Call for Competition Entries: The Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair Returns for 2025 with New Award Categories

Submissions Open March 1, with Expanded Categories and Medals for Popular Consumer Products, Including Flower, Concentrates, Edibles and More

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Submissions for the fourth annual California Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair, with more than 150 medals up for grabs, will open on Saturday, March 1st. The 2025 competition will provide an even more comprehensive look at the state's best cannabis products, with new award categories and medals to win. The competition provides an unparalleled opportunity for California’s cannabis brands to showcase their products, receive recognition, and connect with a mainstream, canna-curious audience.

For the second year in a row, California cannabis retailer Embarc will bring integrated on-site sales and consumption to the California State Fair. The 2025 medal winners will be announced at the start of the Fair and considered for on-site sales throughout the 17-day fair, offering interested fairgoers the chance to learn about, purchase, and experience California’s best cannabis firsthand. Golden Bear award winners will be sold at select Embarc stores after the fair, bringing widespread recognition to the trophy winners.

“Last year, we made history by integrating cannabis sales and consumption into the State Fair, and we are thrilled to return in 2025,” said Lauren Carpenter, Co-Founder of Embarc. “Through an immersive educational experience, we're shining a light on the cannabis brands reflecting and shaping cannabis culture in California and beyond.”

Since 2022, California’s prestigious Golden Bear awards have included the Best of California cannabis alongside the state’s most celebrated agricultural products, including wine, craft beer, olive oil and cheese. The competition uses both scientific testing and expert human judging to evaluate a wide range of cannabis products across nine flower and non-flower categories. A Golden Bear award honoring the “Best of California” will be given for each category. The 2025 competition categories include: Indoor, Outdoor and Mixed-Light Flower, Beverages, Cartridges, Concentrates, Edibles, Pre-Rolls and Wellness with dozens of product types and chemotype awards available throughout. Open to all California-licensed cannabis cultivators and manufacturers, the competition reflects voices from every corner of the industry, from big brands to small brands and legacy operators to startups.

“For more than 170 years the California State Fair has had a long-standing tradition of celebrating the best of the Golden State, especially those who epitomize the state’s agricultural excellence,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of the California State Fair. “Since welcoming cannabis to the Fair, we've witnessed firsthand the pride and dedication of California’s cannabis cultivators, who are crafting some of the best products, not just in the state, but in the entire industry.”

“In just a few short years, cannabis has become a staple of the fair,” said James Leitz, Executive Producer of the Cannabis Competition and Exhibit. “This year, we’re elevating the experience—expanding the competition, celebrating more product categories, and connecting consumers with the farmers and producers behind the cannabis products.”

The 2025 Competition features significant updates that reflect the growth and evolution of California’s cannabis industry:

Expanded Award Categories and Medals: The introduction of bronze medals for every category will increase the number of award winners overall, expanding recognition to more brands. Additionally, new awards for blunts, hash, and chocolates have been added to reflect the product diversity of California’s cannabis market.

New Sponsorship Opportunities: The 2025 California Cannabis Awards is offering brands the chance to participate in California’s most visible cannabis competition through premier, official and affiliate sponsorship tiers, providing access to exhibition packages, custom brand activations, inclusion in publicity campaigns and placement throughout California Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair.

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Please reach out to [e-mail] for details.

How to Submit a Product for the California State Cannabis Awards

The submission window is open from March 1 to May 4. The online registration process requires a valid California cannabis license, Metrc Batch Number and a valid COA from any California-licensed cannabis testing laboratory. After registration and payment are completed, additional instructions and information on submission drop-off will be shared with entrants. To learn more about cannabis at the California State Fair and sign up for the competition, please visit calcannabisawards.com/competition.

About the California Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair

The California Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair is an annual statewide celebration featuring an educational exhibit and on-site cannabis sales and consumption. The cannabis exhibit will run for the duration of the California State Fair from July 11-27, 2025, and will be located onsite and open to all fairgoers (21+).

The California Cannabis Awards is produced in partnership with Cal Expo, Embarc, and Fair Play Ventures, LLC. Embarc operates a fleet of customer-obsessed and community-minded cannabis dispensaries across California. Fair Play Ventures is an exciting partnership between Cultivar Events, creators and producers of the 2022/2023 competition and exhibit, and Embarc Events, California’s leading cannabis event specialists.