Fourth Annual Competition Spotlighting the Highest-Quality California Cannabis, Gold Medalists Now Go Head-to-Head for Prestigious Golden Bear Trophies
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s most mainstream cannabis competition today announced the 2025 medalists for the state’s top cannabis products. Judges for the California State Fair Cannabis Awards handed out 150 medals across nine categories and newly expanded 50 subcategories, including indoor, outdoor, and mixed light flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, cartridges, edibles, beverages, wellness products, and new additions, including blunts, hash, and chocolates.
“For an emerging industry that feels like the Wild West most days, these awards are a bright spot to celebrate California’s cannabis heritage and history,” said Lauren Carpenter, CEO and co-founder of cannabis retailer embarc and co-producer of the state fair’s special exhibition. “When you see a small legacy farmer or a family-owned brand standing next to their Golden Bear trophy, knowing their product will be sold alongside the state’s best wine and cheese—that’s the moment you realize we’ve actually done it. We’ve moved from the margins to the mainstream, and we’re recognizing the world’s highest quality cannabis as the vital agricultural product it’s always been.”
For 171 years, the California State Fair has awarded farmers from California’s traditional agricultural industries for their best-in-class bounty. Since 2022, cannabis has taken its rightful place among the state’s celebrated artisan agricultural products, joining wines, cheeses, and olive oils as one of its top-ranking crops by value.
“This competition represents the highest level of cannabis evaluation in the country,” said James Leitz, co-producer of the educational cannabis experience and awards competition. “When you see cannabis winning awards alongside California’s finest wine and produce, you’re seeing an industry that’s earned its place through excellence, not just acceptance. The winners represent the absolute best cannabis products California has to offer, judged by the same standards we’d apply to any world-class agricultural competition.”
This year’s entries underwent rigorous evaluation through a two-tiered judging process. All flower submissions were tested through respected cannabis laboratory SC Labs for scientific quality assessment, while a distinguished panel of judges evaluated all entries using Budist‘s standardized 100-point, sommelier-level evaluation scale to objectively assess attributes such as aroma, flavor, appearance, and effect.
“Being recognized at the State Fair feels like coming full circle,” said Joyce Cenali from Sonoma Hills Farm (Petaluma). “We’re cultivating OCal-certified cannabis with the same care and craft that Sonoma has brought to world-class wine for generations, rooted in respect for the land and attention to every detail. This year, winning for three different cannabinoids (THC, CBD, and CBG) makes recognition even more meaningful. It highlights our dedication to sustainable practices and our belief that cannabis deserves the same reverence as any other agricultural crop grown on our farm.”
“We are honored to be a small multi-generational organic farm in service to the evolution of cannabis and humanity on this beautiful earth,” said Joseph Haggard from Emerald Spirit Botanicals (Willits). “It’s a sacred joy to share our Sun+Earth Certified flowers and wellness products, which showcase the unique terpene profiles and cannabinoid ratios that nature provides.”
Gold medal winners are now vying for nine coveted “Best of California” Golden Bear trophies, which have quickly become the cannabis industry’s equivalent to the “Michelin Guide” for cannabis products. With more than 600 entries in 2025, a significant increase from previous years, the California State Fair Cannabis Awards has firmly established itself as the largest and most prestigious sanctioned cannabis competition in the world.
Building on last year’s success, the 2025 cannabis exhibition has expanded into an even more immersive experience with additional competition categories and enhanced on-site cannabis sales and consumption hosted by embarc. This allows fairgoers to experience award-winning products from many of California’s finest brands in a safe and educational environment focused on responsible and conscious consumption.
The nine Golden Bear trophies will be announced on July 12, 2025, at an Oscars-style awards ceremony celebrating cannabis industry leaders.
To learn more about cannabis at the California State Fair and view the medal winners, visit calcannabisawards.com/2025-award-winners.
About the California Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair
The California Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair is an annual statewide celebration featuring an educational exhibit and on-site cannabis sales and consumption. The cannabis exhibit will run for the duration of the California State Fair from July 11-27, 2025, and will be located onsite and open to all fairgoers (21+).
The California Cannabis Awards is produced in partnership with Cal Expo, embarc, and Fair Play Ventures, LLC. embarc operates a fleet of customer-obsessed and community-minded cannabis dispensaries across California. Fair Play Ventures is an exciting partnership between Cultivar Events, creators and producers of the 2022/2023 competition and exhibit, and embarc Events, California’s leading cannabis event specialists.
SOURCE: calcannabisawards.com
CONTACT: Alice Moon, alice@kipmorrison.com
