Competitors

Entries are CLOSED for The Headies Cup 2023!

Check Out Our New Competitor Tracks!

Homegrow Track

Flower: Sativa | Flower: Hybrid | Flower: Indica | Flower: Greenhouse | Flower: Outdoor | Flower: CBD | Flower: Hemp | Preroll | Concentrate: Rosin | Concentrate: Hash | THC Edible | CBD Edible | THC Topical | CBD Topical

Amounts needed for entry, by category:
Flower: 20g total + Photo/Display Sample
Prerolls: 15 pre-rolled 1g cones + Photo/Display Sample
Solid Concentrates: 7.5g total + Photo/Display Sample
Edibles: 15 ‘servings’ total + Photo/Display Sample
Topicals: 15 ‘servings’ total + Photo/Display Sample

(NOTE: Actual required amounts may be slightly less {11-12 servings}, but please plan to have up to these quantities on hand for cup entry!)

Adult Use Track

Flower: Sativa | Flower: Hybrid | Flower: Indica | Flower: Greenhouse | Flower: Outdoor | Flower: CBD  | Preroll | Vape Cart | Concentrate: Rosin | Concentrate: Hash | THC Edible  | THC Beverage | THC Topical

Amounts needed for entry, by category:
Flower: 20g total + Photo/Display Sample
Prerolls: 15 pre-rolled 1g cones + Photo/Display Sample
Solid Concentrates: 7.5g total + Photo/Display Sample
Edibles: 15 ‘servings’ total + Photo/Display Sample
Topicals: 15 ‘servings’ total + Photo/Display Sample

NOTE: Required amounts may be adjusted for the Adult Use track, however generally speaking please plan to have UP TO this quantity available for your entry.

Why are Adult Use and Homegrow separate?

Due to changes in Vermont statute that took effect after last year’s Cup, we cannot combine adult use and homegrow entries into the same kits. Therefore, we have created separate tracks for each, but will continue to apply the same (or greater) rigorous quality control, testing and scoring requirements for each track. Please see our updated testing notes below.

Adult Use entries will be processed and handled through our Wholesale and Retail Sponsors.

Rules & Guidelines

 Signups are now CLOSED!

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Rules

  • This competition is open to 21+ growers and product creators.
  • All entries must be from Vermont-grown flower

General Testing Guidelines 

Note: Testing Guidelines Updated 2/17/23: Please Read

Third party test results must be submitted with all entries. Testing is not included with your entry. Our exclusive testing sponsor Bia Diagnostics is offering 10% off for all Headies competitors. 

Any test results submitted must include, at a minimum, cannabinoid potency ($75) and profile testing as well as terpene ($75) testing. With the Bia Diagnostics discount it is $135 total for testing per sample submitted. 

We strongly recommend pesticide testing for all flower entries. This is $195 from Bia Diagnostics. Additionally, if you are submitting entries in other categories, we also recommend that your source flower be tested for pesticides. Pesticide testing can be expensive, especially if you are submitting multiple flower entries, but it’s important to us that we ensure the safety of our kits and anyone participating in the The Headies Cup. We will be updating registered competitors with more info about testing and other quality control/safety measures via email.

NOTE: Edibles and Topicals entries do NOT require a terpene test, only a cannabinoid test.

Testing is mandatory for all entries!

If you are testing edibles and topicals, please test the whole product and not just the infused oil or butter that was used.

The sample submitted for testing must be from the same crop your judges samples are coming from.  It must be a representative sample of the product submitted for judging, from the same batch or grow, using the same processes. Please follow best practices when collecting your samples for flower and other product.

How do I get my entry tested?

Download the Bia Diagnostics sample submission form and fill it out. All competitor samples must read “Headies Cannabis Cup Sample” in the notes section at the bottom of the Chemistry Submission form.

How much do I need for the sample?

The lab is requesting 3 grams for cannabinoid / cannabinoid+terpene testing and 6 grams for multiple tests (updated for 2023).

