The High Times Cannabis Cup is a cannabis festival sponsored by High Times magazine. The event features judges from around the world who sample and vote for their favorite marijuana varieties, with cups (trophies) being awarded to the overall winner in the cannabis variety competition. Since 1997, the Cannabis Cup festival has hosted induction ceremonies for the Counterculture Hall of Fame.
Founded in 1988 by High Times editor Steven Hager, the Cannabis Cup is usually held each November in Amsterdam. The first U.S. Cannabis Cup was held in 2010; High Times now holds Cannabis Cups in Northern and Southern California, Denver, Michigan, Seattle, Missouri, and Oregon . The High Times Medical Cannabis Cup recognizes medical marijuana in states that have passed medical marijuana laws.
The High Times Cannabis Cup also includes live music, educational seminars, and an expo for marijuana-related products from cannabis-oriented businesses.
History A DVD called High Times Presents: The Cannabis Cup was made after the 2003 festival.
The 20th High Times Cannabis Cup, held in 2007, featured hosts Tommy Chong and Redman; a film of the 2007 festival was released in the summer of 2008.
In 2010, Dutch police raided the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup location. That same year, High Times mounted its first Cannabis Cup in the United States, also inaugurating the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup, an annual event celebrating medical cannabis. The first Medical Cannabis Cup took place in San Francisco, California, on June 19–20, 2010.
In 2014, after 27 years, Amsterdam held what appeared to be its final High Times Cannabis Cup. This decision was partly due to the growing uncertainty about Dutch cannabis laws, the newly available legal cannabis locations in the United States and various other countries, and the after-effects of the 2010 raid. (The Cannabis Cup later returned to Amsterdam.)Citizen Strain. "YOU’RE THE JUDGE FOR THIS YEAR’S HIGH TIMES CANNABIS CUP," DigBoston (Sept. 22, 2022).
In 2017, the festival celebrated its 30th anniversary, with the award show hosted by Danny Danko.
In 2018, the festival was held in the middle of summer, on 13th to 15 July, veering away from its usual schedule.
Categories Award categories include Best New Product, Best Booth, Best Glass, Best Hash, and Best Nederhash (hashish that is produced only in the Netherlands). A team of VIP judges decides which seed company has grown the Best Indica, Best Sativa, and Best Hybrid Strain, and which company has produced the Best Nederhash and Best Imported Hash.
The U.S. Cannabis Cup recognizes marijuana in states that have passed laws that legalize marijuana for adult, recreational use. Teams of expert judges vote on Best Indica, Best Sativa, Best Hybrid, Best Concentrates, Best Edibles, and Highest Level of CBD in cannabis products (All cannabis products are tested for THC content and CBD content by independent cannabis-testing laboratories). At each U.S. Cannabis Cup expo, festival attendees vote for Best Booth, Best Products, and Best Glass.
Counterculture Hall of Fame
The Counterculture Hall of Fame celebrates the history of the counterculture and the people who helped shape it. Previous inductees include Bob Marley (1997), Louis Armstrong (1998), William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg, and Jack Kerouac (1999), Bob Dylan (2002), Jack Herer (2003), Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin (2007), Peter Tosh (2008) Tom Forcade (2009) and Coke La Rock (2010). John Griggs, BEL (2011), Steven Hager (2012), Ben Dronkers (2013), and Alexander Shulgin & Ann Shulgin (2014).
