SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California State Fair Cannabis Awards announced the 2024 Golden Bear winners, recognizing the ‘Best-of-California’ from cultivators and manufacturers across the state. More than 500 entries were evaluated as part of the State Fair’s expanded ‘California Cannabis Experience,’ a first-in-the-nation educational exhibit featuring onsite cannabis sales, consumption and an awards ceremony in partnership with FairPlay Ventures and California cannabis retailer Embarc.
For nearly two centuries, the California State Fair has awarded Golden Bears to the best of California agriculture, including wine, craft beer, olive oil, and cheese. Beginning in 2022, cannabis was added to the competition in recognition of its tremendous role in the state’s diverse agricultural sector.
“The journey to cannabis consumption at the California State Fair has spanned 170 years. It’s been a challenging path for many, but today we honor their work, their dreams and their craft,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of the California State Fair, during Saturday’s Oscars-style cannabis awards. “This ceremony stands as a tribute to all those who came before us…my hope is that 170 years from now, we’ll look back at 2024 and say, ‘This was the year the game changed again.’”
In 2022 and 2023, the cannabis competition assessed flower across indoor, mixed-light and outdoor categories. This year, the fair expanded the competition to include nine categories—indoor, mixed-light and outdoor flower, alongside concentrate, cartridge, pre-roll, edible, beverage and wellness categories. Winners include:
- Flower (sungrown): Pink Boost Goddess by Emerald Spirit Botanicals
- Flower (mixed light): Lilac Diesel by Glass House Farms
- Flower (indoor): New Jack City by Pure Beauty
- Concentrates: Six Star Full Melt – Whitethorn Rose by Ay Papi and Huckleberry Hill Farms
- Cartridges: Lantz 100% Live Rosin Syrup by Arcata Fire (Ridgeline Farms Collaboration)
- Pre-rolls: Whitethorn Rose Rosin by The Pairist
- Edibles: CBD 1:1 by Space Gem
- Beverages: Mandarin Tumeric Ginger Little Strong Drink by Pure Beauty
- Wellness: Hybrid X Tabs by KIKOKO
The full list of medal recipients may be found here.
Competition entries underwent rigorous scientific testing by laboratory SC Labs and blind tasting by Budist’s professional judging panel—a group of cannabis connoisseurs who reviewed and judged each product using its proprietary, 100-point standardized rating system.
“These awards honor exceptional craftsmanship and educate and engage consumers while paving the way for cannabis to be appreciated as an artisanal product,” said Jocelyn Sheltraw, CEO and Co-Founder of Budist.
The 2024 Golden Bear winners spanned the state but the beating heart of the awards is rooted in legacy and craft producers. “As a small, multi-generational farm from the heart of Mendocino County, cultivating the highest-quality cannabis with mixed ratios of cannabinoids in harmony with nature and spirit is our guiding light,” explains Joseph Haggard of Golden Bear-winning producer Emerald Spirit Botanicals. “We are so proud of our award-winning cannabis and are grateful for this opportunity to honor the importance of this plant and of environmental stewardship on such a grand stage.”
