MJ Unpacked, NECANN, and Best in Grass are all planning to host Cannabis Cups in New Jersey this year as part of different events.
Cannabis Cups are an established tradition in more developed cannabis markets and communities held as part of conferences or festivals run by various organizations, including High Times.
The MJ Unpacked Cup is on Thursday, May 1st, at the Showboat Hotel. It is part of their conference, which starts tomorrow, April 29th.
NECANN is holding a party celebrating the kickoff of their judging on Wednesday, April 30th, at the Showboat Hotel. According to them, it will be from 5 to 8 pm and feature outdoor consumption, a full menu of food, live DJs, displays of the NECANN Cup awards, and a cash bar.
The Showboat Hotel first hosted the Boardwalk Budz conference in June 2021. It had a very strong underground legacy element to it and has not been held again. Unfortunately, they cancelled a New Jersey Cannabis Festival that was going to be held there in August 2021. The Showboat didn’t think their event was sufficiently family-friendly.
The MJ Unpacked Cannabis Cup
The MJ Unpacked Cup will be decided by a panel of expert judges rather than popular opinion.
The MJU Cannabis Cup ceremony will be part of the overall event at MJ Unpacked in partnership with the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association (NJCBA) and Farechild Events. The Township Green dispensary, owned by NJCBA President Scott Rudder, was used to comply with collecting samples and packages for the judges.
The judging will be done by ten Level 2 certified Ganjiers. A Ganjier is supposed to be a professional cannabis expert who recommends weed the way a sommelier is a professional wine expert who recommends different types of wine. There are multiple levels.
Each product is independently tested by a minimum of 3 judges. Scores will be calibrated to detect any outliers that could unfairly skew the results.
They will use their Systematic Assessment Protocol (SAP) method to evaluate flower and concentrates, and a modified assessment protocol for edibles.
Since it is judged by experts, the contestants have not been publicly identified. Nobody is running to win an award.
Categories
FLOWER CATEGORIES
- Best Indica Dominant
- Best Sativa Dominant
- Best Hybrid
- Best Pre-Roll
- Best Infused Pre-Roll (Solvent or Solventless)
FLOWER SUBSET CATEGORIES
They will also present awards based on the four categories that have been reconfirmed via scientific scrutiny (University of Southern California study), as the aromas identified within cannabis flower by consumers.
- Best Fruit Terpene Profile
- Best Fuel Terpene Profile
- Best Earth Terpene Profile
- Best Floral Terpene Profile
CONCENTRATE CATEGORIES
- Best Solvent Concentrate
- Best Non-Solvent Concentrate
- Best Vape Pen/Cartridge (Solvent)
- Best Vape Pen/Cartridge (Non-Solvent)
DIGESTIBLE CATEGORY
- Best Gummies
- Best Edible (Non-Gummies)
- Best Beverage
They are prominent organizations from out of state that have sought to charm locals.
Cups have specific structures.
The NECANN Cannabis Cup in September
NECANN, in partnership with Mike Clinton Media and 420NJEvents, is going to hold a Cup too as part of their September 5th- 6th conference.
NECANN Co-Founder and President March Shepard noted that the number of cannabis flower brands and products has increased as the NJ market has developed.
“The timing is perfect for us to bring the NECANN Cup here,” he explained.
“We’re very excited to be able to shine a spotlight on all of the passionate cultivators here and give them a chance to showcase their talents,” Shepard added.
NECANN NJ Cup of Champions 2025
Their Cup of Champions will be a METRC-compliant challenge for licensed cultivators.
“The competition will include ten judged categories. Judging kits will not be available for purchase. Only verified individuals will participate,” according to their release.
The highest-scoring entry overall will earn the coveted title of Champion of Champions of New Jersey.
The Best Dispensary Competition, a secret shopper-style rating system designed to identify the top retail cannabis outlet in New Jersey.
METRC creates a lot of red tape and might benefit from anti-marijuana fears of normies and moderates. They are the subject of a scandal in California.
Notably, their Cannabis Cup winners have included homegrower exclusive categories.
Best Dispensary Competition – Secret Shopper Style
The Best Dispensary Competition will assess participating dispensaries through NECANN’s Secret Shopper program.
Secret Shops will rate each location based on quality, customer service, product selection, and community involvement.
Top performers will receive NECANN Cups. One will be crowned Best Dispensary of New Jersey 2025.
The NECANN Cup New Jersey awards ceremony will be held during the 6th Annual NECANN New Jersey Cannabis Convention. The convention will be from September 5th to 6th at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
NECANN travels the circuit of cannabis markets holding conferences. They first held one in Jersey in 2019. It returned to Atlantic City post-COVID in 2021 and has been held annually since, growing with the market. MJ Unpacked also runs the circuit. They moved from New York City in 2023 to Atlantic City in 2024, producing a well-attended event.
NJ Cannabis Award Shows
Best in Grass is partnering with Nova Farms of Woodbury dispensary based in South Jersey. They have held Cannabis Cups in Massachusetts, Maine, and Pennsylvania before coming to Jersey.
They want to hold their cup at a formal dress ceremony celebration in October, at an event unattached to a conference or festival.
Best in Grass wants many people to vote, along with a group of judges. They are arranging for their kits to be sold at multiple dispensaries throughout the State.
A lot of Cannabis Cups sell kits at 1 or 2 dispensaries in the state. So, to vote, you have to buy the kit at those dispensaries.
The 420 Expo held the first legal Cannabis Cup with kits last year. Unfortunately, the Expo will not be held this year. Big Dave Valese of HoneyGrove dispensary and cannabis event planner Bobby Nuggz arranged the 20024 4/20 Expo Cannabis Cup. They are planning to host another Cannabis Cup.
Bobby Nuggz said they are hosting a concert and awards show on August 8th. Their kits to judge will be sold at the Honey Grove dispensary in Clementon, in South Jersey, and the upcoming Honey Stash dispensary in Metuchen, in Central Jersey.
The Dispensary Guy also threw an awards show last spring, and the Tri-State Harvest Cup was held last fall with different voting structures.
The Budtender Ball’s 2024 awards included flower and product categories, and dispensaries, along with a range of professionals. NJ Canna Insider held a high-end gala award show in 2023. But they have scaled back since then.
Heady NJ might hold its own awards show without the red tape of a kit based on popular vote. Stay tuned!
