Best in Grass Cannabis Product Competition Launched in New Jersey

August 12, 2025

Dan Ulloa

Best in Grass is among those hosting a cannabis competition event in New Jersey to crown the best cannabis this year.

In a press release, they explained that cannabis consumers and patients can purchase their judging kits that include nationally recognized Multi-State Operator (MSO) brands like including KIVA, Cheeba Chew,s and Old Pal

In addition, there are a good number of local independent brands like Happy Farmer, Hamilton Farms, and Just a Woman Cannabis, among others

They have prepared to sell 2400 total kits via dispensaries.

Judging kits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. They are available in 11 adult-use categories:

Indica
Sativa
Hybrid flower
Gummies
Non-gummy edibles
Solventless concentrates.
Rosin
Non-rosin vape carts
Infused
and Non-infused pre-rolls.

Kits will be available for purchase at 29 dispensaries. Prices range from $70 to $165 before taxes, depending on the category.

“New Jersey stands out with its raw energy, deep-rooted culture, and passionate consumer base,” said Best in Grass Co-Founder Mark Kazinec. “It is one of the most dynamic and fast-evolving cannabis markets in the U.S. We want to celebrate the state’s flavor, flair, and fierce sense of pride.”

“This competition is for the consumers,” Marjorie Forbes-Mendez, CEO and founder of Just a Woman Cannabis, and a participating brand.

“We are excited to showcase what a woman, minority, and LGBTQ owned brand can offer to this industry,” she added.

Competition Judging/Voting

Consumers who want to judge by buying a kit have until Sunday, September 28th, at 11:59 p.m. to submit reports on the aesthetics, aroma, taste, and effects of products.

Judges/voters will receive two free tickets to the October awards show. They also get a discount on a purchase at the dispensary where they purchased a kit.

The final show location, date, and time are still to be determined.

Featured Dispensaries

Shore House Canna: 124 Sunset Blvd, West Cape May, NJ, 08204
Valley Wellness: 407 US 202, Raritan, NJ, 08869
Conservatory Cannabis Co.: 2516 Fire Road, Suite 2, Egg Harbor Township, NJ, 08234
Scarlet Reserve Room: 5 Hamilton Street, Englishtown, New Jersey, 07726
Nightjar: 549 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, NJ, 07003
Canopy Crossroad: 9 West St, Red Bank, NJ, 07701
Nova Farms – Woodbury: 642 Mantua Pike, Woodbury, NJ, 08096
Unity Rd. Cannabis Shop: 441 Elizabeth Avenue, Suite 12, Somerset, NJ, 08873
The Honorable Plant: 123 Bay Ave, Highlands, New Jersey, 07732
The Station Hoboken: 86 River Street, Hoboken, NJ, 07030
Hashery: 409 Route 17 South, Hackensack, NJ, 07601
Benedict’s Supply: 3523 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ, 07307
The Social Leaf: 334 Atlantic City Blvd, Toms River, NJ, 08757
Bay Street Greenery: 150 Bay Street, Jersey City, NJ, 07302
Ginger Hale Dispensary: 814 White Horse Pike, Suite C, Oaklyn, NJ, 08107
Bloc Dispensary: 501 US-9, Waretown, NJ, 08758
Canna Remedies: 2175 Spruce Street, Suite 100, Ewing, NJ, 08638
Zen Leaf – Neptune: 2100 NJ-66, Neptune Township, NJ, 07753
Zen Leaf – Lawrence: 3256 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence Township, NJ, 08648
Zen Leaf – Elizabeth: 117 Spring St, Elizabeth, NJ, 07201
Zen Leaf – Mt. Holly: 600 High Street, Mount Holly, NJ, 08060
Boone Town Provisions: 677 Myrtle Ave, Boonton, NJ, 07005
Queen City: 1353 South Ave, Plainfield, NJ, 07062
Cannabist – Deptford: 1692 Clements Bridge Rd, Deptford, NJ, 08096
Cannabist – Mays Landing: 4476 Black Horse Pike, Mays Landing, NJ, 08330-3100
Cannabist – Vineland: 1062 N. Delsea Dr, Vineland, NJ, 08360
Curaleaf – Bellmawr: 640 Creek Rd, Bellmawr, NJ, 08031
Curaleaf – Bordentown: 4237 US-130, Bordentown, NJ, 08010
Curaleaf – Edgewater Park: 191 US-130, Edgewater Park, NJ, 08505

Many Cannabis Brands Competing

According to their website, many brands are participating. They include a range of local companies, those with production deals with licensed companies, small Multi-State Operators (MSOs), and large MSOs like:

Happy Farmer
Hashables
Rogue
Just a Woman Cannabis
The Growfather
Cheeba Chews
Victory
Haze
Mudd Brothers
Shicks Snacks
Southie
Rezzy
Sticky Bonez
Pyramid
Smokiez Edibles
Bloom
ButACake
Veda Warrior
Dreamt
Clade 9
Cuzzy
Jersey Smooth
Hamilton Farms
Illicit
Nimbus
Good @ Times
Jerzy Landscape
Agri-Kind
Rosin King of Jersey
Garden Society
Sun Extractions
Culture Craft Cannabis Collective
Brute’s Roots
Clique
Lily Extracts
Essential Extracts
The Cut
Kore
Camino
Green Joy
Grassroots
Savvy
Old Pal
Seed & Strain
Triple 7
Encore Edibles
Crops
MPX
The Botanist
The Essence
Verano
Bits
Rove
Kynd
Anthologie
Black Label

2025 NJ Cannabis Award Shows

There will be more New Jersey-based award shows this year. For example, NECANN is planning a Cannabis Cup on Saturday, September 5th. They held a party during their rival high-end Atlantic City Cannabis Cup MJ Unpacked.

There will also be the NJ CannaBusiness Association show on Wednesday, October 15th.

In addition, Heady NJ is collaborating with Garden State of Mind to host the 1^st Annual Jersey Fire Awards on Saturday, November 22nd at the Raritan Center Sheraton Hotel in Edison.

We have been covering New Jersey cannabis legalization and the market since 2018. So, we want to celebrate the great progress made. We also want to have a fair in-person voting system before the ceremony itself.

Along with growers and manufacturers, we want to reward dispensaries across North, Central, and South Jersey, along with event promoters who make the cannabis community in Jersey great.

In addition, Honey Grove dispensary (whose parent company advertises with us full disclosure) is planning to host an award show as well. They coordinated the show held last year at the 420 Expo. While the Expo will not be held this year, head Honey hustler Big Dave Valese said he is working with Bobby Nuggz on a new one this fall.

There will also be the 3^rd Annual Budtenders Ball in North Jersey on December 30^th by Cannademix.

Thus, different award ceremonies will celebrate the different aspects of the New Jersey cannabis market and culture.