The cannabis industry will crown its first national champions this December at the debut of MJBowl, a bi-coastal competition uniting California and New York brands in a showdown of the sector’s top products.
The event, a collaboration between MJBizCon, the country’s largest cannabis trade show, and Budist, a social review platform, will spotlight the “Most Valuable Products” across five major categories: pre-rolls, flower, cartridges, concentrates and edibles. Each category includes subcategories to reflect the industry’s range, from solventless extracts to infused beverages.
Winners will be unveiled Dec. 4 at a ceremony during MJBizCon in Las Vegas, following a multi-month evaluation process led by Budist critics — a panel that includes certified Ganjiers, cup judges, journalists and tastemakers. Finalists will then be featured in consumer judging kits, allowing enthusiasts to experience and review the products through the Budist app.
“Our industry has been waiting for cannabis to be recognized and celebrated on a national level,” said Jocelyn Sheltraw, Budist’s co-founder and CEO. “This bi-coastal competition is a significant step in that direction, bridging siloed markets by spotlighting product excellence in each state.”
Emilie Lewis, senior vice president and MJBiz brand leader, said the partnership aims to establish the competition as a fixture. “Budist is a credible and well–respected third-party platform for guiding consumers on a wide range of cannabis products,” she said. “We hope to make this bi-coastal contest a staple for the industry.”
The timeline is already underway. Entries opened Aug. 14 and close Oct. 3, with early-bird registration set at $250 until Aug. 31. Critics’ judging will run from Oct. 27 to Nov. 21 before winners are revealed in December. Eligible participants must be licensed cannabis companies in California or New York with retail-ready, compliant products.
MJBizCon, which draws more than 20,000 attendees each year, will provide the stage. The annual gathering features 1,000 exhibitors, 200 speakers and dozens of conference sessions — a backdrop organizers say makes it the ideal venue to showcase the first national cannabis product champions.
Read the whole article from MJBizDaily here.
