SACRAMENTO, CA – The California State Fair has announced the highly anticipated medal winners for the 2025 Cannabis Awards, celebrating the state’s burgeoning cannabis industry and its commitment to quality and innovation. This annual competition, recognized as the largest and most prestigious sanctioned cannabis contest globally, highlights excellence across a diverse range of cannabis products, further solidifying the industry’s place alongside California’s traditional agricultural powerhouses like wine and cheese.
The 2025 competition saw a robust turnout, with over 600 entries vying for top honors. A panel of expert judges meticulously evaluated submissions across nine distinct categories and 50 nuanced subcategories. The rigorous judging process resulted in the awarding of 150 medals, recognizing outstanding achievements in cultivation and product manufacturing.
A Tradition of Agricultural Recognition
The inclusion of cannabis in the California State Fair is a relatively recent but significant development, commencing in 2022. Its integration into the fair’s long-standing tradition of celebrating California agriculture underscores the industry’s growing economic and cultural importance within the state. The competition aims to identify and promote the highest quality cannabis products, providing a benchmark for excellence for both producers and consumers.
James Leitz, co-producer of the exhibition, emphasized the stringent standards applied during the evaluation process. “The judging standards applied to the cannabis entries are precisely the same as those applied to other world-class agricultural products judged at the State Fair,” Leitz stated, highlighting the commitment to impartiality and quality assessment that defines the fair’s competitive spirit.
Celebrating California’s Cannabis Heritage and Future
Lauren Carpenter, CEO and co-founder of embarc and a co-producer of the exhibition, spoke to the broader significance of the awards. “The California State Fair Cannabis Awards play a crucial role in celebrating California’s rich cannabis heritage while simultaneously propelling the industry further into the mainstream,” Carpenter commented. She drew parallels between cannabis and traditional agricultural sectors, noting the awards’ success in positioning cannabis alongside beloved California staples like wine and cheese within the public consciousness and the fair’s framework.
The vast array of categories reflects the complexity and sophistication of the modern cannabis market. Medals were awarded across key areas including indoor, outdoor, and mixed light flower, recognizing the diverse cultivation methods employed throughout the state. Beyond flower, the competition also honored excellence in processed and manufactured goods, such as pre-rolls, concentrates, cartridges, edibles, beverages, wellness products, blunts, hash, and chocolates. This comprehensive scope ensures that a wide spectrum of the industry’s offerings receives recognition.
Enhanced Experience for Fairgoers
Building on the success of previous years, the 2025 California State Fair Cannabis exhibition is set to offer an enhanced experience for attendees. Expanded categories mean a broader representation of the market’s best products. Crucially, the exhibition, hosted by embarc, will feature enhanced on-site sales and consumption opportunities. This allows fairgoers a unique chance to directly engage with and experience the award-winning products firsthand, fostering a deeper connection between producers, consumers, and the recognized quality.
The Quest for the Golden Bear
The announcement of the 150 medal winners marks a significant milestone, but the competition is not yet complete. All gold medal winners are now advancing to compete for the prestigious “Best of California” Golden Bear trophies. These coveted awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in each major category. The ultimate winners of the nine Golden Bear trophies will be revealed on July 12, 2025, during a special awards ceremony. This final stage adds an element of excitement and anticipation, culminating months of cultivation, production, and evaluation.
The California State Fair Cannabis Awards continue to serve as a vital platform for showcasing the quality, diversity, and legitimacy of California’s regulated cannabis industry. By providing a public, sanctioned venue for competition and recognition, the awards contribute significantly to destigmatizing cannabis and integrating it fully into the state’s proud agricultural landscape.