Past winners Overall Cannabis Cup 1st Cup 1988 — Skunk #1 from Cultivator's Choice 2nd Cup 1989 — Early Pearl/Skunk #1 x Northern Lights #5/Haze from the Seed Bank 3rd Cup 1990 — Northern Lights #5 from the Seed Bank 4th Cup 1991 — Skunk from Free City 5th Cup 1992: Haze x Skunk #1 from Homegrown Fantasy Master Kush Winner— Hindu Kush X Skunk #1 6th Cup 1993: Haze x Northern Lights #5 from Sensi Seed Bank Master Kush Winner — Hindu Kush X Skunk #1 7th Cup 1994 — Jack Herer from Sensi Seed Bank 8th Cup 1995 — White Widow from the Green House 9th Cup 1996 — White Russian from De Dampkring 10th Cup 1997 — Peace Maker from De Dampkring 11th Cup 1998 — Super Silver Haze from the Green House 12th Cup 1999 — Super Silver Haze from the Green House 13th Cup 2000 — Blueberry from the Noon 14th Cup 2001 — Sweet Tooth from Barney's 15th Cup 2002 — Morning Glory from Barney's 16th Cup 2003 — Hawaiian Snow from Green House 17th Cup 2004 — Amnesia Haze from Barney's 18th Cup 2005 — Willie Nelson from Barney's 19th Cup 2006 — Arjan's Ultra Haze #1 from Green House 20th Cup 2007 — G-13 Haze from Barney's 21st Cup 2008 — Super Lemon Haze from Green House United 22nd Cup 2009 — Super Lemon Haze from Green House United 23rd Cup 2010 — Tangerine Dream from Barney's 24th Cup 2011 — Liberty Haze from Barney's 25th Cup 2012 — Flower Bomb Kush from the Green House 26th Cup 2013 — Rollex OG Kush from The Green Place 27th Cup 2014 — MaraDawg Blue Flake Cheese Pearl from Chopper Special
17th Cup (2004) winners Overall Cannabis Cup
Amnesia Haze by Barney's Breakfast Bar Killer Green by Katsu Jack Flash by Sensi Seeds
Indica Cup
God Bud by BC Bud Depot MK Ultra by TH Seeds L.A. Confidential by DNA Genetics
Sativa Cup
Love Potion No. 1 by Reeferman Seeds Arjan's Haze No. 1 by Green House Seeds Sage 'N Sour by TH Seeds
Import Hash Cup
Caramella Cream by Barney's Breakfast Bar Royal Cream Gold by Rokerij Nepal Pollen Shoe by Green House Seeds
18th Cup (2005) winners Overall Cannabis Cup
Willie Nelson by Barney's Arjan's Schoenmaker Zwevers Ultra Haze 2 by Green House Silver Haze by Coffeeshop Dampkring
Indica Cup (Seed Company)
Lavender by Soma Seeds LA Confidential by DNA Sensi Star by Paradise Seeds
Sativa Cup (Seed Company)
Martian Mean Green by DNA Nebula by Paradise Seeds Kushage by THSeeds Romulan by Meekseeds
Import Hash Cup
Caramella Cream by Barney's Rifman Malika by De Dampkring King Hassan by Green House
Nederhash Cup
Waterworks by De Dampkring Kadni Bubble by Barney's Arjan's Ultra 2 Haze Hash by Green House
Glass Cup
Triple Perculator by Green Devil D-Line by DNA Opal Smooth by ROOR Glass
Product Award
Vapezilla by Wicked Roots Pollinator by Bubblator Mini Matches by De Dampkrin Phil Lesh Kadeshhh by Golden Bud of Unlimited Tokevotion
19th Cup (2006) winners Cannabis Cup
Arjan's Ultra Haze #1 – Green House G13 Haze – Barney's Martian Mean Green – Grey Area
Sativa Cup
Mako Haze – Kiwiseeds Opium – Paradise Seeds Blue Cheese – Big Buddha Seeds
Indica
Big Buddha Cheese – Big Buddha Seeds Fruity Thai – Ceres Seeds Night Shade – Barney's
Hash
Sexpot Holland- Netherlands, Holland Home Brew Carmello Cream – Barney's Carmello Royale – Green House Rifman's Noor – De Dampkring
Nederhash
Barney Rubble – Barney's Water Works – De Dampkring Master Kush Isolater – Green House
Product
Super Vapezilla – Wicked Roots Portable Vortex Gravity Bong – Gravity Vortex Aleda Papers – Aleda
Expo
Barney's Farm Green House Wicked Roots
20th Cup (2007) winners Cannabis Cup
G-13 Haze – Barney's Chocolope – Grey Area Super Silver Haze – Green House United
Indica Cup
Top Dog – Amnesia Seeds Crimea Blue – Barney's Farm Reserva Privada #18 – Reserva Privada
Sativa Cup
Kaia Kush – Apothecary Tasman Haze – Kiwi Seeds The Purps – BC Bud Depot
Neder Hash
Violator Ice-o-lator – Barney's Bubble Mania – Green House United Grey Crystals – Grey Area
Import Hash
Triple X – Barney's King Hassan Supreme – Green House United Rifman's Habibi – De Dampkring
Product Cup
