The world’s leading cannabis competition, the High Times Cannabis Cup <https://www.cannabiscup.com/illinois-2022/>, is making its return to Illinois in July 2022. The state’s most popular cannabis brands are competing across 12 categories to be recognized as the best products in the state. The People’s Choice Edition of the awards, created during the pandemic, allows members of the public to cast their vote for the best products in the state and determine the winners. Illinois will host a medical use category, in addition to the traditional adult use category.
High Times will host an influencer judging session the weekend of July 23 at RISE Recreational Dispensary in Mundelein, the state’s only cannabis consumption lounge. A group of vetted Illinois-based cannabis influencers will be invited to participate in judging some of the state’s best cannabis products that will be a part of the Cannabis Cup’s People’s Choice Award.
How it works:
Those interested in serving as judges can pre-register for judging updates at CannabisCup.com/preregister <http://cannabiscup.com/preregister> to be the first to get Cannabis Cup judging updates, judging kit availability, and pricing information. Judging kits will be available at participating dispensaries on July 24 (July 23 for dispensary partner loyalty members) on a first-come first-serve basis. No confirmation or approval necessary. Those with a medical use card are eligible to purchase a medical judging kit and will be privy to assisted access at the dispensary location. Judging kits come in a smell-resistant High Times backpack with scorecards and judges are asked to give detailed comments on aesthetics, aroma, taste, terpene profile, and effects of each product. Judges have 60 days from the start of the competition to log their results on the High Times judging portal. All kits are sold on a first-come first-serve basis so those interested in participating are encouraged to arrive early on the day of availability. Winners will be announced on September 18 in a digital awards show.
Partners
- Ascend
- Verano/Zen Leaf
- GTI/ RISE
- Herbal Remedies
- Sponsors:
- Presenting Sponsor: Aeriz
- Silver Sponsor: Nature’s Grace and Wellness
- Bronze Sponsor: PharmaCann
- General Sponsors: NuEra
- Dispensaries that will sell the kits:
- Ascend – 114 Commerce Ln, Fairview Heights, IL 62208
- Ascend – 3201 Horizon Dr, Springfield, IL 62703
- Ascend – 9820 S. Ridgeland Avenue Chicago Ridge, IL 60185 (Chicago Ridge)
- Ascend – 5648 S. Archer Chicago, IL 60638 (Midway)
- Ascend – Logan Square – 2847 W. Fullerton Avenue Chicago, IL 60647 –
- Ascend – River North – 216 W. Ohio Street Chicago, IL 60654
- Zen Leaf St Charles – 3691 E Main Street, St Charles IL, 60174
- The Herbal Care Center (Zen Leaf Pilsen) – 1301 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL
- Zen Leaf Aurora – 740 Illinois Rte 59, Aurora, IL
- Zen Leaf Evanston – 1804 Maple Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
- Zen Leaf Lombard – 783 Butterfield Rd, Lombard, IL
- Zen Leaf Naperville – 1516 N Naper Blvd, Naperville
- Zen Leaf Prospect Heights – 1434 E Rand Rd, Prospect Heights, IL
- Zen Leaf West Loop – 222 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL
- Herbal Remedies: 4440 Broadway St Ste 1, Quincy, IL 62305 (Adult-Use and Medical)
- Herbal Remedies: 1837 Broadway St, Quincy, IL 62301 (Adult-Use Only)
- Rise Mundelein: 1325 Armour Blvd, Mundelein, IL, 60060
- Rise Effingham: 1011 Ford Ave, Suite #C, Effingham, IL, 62401
- Rise Joliet – Rock Creek: 1627 Rock Creek Blvd, Joliet, IL, 60431
- Rise Niles: 9621 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL 60714
- Categories:
- Indica Flower – 228 kits statewide
- Sativa Flower – 228 kits
- Hybrid Flower – 228 kits
- Pre-Rolls – 228 kits
- Concentrates – 228 kits
- Vape Pens – 228 kits
- Edibles: Gummies – 100 kits
- Edibles: Non-Gummies – 100 kits
- Edibles: Beverages – 100 kits
- Medical Flower – 228 kits
- Medical Vape Pens – 228 kits
- Medical Edibles – 100 kits
Cannabis Cup traces its roots back to Amsterdam and started in 1988 as an international competition recognizing the best cannabis products on the planet. The People’s Choice format began in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and has given everyday cannabis users the opportunity to join the ranks of legendary Cannabis Cup judges like Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson.
More details are available at https://www.cannabiscup.com/illinois-2022/ <https://www.cannabiscup.com/illinois-2022/>.
Examples of judging kits from past competitions:
