California State Fair Cannabis Awards
July 18th, 2026. The California Cannabis dream continues with the 5th year of the California state fair hosting a Cannabis section as well as an actual competition. There were entries of legal producers as well as a new homegrown entry category. This was another great success this Summer for the fair and it really shows how far Cannabis is being accepted and welcomed into mainstream events. Not only was there an area dedicated to Cannabis education and celebration, but there was also legal adult sales and consumption. This monumental competition was judged by a selected list of experts by Budist, which is a product review platform website. The awards, the on-site dispensary, the booths of a variety of different Cannabis brands to visit, and a great lounge area for people to rest from the heat of the Sacramento heat that weekend was quite the experience. We met all kinds of people, long time activists, legendary farmers, and the Cannabis products themselves were on tap to purchase and experience within the enclosed areas of the California Cannabis Experience. What a great time that was had by all! Don’t sleep next year when the fair is rumored to happen in September when the weather is a little more forgiving.
The CEO of Cal Expo (state fair venue), Tom Martinez was also there at ceremony time inside the Cannabis tent to speak with the crowd. ” We are proud, and I am damn proud to give Cannabis this platform and its rightful place here at the California State Fair” Tom said with pride. He continued “This competition not only celebrates exceptional products, but also the resilience and dedication of the people who helped build this industry. I want to take you back for a moment, Cal Expo has been here for over 58 years, and when Ronald Regan dedicated Cal Expo, he envisioned a place that would represent the best of the past, reflect on current trends and be a window into the future. Today we celebrate Cannabis we’re not only reflecting on current trends, we’re continuing to set them!”
Tom Martinez, CEO of Cal Expo
Redwood Roots distribution represents and services roughly 17 legacy brands from Northern California farms and farmers.
Celebrating the People of Prop 215, Medical Cannabis- 30 Years Ago This Year
The California Cannabis Awards recognized and celebrated the pioneers who helped get prop 215 on the ballot and got it passed in 1996 at the California State Fair. Activists that were selected for their efforts with the proposition were given medals on lanyards that said 215 on Saturday’s celebration which happened to be the first weekend of the fair’s opening. The group collectively received the Pebbles Trippet Lifetime Achievement Award.
Thanks to all the Prop 215 activists!
Each and every volunteer that helped with prop 215 in California can proudly say they had a part in the movement that has led to more than just medical Cannabis in California. Today’s Cannabis laws have changed in over 24 states with adult use and totaling over 40 states with either medical and/or adult use Cannabis. Not to mention adult use in Canada, Germany, Jamaica, and many more countries with some form of legalization or medical Cannabis programs. Here’s to all those advocates and activists that stood up and took action to make change in the state, country and world! You are all winners!
Producers of the Event
Lauren Carpenter who is the CEO of Embarc dispensaries and co-producer of the CCA’s said “The Caliber of our contestants is incredibly high, these Golden Bear winners are innovators and trailblazers, setting a new standard for the industry.”
James Leitz, founder of FairPlay Ventures and producer of the CCA’s said “This year’s event was about more than celebrating exceptional products, it was an opportunity to honor the pioneers who fought for compassionate access and helped build the foundation for the legal cannabis industry we celebrate today.”
The Competition for the Very Best Cannabis in California!
This year’s awards were given out by type and also there is a “Best of California” golden bear given as top award for each category. The Golden Bear trophies look like the top award as well for other facets of the fair; cheese, beer, wine, olive oil, cultivation, and livestock. These beautiful trophies really mean the world to cultivators and brands and they can really help with consumer sales and recognition for excellence. Each entry is also tested by SC Labs for potency and more. The categories are for flower, concentrates, edibles, beverages, wellness products, pre-rolls, vape carts and more.
One of the big winners of the night went to Jason Gellman, founder of Ridgeline Farms. His farm was awarded a Golden Bear in mixed light flower for his Blueberry Caviar. He won previously in 2025 as well, not to mention multiple Emerald Cup awards over the past years. He said that the trophy symbolizes immense growth for the legacy Cannabis community. He stated “This isn’t about one farm or one harvest; it’s about the people who came before us, the legacy farmers who built this culture long before there were awards.” He continued, “The ones who took the risks, protected the genetics and passed down the knowledge that shaped Humboldt County.”
Drum roll Please! And the Winner are…Golden Bear Winners
Sun Grown Flower: Greenshock Farms — Pink Rider
Mixed Light Flower: Ridgeline Farms — Blueberry Caviar
Indoor Flower: Wood Wide — Woodzy
Pre-Rolls: One of a Kind x Joy Ridge Farms — Dutch Treat
Cartridges: Moon Valley Cannabis — Neon Panther Live Rosin All-in-One
Concentrates: Moon Valley Cannabis — Neon Panther Ice Water Hash
Edibles: Emerald Sky — Blue Dream Live Rosin GrooveBar
Beverages: St. Ides — Lychee Pear High Tea
Wellness: Emerald Bay Extracts — Super Lemon Haze RSO Tablets
Winner of a Golden Bear trophy, Emerald Sky Edibles, Blue Dream Live Rosin Groove Bar.
On a Personal Note
I was one of those young people that stood outside grocery stores, record stores, and my college campus to gather signatures for prop 215, legalizing medical Cannabis use in 1996. That activism led me to become a lifetime Cannabis advocate and activist. I went on to have a career in sales and marketing. In 2009 a friend of mine introduced me to a man who was about to launch a magazine; one of the first of its kind magazines that was distributed throughout Southern California and beyond called The 420 Times. I jumped on board, this was the dream! I will say in 2009 it wasn’t easy to convince shops to advertise. Many dispensaries were being raided by DEA or local police on the regular, so many didn’t want to publicize their shops at first, but gradually many came around. But, what a dream come true! I really came full circle pioneering through what was becoming a Cannabis industry. First with the medical Cannabis dispensaries being the main advertisers, then doctor’s offices that provided medical recommendations, then gradually brands started forming as well. It was a real high of a time watching and experiencing the progress that Cannabis was making in the mainstream. Our magazine was one of the first to be available for free at 7-Elevens, select retailers and medical Cannabis dispensaries or as we called them back then, collectives. I felt especially grateful to have been part of history, even if it was a small part by gathering signatures for prop 215. It took me further and introduced me to so many wonderful people and experiences over the years. I always say Cannabis brought me here. When legalization happened in California the owner of The 420 Times moved outside the state, leading me to decide what to do next.
In 2017 I created Cannapolitan. A place that looks beyond the “stoner” gaze and celebrates the people, the culture, the rich history behind the plant and the people who cherish and protect it. I want more for the plant and our people. Changing the term from stoner to Cannapolitan better describes myself and my Cannabis community. Thank you to all those who I have met and collaborated with over the many years, I look forward to even bigger and greater things to come with Cannapolitan. I appreciate your support, please bookmark this site, follow on socials and become a part of our community. I am Cannapolitan, are you?
Here’s a little taste of the views from the CCA’s and the California Cannabis Experience at the California State Fair.
Lastly a shot of a beautiful installation that was in the main fair area, celebrating California’s rich cultural diversity.
