🌍 From Humboldt Hills to Brooklyn Blocks
The cannabis industry just leveled up with its very own Super Bowl moment—the first-ever MJBowl. And the matchup? Straight-up historic: California vs. New York, East Coast vs. West Coast, legacy growers vs. fresh legalization vibes.
Hosted by MJBizCon (the biggest cannabis trade show in the world) and powered by Budist (the social review app built for weed heads), the competition is all about crowning the Most Valuable Products (MVPs) in cannabis.
For real—this is the first national stage where the culture, craft, and hustle from both coasts collide. Think: Emerald Cup meets Verzuz battle, but with joints, gummies, and concentrates instead of mics and beats.
🏆 The Categories of Fire
The MJBowl breaks it down into five core categories with sub-brackets so no lane gets left out:
🌬️ Pre-rolls → infused & non-infused
🌿 Flower → indoor, outdoor, mixed light
💨 Cartridges → solvent & solventless
🔥 Concentrates → solvent & solventless
🍫 Edibles → confections & beverages
Entries are judged first by Budist critics—a lineup of certified Ganjiers, cannabis cup judges, journalists, and tastemakers—aka the varsity squad of weed knowledge. These folks will set the bar, picking the finalists.
But here’s the twist that’s making heads hype: once finalists drop, consumer judging kits go on sale. Regular smokers will get a chance to buy the kits, try the products at home, and then rate them directly in the Budist app.
So it’s not just elite critics deciding the winners—it’s the community that gets to flex its voice.
📅 The Playbook: Key Dates
- 📝 Entry Window: Aug. 14 – Oct. 3
- 🔍 Critics’ Judging: Oct. 27 – Nov. 21
- 🏆 Awards Ceremony: Dec. 4 @ MJBizCon (Las Vegas)
Entry fees are $250 if you’re early (Aug. 14 – Aug. 31), and $300 after Sept. 1. But here’s the catch—you gotta be a licensed cannabis company in either California or New York, and your products need to be retail-ready in compliant packaging.
This is big league stuff.
🌴 Cali’s Legacy vs. 🗽 NY’s New Wave
California is the OG heavyweight champ when it comes to cannabis. From Humboldt County’s sun-grown farmers to LA’s designer indoor grows, the Golden State has decades of clout. Events like the Emerald Cup have been celebrating craft cannabis since the early 2000s—long before other states even had legal weed.
New York, though? They’re the new kid with mad potential. Since legalization in 2021, the Empire State has been building a scene that blends East Coast hustle with cultural flavor—from Harlem smoke shops to Brooklyn-infused edible startups.
Now, with the MJBowl, the two most iconic cannabis states get to flex on the same stage.
💭 Big Question: Will Cali’s decades of expertise keep the crown? Or will NY’s fresh energy pull an upset?
🎤 Voices from the Scene
“Our industry has been waiting for cannabis to be recognized and celebrated on a national level,” said Jocelyn Sheltraw, Budist CEO.
“This bi-coastal competition is a significant step… bridging siloed markets by spotlighting product excellence.”
Even MJBizCon’s Emilie Lewis is gassed up:
“We hope to make this contest a staple for the industry. And with consumer judging kits, the people get to weigh in, too.”
Translation? This isn’t a one-off. The MJBowl is setting itself up to be a yearly tradition.
🍃 How It Hits Different from the Emerald Cup
If you’re from Cali, you’re already thinking: “So, like… this is just Emerald Cup with extra steps?”
Not quite. The Emerald Cup has always been NorCal’s pride—showcasing sun-grown farmers, craft culture, and OG genetics. It’s basically the Grammys of weed.
The MJBowl? It’s trying to be the NBA Finals. Instead of just celebrating one region, it’s about pitting coasts against each other in a national face-off. Plus, throwing in consumer judging kits makes it interactive in a way no other cannabis comp has pulled off.
🎉 Why It Matters (Beyond the Trophy)
This showdown has ripple effects way beyond bragging rights:
- Coastal Unity: Instead of markets competing in silos, this is about building bridges.
- Legit Recognition: Cannabis finally gets a national award stage, like wine or craft beer.
- Consumer Power: Everyday smokers influence the outcome, not just elite insiders.
- Cultural Growth: Cannabis stops being just “products” and becomes lifestyle, culture, and competition.
And in a time where legal markets (like California) are battling against high taxes and a heavy black market, big spotlight moments like MJBowl help shift consumer attention back to licensed brands.
🌊 Cali’s Home Turf Advantage
Here’s the thing: MJBizCon happens in Vegas—neutral ground. But Cali still has home field in spirit. LA dispensaries, NorCal farmers, SoCal extract artists… they’ve been innovating long before New York had a single licensed shop.
And now with cannabis cafés rolling out across California (thanks to AB 1775), the retail side of the experience is evolving too. Pair that with national spotlight competitions like the MJBowl, and Cali’s not just competing—it’s setting the culture for everyone else to follow.
🗽 NY’s Big Swing
Still, don’t sleep on New York. East Coast growers are hungry to prove themselves. They’ve been dialing in genetics, working with legacy operators, and building hype in a market where supply still struggles to meet demand.
If Cali is the established superstar, New York is the rookie with fresh energy, ready to shock the world.
🚀 The Future of Weed Competitions
Cannabis comps are evolving fast:
- 🍇 Emerald Cup → NorCal’s legacy + culture
- 🏅 High Times Cannabis Cup → OG global brand, touring format
- 🎉 Zalympix → LA’s designer hype strain Olympics
- 🌍 MJBowl → The first real national showdown
The MJBowl might be the first step toward a future where we see state teams, brand leagues, or even a national cannabis “season” leading into finals. Wild? Maybe. But so was legal weed 15 years ago.
🌴💨 Final Vibe Check
This December, the MJBowl is about to set the tone: Cali vs. NY, legacy vs. new wave, West Coast chill vs. East Coast hustle.
🌴 Cali’s been farm-to-flame since day one.
🗽 NY’s bringing fresh fire with city energy.
And with consumers weighing in for the first time, the real winners might just be the culture itself.
One thing’s for sure: the MJBowl is here to stay. Grab your kits, roll up, and let the games begin.
🔥🌿🏆
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