California State Fair Celebrates Cannabis With Onsite Sales, Education, and Awards

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By Anthony Martinelli

For the second consecutive year, attendees at the California State Fair who are 21 and older can legally purchase and consume cannabis products onsite, including selections from several Golden Bear award winners.

The fair’s cannabis exhibit offers more than just products—it features educational displays, consumption lounges, and a space for visitors to explore the agricultural and scientific aspects of marijuana cultivation. Fairgoers can learn about terpene profiles, sustainable farming methods, and the wide range of consumption formats now available, from beverages and edibles to vapes and concentrates.

This year’s event also includes an expanded awards component with 50 competition categories, including newly added subcategories like blunts, hash, and infused chocolates. The Golden Bear Awards highlight some of the top producers across nine product types. Winners were judged using a standardized 100-point system and lab-tested for quality and chemical composition.

Some of this year’s recognized products include Pink Boost Goddess by Emerald Spirit Botanicals (Sungrown Flower), Super Silver Haze by California Artisanal Medicine (Indoor Flower), and Pomberry Lemonade by Almora Farm (Beverages). Products from many award-winning brands are available for purchase onsite.

Lauren Carpenter, CEO of Embarc and co-founder of the competition, said the exhibit is helping to normalize cannabis by treating it as both a science and an art. “Just like wine or olive oil, cannabis is agriculture,” said Carpenter. “We’re recognizing what these farmers are able to express through the plant.”

Winners were selected across nine major product groups. Entries were evaluated using a standardized 100-point scale, with flower products scientifically tested at SC Labs for chemical profile and quality.

Golden Bear winners include:

• Sungrown Flower: Pink Boost Goddess by Emerald Spirit Botanicals

• Mixed Light Flower: Blueberry Caviar by Ridgeline Farms

• Indoor Flower: Super Silver Haze by California Artisanal Medicine

• Concentrates: Sour Papi Diesel by Ay Papi, Mattole Valley Sungrown, Canyon Creek Family Farms, and My Green Network

• Cartridges: Live Resin Disposable Pens Agua Fresca by Casa Flor Family and Holy Water

• Pre-Rolls: Pink Jesus Hash Holes by Sonoma Hills Farm

• Edibles: Whitehorn Rose Gummies by Ay Papi and Huckleberry Hill Farms

• Beverages: Pomberry Lemonade by Almora Farm

• Wellness: Sleep CBD/THC/CBN Formula by Papa & Barkley

The cannabis exhibit runs through July 27 during normal fair hours—4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday. All sales stop at 9 p.m. in compliance with local rules, and entry is restricted to adults with valid government ID.