New Jersey just handed its residents one of the more enjoyable civic duties in state history. Starting March 25, you can walk into one of 38 select dispensaries across the Garden State, pick up an official judge kit, and cast your vote in the first-ever High Times Cannabis Cup NJ.
No credentials required, just be 21 or older and ready to take your job seriously.
What is the Cannabis Cup? It’s the Oscars of weed and sometimes called the battle of the buds.
Literally one of the most prestigious cannabis competitions in the world.
It started back in 1988. High Times editor Steven Hager launched the very first Cup in Amsterdam, where a small panel of judges sampled entries from a handful of Dutch seed companies. The winner? Skunk #1. History was made in a small room.
The event grew fast. By the mid-90s it was a full cultural happening. By 2010 it crossed the Atlantic and held its first U.S. competition in San Francisco. From there it expanded to California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, Illinois, Nevada, and beyond.
Now it’s New Jersey’s turn, here is how it works:
- Head to one of the participating dispensaries starting March 25.
- Buy a judge kit for your preferred category. Kit prices will depend on how many products are entered in that category. Each kit comes with product samples, a physical scorecard, and a QR code.
- Scan the QR code in your kit to access the judging portal.
- Enjoy your goods and then rate entries on aesthetics, aroma, taste, effects, and overall quality. Think of yourself as a cannabis sommelier, a very New Jersey cannabis sommelier.
The categories include:
- Indica Flower
- Sativa Flower
- Hybrid Flower
- Pre-Rolls
- Infused Pre-Rolls – Indica
- Infused Pre-Rolls – Sativa
- Infused Pre-Rolls – Hybrid
- Solvent Concentrates
- Solventless Concentrates
- Solvent Vape Pens & Cartridges
- Solventless Vape Pens & Cartridges
- Edibles – Gummies
- Edibles – Non-Gummies
- Edibles – Beverages
Judging runs through April 20th – and yes, that date was absolutely chosen on purpose.
Winners get crowned at an awards ceremony in Atlantic City on May 1st.
NJ legalized recreational cannabis in 2021. Hosting a consumer-judged Cannabis Cup signals that the state’s market has grown up. Real brands. Real competition. Real stakes.
It’s also the first time everyday New Jerseyans get to be the judges, not just the consumers. No industry insiders. No paid experts. Just regular people deciding what’s actually the best cannabis in the state.
The NJ Cup follows High Times’ recent relaunch of the New York Cannabis Cup. Both are part of the competition’s “People’s Choice” format, which puts the power squarely in the hands of consumers.
Find a participating dispensary near you, grab a kit, and get judging. Your verdict could help crown the best cannabis brand in New Jersey.
Worst case, you tried some great weed. Best case, you helped make history.
