Cannabis Experience features education, on-site sales, a consumption lounge, competitions, an awards ceremony, and more! 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, the California State Fair Cannabis Experience announced this year’s themes, activations, and opportunities for fairgoers to explore the world’s best cannabis, grown and manufactured across the Golden State. 

“The California State Fair is proud to be the only state fair in America to feature an onsite educational exhibit and cannabis competition alongside sales and consumption,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of the California State Fair. “This groundbreaking initiative recognizes the tremendous role of cannabis in our state’s agricultural sector and positions California as the undisputed leader in responsible cannabis integration, setting the standard that other fairs follow for years to come.” 

The interactive cannabis experience features educational booths and seminars, musical performances, on-site sales, and a consumption lounge, plus a Best in California competition and awards ceremony. Fairgoers will have the opportunity to meet cannabis farmers and brand ambassadors, watch panel discussions with industry operators, association leaders, and policymakers, and taste test some of California’s best cannabis.  

 “What we’ve created is so much more than an activation,” said Lauren Carpenter, CEO and co-founder of embarc. “This is a celebration of California cannabis and of the people and places that nurture it. When fairgoers walk through our cannabis experience, they’re learning about the science behind this plant, its community impact, and the agricultural practices that make California cannabis the gold standard around the world.” 

 Media are invited to attend the California Cannabis Awards Ceremony on Saturday, July 12, 2025, with a green carpet and interviews for gold, silver, and bronze medalists beginning at 4:20 p.m. and a seated show beginning at 6:00 p.m. During the ceremony, nine Golden Bear trophies will be awarded for sungrown, mixed light, and indoor flower, concentrates, cartridges, pre-rolls, edibles, beverages, and wellness cannabis products. Media must RSVP to Alice Moon (alice@kipmorrison.com) by noon on Friday, July 11. 

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FAST FACTS: 

• The 171st California State Fair will be held July 11-27, 2025 

• 4th year of the Cannabis Experience and Awards Competition and the 2nd year with onsite sales and consumption  

• Onsite sales featuring award-winning products from dozens of California brands, including significant craft, legacy, and/or social equity operators  

• Estimated approx 100,000 fairgoers visited the cannabis experience in 2024 

• The 2025 competition received 600+ entries – approx 20% increase over last year 

• 141 medal winners (announced June 24)  

• Nine championship Golden Bear Awards (to be announced live July 12) 

• Flower submissions were tested through SC Labs for scientific quality assessment, while Budist’s panels of industry-leading cannabis critics evaluated entries using their standardized 100-point rating system 

• Hours of operation:  

• Monday through Thursday: 4:00-10:00 p.m. 

• Friday through Sunday: 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  

• ** Pursuant to local regulations, all cannabis sales conclude before 9 pm  

• Access is restricted to adults only, 21+ with a valid Government ID 

ABOUT: 

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 from July 11 to 27, 2025, during the California State Fair, and will be located on-site, 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. 

(Download high-resolution photos and videos at: bit.ly/canna-fair)   

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

SOURCE: calcannabisawards.com  

CONTACT: Alice Moon, alice@kipmorrison.com