From homegrown to the green carpet, cannabis industry leaders including two from Mendocino and Sonoma counties and four from the greater North Coast on Saturday won nine top honors at the California State Fair’s cannabis awards ceremony.
In all, 150 medals were awarded out of more than 600 entries this year. The accolades included nine Golden Bears — the highest award for each of the nine categories that included sungrown products, pre-rolls, edibles, beverages and wellness products.
Emerald Spirit Botanicals in Willits received a Golden Bear in the sungrown flower category.
To Joseph Haggard, co-founder of Emerald Spirit Botanicals, being recognized at the fair is a big honor.
“It also helps to bring out some of the small family craft cultivators like myself, and put us up against some of the larger cannabis companies,” Haggard said.
The producer, in an Instagram post announcing the win, called on regulators to reduce taxes and work toward a balanced relationship with cultivators, brands and patients.
“So much work still to be done but this weekend felt like another step in the right direction! Please speak up about overtaxation and support craft producers who honor the plant, the planet and the people,” the post read.
The other North Bay winner of a Golden Bear was Sonoma Hills Farm in the preroll category.
“It has been sad to see the Emerald Cup and even Hightimes cups disappear, but amazing to see the Cali State Fair continue to grow to such a huge show that touches all aspects of the plant and its history,” the company wrote in a Facebook post.
Ay Papi, of La Habra in Orange County, brought home two Golden Bear trophies in the edibles and concentrate categories, which was a pleasant surprise for company founder Justin Lee.
“It’s just a testament to the farms that we work with,” he said. “Without them providing us the quality of material and their legacy strains, we wouldn’t be able to even put out an express hash or any type of concentrates or edibles of this quality.”
The annual competition and showcase, called California Cannabis Experience, was sponsored by Embarc, a Sacramento dispensary. The event provides information on the history of cannabis and its usages through educational banners, booths and seminars.
Trophies and Medals
The California Cannabis Awards were designed from day one to raise the bar. Entries are lab-tested by SC Labs and evaluated by expert judges from Budist using a 100-point scoring system. Logistics are handled by embarc, Nabis, and Redwood Roots—a supply chain built for transparency and compliance.
In short, this isn’t vibes judging. It’s scientific, standardized evaluation.
At a time when reform conversations are accelerating nationwide, competitions like this help demonstrate that regulated cannabis can meet and exceed the standards expected of any agricultural product in the mainstream economy.
In a press release, Tom Martinez, CEO of the California Exposition & State Fair, said this is precisely what the competition achieves.
“The California Cannabis Awards reflect the same spirit of excellence that defines the Fair itself, recognizing the skill, stewardship, and dedication contributing to California’s diverse agricultural landscape.”
By placing award-winning brands inside the California State Fair, where hundreds of thousands of adults can learn about, purchase, and consume cannabis legally, the CCA continues to model what responsible integration can look like.
Winning, or even placing, in a state-sanctioned, scientifically judged competition provides something beyond a medal. It offers validation in front of consumers, policymakers, and mainstream institutions.
“Five years ago, this level of acceptance within a state institution would have seemed aspirational,” said Lauren Carpenter, CEO of embarc. “Today, it’s a reality. This competition proves cannabis can be evaluated with measurable standards and celebrated responsibly.”
There’s also the fact that best-in-show, Golden Bear winners will have unique retail opportunities outside of Cal Expo, thanks to partner retailer embarc. The products will be sold at select embarc locations across the state during exclusive drops, and enjoy in-store marketing to highlight their achievements.
For operators, that exposure isn’t symbolic. It’s survival.
