Best in Grass: Thousands of Michiganders will help pick the state’s best weed this summer

The Best in Grass competition is returning to Michigan this summer, where everyday stoners will have a chance to crown the state’s best weed. Judging kits drop June 28.

MICHIGAN—You don’t need a lab coat, a special badge, or your own weekly cannabis newsletter to help decide which brands are producing Michigan’s best weed this summer.

You just need a lighter, an opinion, and a little room in your stash.

That’s because Best in Grass is back in the Mitten for round two of its annual, statewide weed competition. And starting Saturday, June 28, dispensaries across the state will start slinging thousands of official judging official kits that are packed with products from hundreds of brands.

We’re talking flower, vapes, edibles, concentrates—the works. The mission? Try the goods. Rate the goods. Help decide who’s really rolling out the best cannabis products in the state.

What’s in the judging kit?

Each judging kit is a zippered tote bag that’s packed with a variety of cannabis products from Michigan brands across 14 categories—everything from pre-rolled joints and vape carts, to solventless concentrates, gummies, and beverages. In total, the judging kits in this year’s competition feature more than 200 separate products from 100-plus different brands.

How much do they cost?

Prices range from $45 to $195, depending on the category. 

Pre-rolls and edibles are usually on the cheap side. Concentrates can get expensive. 

Where can I find them?

About 2,600 judging kits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis starting on June 28 at 26 different dispensaries across Michigan—including North Coast Provisions, The Bloomery, Mango, The Grove, Remedii, Kinship, Cloud, The Clinic, DOJA, NAR, Pleasantrees, and URB.

Find the full list of participating dispensaries here—and call ahead, just to be safe. These contests are known to attract lines, so also consider showing up early before they open. 

How do I judge the products?

Judges will have until Aug. 24 to submit detailed online reports on the aesthetics, aroma, taste, and effects of each product. Winners will be announced in September during a live, in-person award celebration at the Royal Oak Music Theater, for which judges will receive free tickets.

Officials are still working out plans to have on-site consumption and sales at the event. But that means even if your favorite strain doesn’t win any awards, all of the judges will still walk away with a good time—and maybe a little extra green in their pocket from the awards show.

Why does it matter?

Plenty of weed competitions hand out trophies. Best in Grass is actually built to make the industry better. Instead of letting a handful of industry insiders or influencers pick the winners, this competition turns the whole state into a giant panel of thousands of cannabis judges.

Whether you’re a seasoned smoker or just curious about trying something new, the judging process is designed to be accessible—and useful. That includes for the brands, which get detailed feedback from real consumers about how their products are actually performing.

“Michigan is the top state for cannabis in the country, and with so many brands struggling to stay alive with so much competition, we want to provide a way for the real people of Michigan to vote in who deserves to be crowned as the best,” Mark Kazinec, a former High Times executive who co-founded the Best in Grass competition in 2024, told The MichiGanja Report this week. “Midwest consumers are also some of the most enthusiastic judges we’ve seen across the US.”  

READ MORE: 6 quick hits of cannabis news from across Michigan

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