The MJ Unpacked Cannabis Cup and industry convention were held in Atlantic City earlier this month. Many newer companies won a range of awards.
The MJ Unpacked Cannabis Cup was judged by certified Ganjiers. They are experts in quality cannabis, much like sommeliers specialize in wine. The show was produced by Farechild Events.
“I want to thank you for being here tonight, celebrating our community, being together, learning from each other, helping each other. That’s what’s most important,” MJ Unpacked Co-founder George Jage explained. “Tonight’s Cannabis Cup is in partnership with the New Jersey Cannabis Business Association. If you’re not a member, you should be.”
“To everyone that entered the MJU Cannabis Cup, the inaugural Cannabis Cup. We are so proud of everyone that entered. Because it takes incredible dedication and courage and resilience to create the products that you did,” Co-founder Kim Jage said.
“So, all of you should be honored. We are also here to celebrate some specific winners. But all of you are winners in my book,” KJ added to cheers.
The winners were then announced. None gave speeches. A lot of the winners were newer companies. A few companies that won several 2024 NJ cannabis awards did not win much at all.
Best Indica-Dominant Flower
- Mollitiam NJ “Egg Roll”
- Runner Up: Bass River Buds “Double Dipper”
Best Sativa-Dominant Flower
- Mollitiam NJ “Dirty Taxi”
- Runner Up: Bass River Buds “MAC V2”
Best Hybrid
- Hamilton Farms “Dante’s Garden”
- Runner Up: Mollitiam NJ “Western Sunset”
Best Non-Infused Pre-Roll
- Magic Garden Botanicals “Loosie Fumez”
- Runner Up: Hamilton Farms “Greasy Gary”
Best Infused Pre-Roll (Solvent or Solventless)
- Kushi Labs THE CLEAR – TWAX “ Strawberry Banana”
- Runner Up: The Growfather “Pineapple Express Moonrock”
Flower Aroma
These awards were based on Ganjier’s science-based profiles as an alternative to Sativa/Indica terminology, which many cannabis experts feel is inadequate.
Best Fruit Profile
Mollitiam NJ “Western Sunset”
Best Fuel Profile
Bass River Buds “MAC V2”
Best Earth Profile
Hamilton Farms “Dante’s Garden”
Best Floral Profile – Hamilton Farms “Night Charmer”
Best Solvent Concentrate
- MPX “MPX Citradelic Sunset Badder”
- Runner Up: MPX “Emerald Fire OG Crumble”
Best Non-Solvent Concentrate
- MPX “KmintZ Rosin”
- Runner Up: MPX “Motorbreath 15 Rosin”
Best Vape Pen/Cartridge (Solvent)
- Kushi Labs The Clear “Lime Sorbet”
- Runner Up: MPX | Cheetah “Citradelic Sunset”
Best Vape Pen/Cartridge (Non-Solvent)
- Glass Meadows “0.5G Cart King of Jersey Shawty 90u”
- Runner Up: Glass Meadows “0.5G Cart King of Jersey Maple Nectar”
Best Gummies
- Hashables “Tropical Typhoon”
- Runner Up: Illicit “Peaches & Cream”
Best Edible (Non-Gummies)
- Cannabist Company/Butacake “Oatmeal Raisin”
- Cannabist Company/Butacake “PBNJ”
MJ Unpacked Cannabis Cup Party
The Cup party was a lot of fun. It featured many wild sights like a tree lady on stilts, snakes, and a parrot.
It was held at the Showboat Hotel. They have generally embraced the cannabis culture and hosted a few events since they don’t have a casino, which complicates things. They allow MJ Unpacked to hold it in their water park area, which was closed since the summer tourist season had yet to start. It was an interesting place to hold it. The water park part was closed while the bars were open.
Outside, different party stations of amusements were positioned for people to enjoy themselves. At least one manufacturer was giving out free dabs while many enjoyed blazing on the lawn.
One entrepreneur lamented at the show to Heady NJ the slow pace of legal product approvals. It was taking long past anticipated dates to get a product to market that was supposed to be good already due to the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) and the Compliance Director.
They probably were not the only ones with such complaints at the convention.
Several former Multi-State Operator (MSO) junior budtenders and growers were there with new companies, happy to have jumped ship.
