Judging: A Fundamental Truth in Human Nature
Before we dive in, let’s address the elephant in the room: judging. It may not be trendy right now, but it’s a natural and essential human act. Our ancestors relied on judging to survive and evolve, and it’s how we determine our preferences. While judging people for things they can’t control is wrong, it’s something we all do every day.
Competition is also a part of human nature, and we’ve been finding ways to compete and crown winners since the beginning of time. So it’s no surprise that there are now cannabis competitions, as well.
As a self-proclaimed weed snob, I’ve had the pleasure of judging almost every major cannabis competition in the States. From the Cannabis Cup to Zalympix, each event has its own unique approach. And with new competitions popping up all the time, it’s clear that there’s no one-size-fits-all method.
Currently, the three most prominent competitions are High Times’ Cannabis Cup, the Emerald Cup, and Zalympix. While all primarily take place in California, High Times and Zalympix also tour the country and sometimes the world, hosting smaller regional competitions until a national or international one is possible. These competitions all strive to comply with local regulations, which can be quite strict.
But there are also other notable competitions, such as Ego Clash, which holds events in Barcelona and Northern California, and Chalice, which has evolved into the ‘Best of’ competition series and has already held events on the East Coast. Even famed pot-critic Jimi Devine has his own competition, the Transbay Challenge, which pits the best producers from San Francisco and Oakland against each other. And new competitions are popping up like mushrooms every day.
As someone who attends and judges these competitions regularly, I can attest that they are a significant part of my yearly calendar. And while they are all enjoyable because, well, I get to smoke a ton of weed, they also require a lot of work to complete. But I’m not complaining – it’s all part of the job.
