From flower to edibles and beyond, High Times Cannabis Cup lets Michiganders decide who has the best marijuana in the state

(WWJ) – Starting April 15 Michiganders will have their chance to determine who has the state’s best marijuana products in the 2023 High Times Cannabis Cup People’s Choice competition.

After switching to a people’s choice format, in part due to the pandemic, Mark Kazinec with High Times Magazine says it will be the state’s largest ever Cannabis Cup.

The event, which dates back to the 1980s, is a competition to help identify and award the best cannabis products all across Michigan from licensed producers and cultivators.

Whether you’re “an enthusiast for edibles, a fanatic for flower, or a patron of pre-rolls” — you’re in luck, organizers say.

Judging kits will go on sale April 15, available on a first-come, first-served basis for 3,500 Michiganders to purchase from more than 30 dispensaries, including 12 in Southeast Michigan. Kazinec says the event features 95 brands, 527 product entries and 115,000 grams of cannabis.

“We’ll typically see lines out the door, people waiting in lawn chairs, tents, camping out, waiting to be some of the first people in,” Kazinec said, noting those hoping to get a judge kit should get to their dispensary early on April 15.

The kits span 21 different categories, ranging from flower, vape pens, edibles, concentrates, moon rocks and more. There will be categories for medical and recreational products.

Pricing is estimated between $100-$300 depending on the category, and kits include a range of 15-50 different product samples. Judging kits will come in a tie dye, customized High Times tote bag, complete with judging samples and a scorecard pass that gives judges access to the online judging portal.

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Judges will have until June 25 to give detailed comments on aesthetics, aroma, taste and effects of each product. Winners will be announced July 9 during the virtual High Times Cannabis Cup Michigan Awards Show.

Kazinec says while High Times isn’t planning on any in-person gatherings for this year’s Cannabis Cup, they haven’t ruled out an in-person awards show.

First, second and third place winners will be determined for each category. Each entry will be judged more than 200 times and the products with the highest average scores win, according to Kazinec.

A list of participating dispensaries and all of this year’s contest can be found on the Cannabis Cup website.

For contest rules, as well as a list of Michigan’s previous Cannabis Cup winners visit cannabiscup.com.