you to get all the feels of Christmas morning with Kiva’s limited edition, Holiday Punch gummies. Energizing terpenes with notes of cranberry and cinnamon will have you leaping out of bed with joyful anticipation.

Another product that’s perfect for the holiday season is Kiva’s Terra. Each bite takes 10+ hours to create and offers microdoses of 5mg THC. These edibles are discreet, precise and solventless. Featuring a soft and sweet peppermint core coated by rich dark chocolate, the bites have a bold, fresh minty flavor. Finally, the brand’s limited edition holiday favorite is back! This festive and flavorful Kiva Bar is made of delicious, infused dark chocolate, with swirls of white chocolate, completed with a dusting of crushed peppermint candy. This seasonal treat makes the perfect stocking stuffer.

Good News

Keep the good times rolling with your friends and enjoy some flavorful gummies from Good News. Good News Gummies contain 10mg of full spectrum oil in each gummy. For lovers of sour candies that contain the welcomed effects of cannabinoids, Good News Gummies have an array of sour flavors including Counting Sheep (Indica: 2:1 THC/CBN), Me Time (Indica), Friyay (Sativa), Day Off (Hybrid 1:1 THC/CBN), Brunch (Hybrid), Vegas (Sativa) and Pride (Sativa). Add them to your holiday shopping list for a cannabis experience that suits your activities.

wearegoodnews.co

Kanha

High Times Cannabis Cup winner Kanha Treats sells Kanha premium gummies, which are made with the highest quality cannabis oils, scientifically extracted and infused with cannabinoids to provide a consistent dose. They’re safe, reliable and delicious. Every gummy is its own adventure in flavor and experience, leading you on a joyful journey full of curiosity and bliss. There are zero pesticides, all-natural ingredients, coloring or flavoring. As always, you can expect a good texture and consistency from Kanha. Kanha falls under the Sunderstrom family of brands that are known for their quality.

kanhatreats.com

Topicals

Papa & Barkley

Longtime leader in cannabis products, Papa & Barkley is a California-based company that was founded by Adam Grossman in 2014. It eventually grew into a family of caregivers, scientists, farmers and professionals on a mission to unlock the power of cannabis. Papa & Barkley topicals, for instance, are High Times Cannabis Cup award-winning. All the products are made up of pesticide-free cannabis, grown by farmers. Products include CBD Relief Balm, as well as oils and other topicals that provide great relief when you have a specific area on your skin that needs attention.

papaandbarkleyshop.com

Mary’s Medicinals

Go to the brand you already trust for relief when you need it. Mary’s Medicinals provide patients with a better quality of life through plant-based ingredients and innovations. Merging modern technology with established horticulture practices allows for the easy integration of the therapeutic power of cannabis into one’s daily routine. The company provides varied delivery methods that offer a wide array of benefits, such as the elimination of smoking, dose control, continued release, convenience and systemic effects. Mary’s Medicinals Transdermal Compound contains equal parts THC and CBD. It’s great for spot-specific pain.

marysmedicinals.com

High Desert Pure

All of High Desert Pure’s products are cruelty-free, made with vegan ingredients and crafted with full-spectrum extracts and other carefully selected ingredients. The brand’s topical line does not disappoint, as it features a Massage Oil, Aloe Gel, Relief Stick, Lip Balm and Lotion. Also part of its topical line, its High Desert Pure Eucalyptus Balm contains 600mg of full-spectrum extract in a ‭1:1‭ ‬CBD/THC blend. It is formulated with eucalyptus for an exhilarating effect in a two-ounce recyclable, child-resistant jar, made with a reclaimed ocean plastic. The balm is quite a bit thicker than lotion but just as smooth, providing slow absorption for long-lasting relief.

highdesertpure.com

Cosmic View

Ready for some relief in specific areas on your skin? Get a little deeper with Cosmic View. The brand is 100 percent women-owned and operated. The company’s product line includes a variety of tinctures, balms and edibles, many of which are formulated with women in mind. When it comes to topicals, one example is Cosmic View’s Deep Down athletic balm, which is 100 percent organic, and doctor-formulated. It’s made with full-spectrum CBD- and THC-rich cannabis to relieve achy, sore muscles. One of its active ingredients, medicinal rosemary, contains flavonoids, terpenes and phenolic acids that have been associated with effective treatment of rheumatic pain.

cosmicview.com

Kush Queen

Is it time yet for a little self-care? Or perhaps it’s time to shut yourself off from the outside world? Kush Queen is a leader in the CBD space, offering premium bath bombs, topicals and gummies. Its topical line includes lotion, lube, shower gel, sugar scrub, skin serum, massage oil and more. One fine example of the brand’s topicals is Kush Queen’s Renew, a lavender sugar scrub, loaded with 100mg of pure CBD. It will leave your skin glowing. The organic sugar base, CBD and jojoba oil all work together to help your body remove dead skin, clean pores and moisturize. It is great for all skin types and full-body use—from your face to your feet.

kushqueen.shop

High Times Branded Cannabis and CBD Products

Still searching for that perfect gift for cannabis connoisseurs on your shopping list? Lucky for you, High Times has released branded products ranging from premium flower and pre-rolls to full spectrum live resin cartridges and everything in between. High Times products are helping consumers take those holiday celebrations to new heights.

For CBD lovers, High Times offers a full selection of CBD products that are available across the nation. Don’t miss your chance to save and shop the High Times Holiday CBD Bundle while supplies last.

To purchase all of these products from High Times and our brand partners, click here to find a High Times Cannabis Market near you. You can also have products delivered right to your door through our convenient delivery service.

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