Cannabis cups used to be dingy, dark affairs, held away from prying eyes and the authorities. Although not legal everywhere today, canna cups are thriving, and there have never been more. We all know the most famous, The High Times Cup and the HighLife Cup, but what about the others? Have you heard of the Elite Cup? Or what about the Copa Cannabis in Rio? Cannabis Cups are springing up worldwide, and we've never had so many chances to become a cup winner.
Of course, there is still plenty of appetite for the best-known ones, like The High Times Cup, the Canna Cup most people will name first. In fact, of the almost 20 cannabis cups in the USA in 2022, 7 of them were High Times events.
But nowadays, there are more cups and awards than ever and more chances to become a 1st place cup winner. The days when The High Times Amsterdam was the only cannabis cup in town are gone, but has some of the prestige left with them? Being a High Times Cup winner was once the ultimate badge of honour, and Green House Seeds Co wore it for a record three years of running thanks to the famous Super Silver Haze. A lot has changed since then, and we will unlikely see that kind of dominance again. But that doesn't mean there's not plenty to look forward to.
Get your passport ready and pack your suitcase; we are going on a world tour of Cannabis Cups you might not have heard of.
Homegrown Cup (NL)
We only have a little to travel for this one, and everyone loves to fly to Amsterdam for a weekend. The Dutch are famous for cannabis, and the Homegrown Cup has fast gained a reputation for being one of the best canna cups in Europe. Held twice yearly (a summer and winter edition), it invites home growers from all over Europe to enter various categories. It has become a must-enter event for aspiring cup winners.
Jack Herer Cup (various)
You've probably heard of the famous cannabis activist Jack Herer but did you know there have been 5 versions of a canna cup in his name? There's the NL version, one at the Mary Jane Berlin expo, one in the US, and a Jamaican and a Thai version, too. If you managed to visit them all, you'd be flying high in more ways than one.
Copa Del Ray (COL)
This canna cup was last held in 2021 and had only four categories for growers to enter. The cannabis industry is thriving in that part of the world, and billed as a national meeting of growers, we only hope that Copa Del Ray returns soon. Categories included the best flower indoors and out and the best extraction.
IC 420 Growers Cup (NL/ES)
The IC 420 Growers Cup has been for a while, but you might only know about this one if you're an avid 420 forum user. The IC Cup was based in Amsterdam until 2017, and in 2018 it moved to the sunnier climate of Barcelona. The well-respected competition is organised by the members of the IC-Mag forum and has been running since 2005, and recent winners include GG4, Knightsbridge OG and Headbanger.
Spannabis Champions Cup (ESP)
The Spannabis Champions Cup is quickly becoming one of the most prestigious awards on the cannabis cup circuit. As most significant players enter this one, being a cup winner at this annual fair is a mega achievement. With 5 Champions Cups up for grabs each year, this canna cup keeps things simple and is better for it. You can catch the Amsterdam Seed Center there every year. We wouldn't miss it for the world.
Future Cups and Cup Winners
The cannabis industry constantly evolves, with many new underground cups starting yearly. Some break through to the mainstream and become accepted by the cannabis industry. Others remain small and even cult-like. Each is unique in its own way, but they share one common aspect; they bring growers together. If you are a keen grower and looking to test yourself against your peers.
Be cautious when choosing a competition to enter, as some are more professional than others. And some are outright scams.
You may be a future cup winner. It all starts with a seed, and we have over 1500 varieties in our seedfinder from which to choose. Shop cup-winning cannabis seeds online with the No.1 seed bank in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Seed Center. Happy Growing!