Gold medal winners are now vying for nine coveted “Best of California” Golden Bear trophies. With more than 500 entries in 2024 — double that of 2023 — the California State Fair Cannabis Awards is the largest sanctioned cannabis competition in the world.

For 170 years, the California State Fair has awarded farmers from California’s traditional agricultural industries for their best-in-class bounty. In response to California voters’ overwhelming support for cannabis legalization and in recognition of the tremendous role cannabis plays as one of the state's top-ranking crops by value, the California State Fair has included cannabis in these awards for the past three years.

“Cannabis is a magnificent and wondrous plant, but for too long, stigma has stifled societal understanding of its capabilities,” said James Leitz, co-producer of the educational cannabis experience and awards competition. “We hope that this competition showcases the talent, dedication and innovation of California's cannabis community and celebrates its many accomplishments alongside California’s traditional agricultural industries.”

While the California State Fair has hosted an educational exhibit and awards show for cannabis since 2022, this year’s cannabis exhibition was expanded into an immersive experience with additional competition categories and the inclusion of licensed onsite cannabis sales and consumption hosted by Embarc’s Sacramento dispensary, allowing patrons to try products from many of California’s craft brands.

“The cannabis competition and corresponding awards amplify the extraordinary efforts of farmers and brands surviving in an increasingly competitive market," said Lauren Carpenter, CEO of Embarc and co-producer of the cannabis experience. "Normalizing and destigmatizing cannabis — one of the Golden State's most valuable agricultural commodities — is core to Embarc's mission, and this year's awards were the most competitive yet. Cannabis has earned its rightful place among Golden Bear-winning categories, including wine, cheese, olive oil and craft beer."

The nine Golden Bear trophies will be announced July 27 at a private awards show intended to recognize and celebrate leaders within the cannabis industry.

Winners among the beverage and edibles categories include:

Beverages

Gold

Strawberry Lemonade (10 mg)

Reefresh

Silver

Root Beer (10 mg)

Olala

Edibles

Candies

Gold

CBD 1:1 Assorted Flavors

Space Gem

Silver

Whitethorn Rose Gummies

Ay Papi

Baked Goods/Chocolates

Gold

White Cheddar Popcorn

Big Top

Silver

Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups Indica

Emerald Sky

Wellness

Tablets/Capsules

Gold

HYBRID X TABS

KIKOKO

Silver

Sherbet Haze 25 mg Tablets Sativa

Emerald Bay Extracts

Tinctures

Gold

Lights Out Tincture

Yummi Karma

Silver

Nightime Tincture

Beard Bros/Fluids Manufacturing,  Inc.