The first High Times NJ Cannabis Cup was held in Atlantic City on the Steel Pier off the boardwalk on a breezy night amidst a passionate crowd.

They held a great party that was filled with many of the leading figures in the New Jersey cannabis industry. The view from the steel pier of the sea and the city was beautiful. The length of the pier was closed for the party. It was full of boardwalk rides and games and tents where people enjoyed themselves before the ceremony started, in part by smoking weed. The Ferris wheel ran throughout the event.

MJ Unpacked held a party there during their convention last year and will be doing so again this upcoming week.

While High Times has held Cannabis Cups across the world and in many other states, it was their first time trying it in Jersey.

NJ Cannabis Cup by High Times

The new High Times Publisher, Josh Kesselman smoked a giant blunt around the Steel pier onto the stage. He then passed it around the crowd before the award show began. I took a hit too (pictures on Instagram).

He then went on stage and explained his passion for High Times. (Video on Instagram via link).

High Times Partnership Director Kyle Rosner began the ceremony and thanked the show’s many sponsors and Kesselman for reviving High Times. He then introduced the rapper Smoke Dza, who announced the winners.

They handed out medals at the Cannabis Cup in many categories. The first-place winners got trophy cups.

Edible Gummies 

• 3rd Place Elyon Cannabis
• 2nd Place Zoobies
• 1st Good Times Flowers Co

Edibles Non-Gummies 

• 3rd Place Onyx
• 2nd Place  Shick’s Snacks
• 1st Place  Shick’s Snacks

Solvent Vape Pens and Cartridges

• 3rd Place Sun Extracts 
• 2nd Place Fernway 
• 1st Place Growfather 

Solventless Vape Pens and Cartridges

• 3rd Place Rosin King
• 2nd Place Onyx
• 1st Place Rosin King 

Pre Rolls

• 3rd Place Panda Farms 
• 2nd Place Bliss Co
• 1st Place Magic Garden Botanicals

Infused Pre Rolls Indica

• 3rd Place Culture Craft Cannabis Collective
• 2nd Place  Elyon
• 1st Place Growfather 

Infused Pre Rolls Sativa 

• 3rd Place Prolific Growhouse
• 2nd  place Growfather
• 1st Place Sun Extracts 

Infused Pre-Rolls Hybrid

• 3rd Place Dank Diamonds 
• 2nd Place Doinks
• 1st Place Magic Garden Botanicals 

Solvent Concentrates

• 3rd Place Onyx
• 2nd Place Illicit
• 1st Place Sun Extracts 

Solventless Concentrates

• 3rd Place Cultivate Craft Cannabis Collective
• 2nd Place Rosin King
• 1st Place Onyx

Dope Award 

• Austin Moses Bango

Sativa Flower

• 3rd Place Illicit
• 2nd Place Neptune’s Garden
• 1st Place Niche 

Hybrid Flower

• 3rd Place Bliss Co
• 2nd Place Turtle Pie Co
• 1st Place  Niche

Indica Flower

• 3rd Place Neptune’s Garden
• 2nd Place Niche
• 1st Place Clade 9

Heady NJ’s High Times Cannabis Cup Picks

I got an Indica Flower Judge’s kit from Authorized Dealer dispensary in Jersey City as a VIP and thought Roman Brothers, Cookies, and River Buds had the best stuff.

I didn’t try them all in tim,e though including Clade 9 and Niche.

High Times NJ Cannabis Cup Fun in AC 

At the end of the pier, at the tip, was the VIP tent where JK had a table, and many others enjoyed the space and the buffer. People inside the tent enjoyed its protection from the wind when they lit joints.

There were many content creators like NJ Dispensary Review, NJ Canna event promoter, along with a great many brand ambassadors like Big Head,z who has his own product brand now. In addition, the Green Room show was broadcasting near the front of the pier.

Former High Times Editor Steve Bloom and Canna PR expert Stu Zakim (who were both guests on the new Heady Chronicle Show) were among those who enjoyed the VIP tent along with Cannademix CEO Josh Alb. Other leading figures mingled and walked the long steel pier.

A great number of quality companies were tabling. It included not only underground legacy to legal brands like Sun Extractions and Scarlet Reserve. In addition the was Star Dawg cannabis strain creator JJ of Top Dawg Seeds.

The place was filled with dispensary owners like Legacy to Lifted dispensary CEO Chris Broderick. In addition, TJ of Highly Original Mojo Botanica was among the crowd by the stage competing.

The cup was spearheaded and sponsored by Honey Grove/Honey Stash led by Big Dave Valese and Jeff Miller.

High Times held the latest NJ cannabis award show after the MJ Unpacked Cup, Budtenders Ball, the NECANN Cup, and the Best in Grass Cup.

In the past, the defunct 420 Expo also held one along with the Dispensary Guy and the defunct NJ Canna Insider.

Unfortunately, there has been some backlash online against High Times. ButACake CEO Matha Figaro was very vocal about her unhappiness with their kit handling and withdrew from the Cup.

I didn’t do a head count for haters to claim it was a failure or them to say it couldn’t have gone better.