Barney's Gift Bag – Barney's Portable Vortex Gravity Bong – Gravity Vortex Vaporstar Vaporizer by Vaporstar
Best Booth
Barney's Farm DNA Seeds Green House Seeds
21st Cup (2008) winners Cannabis Cup
Super Lemon Haze – Greenhouse United Utopia Haze – Barney's Chocolope – The Green Place
Indica Cup
Mt. Cook – Kiwi Seeds Cheese – Homegrown Fantaseeds LSD – Amnesia Seeds
Sativa Cup
Utopia Haze – Barney's DeLaHaze – Paradise Cannatonic – Resin Seeds
Neder Hash
Royal Jelly – Barney's Greenhouse Ice – Greenhouse Grey Crystal – Grey Area
Import Hash
Triple Zero – Barney's Super Palm – Greenhouse Shiraz – Amnesia
Product Cup
(tie) 1. BC Chillum – Barney's (tie) 1. Pocket Alchemy – DNA 2. Bubble Bags – Bubble Bags 3. Glass Vaporizer – Herborizer
Best Booth
Barney's
Glass Cup
AK – DNA Genetics Mr Nice Custom – RooR MOE – Green Devil
22nd Cup (2009) winners Cannabis Cup
Super Lemon Haze – Green House Vanilla Kush – Barney's Head Band Kush – The Green Place
Indica Cup
Starbud – Hortilab OG18 – Reserva Privada Kush D – AllStar Genetics
Sativa Cup
Super Lemon Haze – Green House The Purps – BC Bud Depot
Neder Hash
Royal Jelly – Barney's Greenhouse Ice – Green House Grey Crystal – Grey Area
Import Hash
Rif Cream – Greenhouse Triple Zero – Barney's Azilla – Amnesia
Product Cup
Vapor Swing – Original Design by HMK Incredibowl i420 – Incredibowl Industries Strain Hunters DVD – Green House
Best Booth
Greenhouse Seed co Barney Farm Big Buddha Seeds
Glass Cup
RooR Excalibur shattered dreams Incredibowl i420 – Incredibowl Industries
23rd Cup (2010) winners Cannabis Cup
Tangerine Dream – Barney's Coffeeshop Super Lemon Haze – Greenhouse United L.A. Cheese – The Green Place
Indica Cup
Kosher Kush – Reserva Privada Cold Creek Kush – TH Seeds White OG – Karma Genetics
Sativa Cup
Acapulco Gold – Amnesia Seeds Chocolope – DNA Genetics Sour Power – Hortilab
Neder Hash
Tangerine Nectar Ice-O-Lator – Greenhouse Tangerine Nectar Iceolator- Barney's Grey Area Crystal – Grey Area
Import Hash
Caramella Cream- Barney's Coffeeshop Rif Cream – Greenhouse United Twizla – The Green Place
Product Cup
Barney's Bud Scope – Barney's Strainhunters India DVD – Greenhouse Seed Co. - Vapir
Best Booth
Barney Farm Greenhouse Seed Co. Attitude Seed Bank
Glass Cup
Ghost – RooR The Klingon – The Cali Connection Dragon Bong – Dragon Bong & Earth Spirit
Freedom Fighter of the Year
24th Cup (2011) winners Cannabis Cup
Liberty Haze – Barney's Coffeeshop Hawaiian Snow – Greenhouse United Buddha Tahoe – The Green Place
Indica Cup
Kosher Kush – Reserva Privada Star Bud – Hortilab Tahoe OG – Cali Connection
Sativa Cup
Moonshine Haze – Rare Dankness Seed co Electric Lemon Haze – TH Seeds Dominator – Karma Genetics
25th Cup (2012) winners Cannabis Cup
Flower Bomb Kush – the Green House Coffeeshop Shoreline – the Green Place Evergrey – the Grey Area
Indica Cup
Kosher Kush – Reserva Privada True OG – Elemental Seeds SFV OG Kush – Cali Connection
Sativa Cup
Amnesia Haze – Soma's Sacred Seeds Sour Amnesia – Hortilab Green Shack – Strain Hunters Seedbank
Hybrid
Loud Scout – Loud Seeds Rock Star – Bonguru Seeds Rug Burn OG – Rare Dankness Seedse
Neder Hash
Lemon Crystal – the Green House Coffeeshop Grey Crystal – the Grey Area M.O.G – the Green Place
Seed Company Hash
The Wheezy – Reserva Privada Tangerine Compound – Rare Dankness Seeds The Tangie – DNA Genetics
Import Hash
Sharkberry Cream – the Green House Coffeeshop Twizzler – the Green Place Maroc Lemon Haze – The Bushdocter
Product Cup
Big Buddha Seeds Goodie Bag – Big Buddha Seeds PUFFiT Inhaler/Vaporizer – VapoShop and Discreet Vape Tiny Sister – Roor
Best Booth
Big Buddha Seeds Cali Connection Roor
Glass Cup
Drill Bill – Roor Glass Puk Pipe – Puk Pipe The MF Doom Borch – DNA Genetics and Hitman Glass
CBD Award
Lion's Tabernacle – Cali Connection
Freedom Fighter of the Year
Mason Tvert
Dutch Master Honorees
Wernard Bruining and Nol van Schaik
26th Cup (2013) winners Cannabis Cup
Rollex OG Kush – the Green Place Flowerbomb Kush – the Green House Tangie – the Bushdoctor Coffeeshop
Indica Cup