MICHIGAN—The people who decide which Michigan cannabis brands are producing the best products this summer won’t be industry veterans, credentialed judges, or paid influencers.
They’ll be everyday stoners with a lighter, an opinion, and some free time.
Best in Grass—the largest consumer cannabis competition in the country—is back for another round, with judging kits dropping at dozens of Michigan dispensaries on Saturday, May 9.
Kits start at $30, and judges will have until July 12 to smoke, vape, dab, and eat their way through the entries. Winners get crowned live at the Royal Oak Music Theater on Aug. 13.
Full disclosure: I’ve been selected as a “VIP judge” this year. That means my kit is free and that someone out there officially recognizes my cannabis expertise. (Look mom, I finally made it.)
What’s in the judging kit?
Each kit is a zippered tote bag packed with cannabis products across 15 categories, including indica, sativa, and hybrid-labeled flower; pre-rolls; concentrates; vapes; gummies; and drinks.
Everything is individually packaged and labeled exactly as it would be sold at a dispensary, so you’ll know exactly what you’re consuming and who made it. No guesswork required.
Cultivators and processors submitted their best products directly into the competition. The Best in Grass team assembled the kits from there. NURA—one of Michigan’s largest processors—is the headline partner this year, handling roughly 62,000 individual items for the competition.
How much do the kits cost?
Prices range from $30 to $190, depending on the category of the judging kit.
Where can I find them?
Starting on Saturday, May 9, about 3,000 judging kits will be available at about 30 dispensaries statewide on a first-come, first-served basis. And they’ll probably sell out very quickly. Customers are advised to arrive early (even before the store opens) and get in line.
Participating locations include Bloomery, Green Labs Provisions, Dutch Republic, Mango Cannabis, Gramz, Pleasantrees, The Grove, URB, Lume, King of Budz, North Coast Provisions, and Arborside. Not every location is participating, so call ahead before you make the trip.
How do I judge?
After you grab your kit, you’ll have until July 12 to review the products and submit your scores online. Products will be rated on a 1-10 scale across a variety of categories, including visual appeal; aroma; flavor profile; effects; and whether or not you’d recommend it to a friend.
What happens after?
Best in Grass is hosting a red carpet, suit-and-tie awards ceremony at the Royal Oak Music Theater on Aug. 13, where the winning brands will be announced live.
Your ticket is included with your judging kit—but only if you submit a review for every entry.
Why bother?
Michigan’s cannabis market is brutally competitive. Hundreds of brands are fighting for shelf space, and a lot of them make genuinely excellent products that most folks have never tried.
Best in Grass is built around the idea that the people who actually buy and consume cannabis—not trade show panels or influencer partnerships—should be deciding what’s best.
Plus, your scores will go directly back to the brands, providing real feedback from real consumers, and hopefully, making for better cannabis products for everyone.
READ MORE: What Trump’s latest marijuana reclassification means for Michigan stoners
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