WATCH VIDEO
The Budist Judges for the 2025 California Cannabis Awards
Skip to content
FLOWER AWARD CATEGORIES
Cultivators who grow cannabis outside without using any artificial lighting or light deprivation techniques on mature plants.
Cultivators who grow cannabis in a greenhouse, hoop-house, glasshouse, conservatory, hothouse, or other similar structure.
Cultivators who grow cannabis in a permanent structure using at least 25 watts of artificial light per square foot.
How to Enter the
Flower Competition
Here's How
Fill out the entry form on the California Cannabis Awards website.
Once we receive it, we’ll send an invoice for the entry fee. Once that is paid, you’re ready to compete.
Each entry requires 10 units of shelf-ready product. All submissions will move through the licensed California supply chain as penny units in compliance with state regulations.
All entrants must provide a valid Certificate of Analysis (COA) from a California-licensed cannabis testing laboratory to participate.
SC Labs clients who have obtained their COA and requisite testing will not undergo additional testing, as the results of that test will be used for the competition.
Incentives for SC Labs’ current and new clients are available, including:
- For the Outdoor Flower Category, submissions which obtained their COA and the proper testing from SC Labs between October 1, 2025, and February 22, 2026, may be eligible.
- All other SC Labs client flower submissions are subject to a retroactive January 1 to February 22, 2026, test allowance.
Distributor logistics are powered by our partners, Nabis and Redwood Roots, with drop-off locations in Oakland, Los Angeles, and Garberville, California. Product drop-off will officially open on 4/20/2026. All competition products must be received no later than May 22, 2026, the close of the competition submission window.
Before the 4/20 drop-off window opens, you will receive instructions, including manifest preparation and drop-off details, to ensure a smooth transfer.
Here's How
Fill out the entry form on the California Cannabis Awards website.
Once we receive it, we’ll send an invoice for the entry fee. Once that is paid, you’re ready to compete.
Each entry requires 10 units of shelf-ready product. All submissions will move through the licensed California supply chain as penny units in compliance with state regulations.
Distributor logistics are powered by our partners, Nabis and Redwood Roots, with drop-off locations in Oakland, Los Angeles, and Garberville, California. Product drop-off will officially open on 4/20/2026. All competition products must be received no later than May 22, 2026, the close of the competition submission window.
Before the 4/20 drop-off window opens, you will receive instructions, including manifest preparation and drop-off details, to ensure a smooth transfer.
Trophies and Medals
Each year, the California Cannabis Awards recognizes excellence across Flower and Product categories—honoring the growers, makers, and innovators shaping the Golden State.
Flower Entries
Flower entries are grouped by cultivation method, beginning with light source:
Within each Flower Category, Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals are awarded based on science-driven chemotype analysis. Submissions are evaluated and ranked based on terpene and cannabinoid abundance, as revealed by third-party SC Labs testing.
Each Flower Category awards eleven (11) medals, recognizing standout chemotypes, including six (6) primary terpene profiles.
FLOWER AWARDS CRITERIA
HOW IT WORKS
- Entrant must be a licensed California cultivator
- Entrant must have a METRC Batch # and a valid COA for the submission
- Entrant may submit multiple cultivars
- All entrants will receive testing from SC Labs, facilitated by Organizers
- All products will be photographed in Hi-Res for marketing materials
- Each Entry will receive a PhytoFacts chemometric report
- For the Outdoor Flower Category, submissions which obtained their COA and the proper testing from SC Labs between October 1, 2025, and February 28, 2026, may be eligible.
- All other SC Labs client flower submissions are subject to a retroactive January 1 to February 28, 2026, test allowance
- Please contact your SC Labs representative for inquiries related to submitting through the customer service portal and eligibility for use of a retroactive test.
Budist Evaluation Method
The Budist panel of judges is assigned to each Category and Product Type based on qualifications and areas of expertise. Their role is to objectively Assess the quality, craftsmanship, and overall performance of each entry—determining whether the product delivers on its intended use case.
Judges follow a standardized 100-point evaluation methodology to ensure scoring remains fair, consistent, and grounded in professional assessment.
Using the Budist 100-point rating scale
Using the Budist 100-point rating scale, each entry is evaluated across key attributes including Aroma, Flavor, Appearance, and Effect. Points are assigned based on factors such as complexity, intensity, balance, and efficacy, and the final score is the average of these totals.
Gold, Silver, and bronze medals (excluding Flower categories) and the Golden Bear Trophies are awarded to the highest-scoring entries within their respective categories, recognizing products that exemplify excellence in California cannabis.