The deadline for getting your sample to the lab for testing is March 7, 2023, to allow plenty of time for lab processing and then entry scoring. If you do not have your results by the time you drop off your entry, you can email them to us when they’re done. Any entry that does not have accompanying tests will be disqualified!

If you are making a trip to drop it off and you want to drop off your entry at the same time, that’s fine – just reach out to us and we will work with you on your travel plans. For those further down south – get in touch if travel is an issue and we will work with you to get your sample to the lab.

NOTE: We unfortunately cannot accept Canna Metric tests as these only test for THC/CBD content. They are, however, an affordable way to get a general idea of cannabinoid content. White River Growpro has one of these in their shop. 

Additional testing requirements for Adult Use entries:

  • All Adult Use entries must already be registered with the Vermont Cannabis Control Board, and therefore should already be tested. Please submit your lab results with your entry.
  • Terpene testing is not required by the State of Vermont; However, terpene testing is required for our flower and concentrate categories. Please plan to secure terpene tests for your samples ASAP if you do not already have them.
  • You may secure discounted testing from our sponsor or any other accredited lab.

General Packaging Guidelines 

When you prepare your entry, please note the rules about dividing, labeling and packaging for each category. We are providing competitor kits for flower only that can be picked up at a number of retail locations across the state. All other categories may be packaged according to the instructions for that category.

Entries MUST be packaged in advance. Please see our guidelines for each category.

If you do not have your results by the time you drop off your entry, you may email them to us when they’re done.
Any entry that does not have an accompanying test will be disqualified! 

Please do NOT label your judges samples, as judging is conducted blind and removing these labels creates more work for us. NEW: You may place your branding/packaging on your photo/display sample ONLY. These are not seen until the day of the awards, so this should be fine!

Each entrant’s samples will be securely inventoried and labeled, then distributed between Judge’s Kits and photo/display inventory. Judge’s Kits go out the weekend after Competitor Dropoffs.

Flower Entries 

The flower category encompasses Indica-dominant Flower, Sativa-dominant Flower, Hybrid Flower, Outdoor-grown Flower, Greenhouse-grown Flower, CBD-dominant or 1:1 Flower, Hemp Flower (<.3% THC only). 

We recognize that Sativa/Indica/Hybrid categorizations are simplistic. However, this Cup is also geared towards marketing flower products to a broader consumer public that may not understand the nuances of light deprivation, terpene classification and other factors that go into cultivation. For this reason, we are calling it Indica-dominant or Sativa-dominant instead of true indica or true sativa.

Competitors are required to properly categorize their entries. We reserve the right to recategorize an entry that does not fit. You may be asked for basic genetic lineage (parents) OR a photo for unknown strains, if only to help us categorize properly. 

Hybrids can include any combination of Indica or Sativa below 70 percent (60/40, 50/50 and so on). 

Flower Packaging

Please separate your entry into ten (10) 2-gram samples for judges and one (1) 2-4 gram sample for photo/display. Please do not label the judges jars.

Competitor kits will be provided for flower entries – these are available for pickup at our retail grow store partners or may be ordered online (shipping charges only), date TBD. The outside of the box must be labeled with the name of the strain, category and company name or handle. We have provided a label on the outside for this. Pickup spots TBD.

You must provide your own container for your photo/display sample. This sample will be used for both photography and for display during the Awards, so make sure it looks nice! Please label this sample “display” or place your branding on it if you wish. 

If your photo/display sample does not fit in the box, it may be placed in a bag, tupperware container, or equivalent package of your choosing which must be labeled with your strain, category and handle.

Flower Judging

The ten samples will be distributed to ten judges. Flower entries will be judged on the following items on a scale of 1-10 for a total possible score of 50 points: visual, aroma, taste, cure/flush, and effect.  

Concentrate Entries

The concentrate category (SOLVENTLESS ONLY) encompasses; shatters, waxes, budders, taffy, bubble hash and hash.

Under concentrates the categories are Solventless Concentrates and Hash Concentrates.

Concentrate Packaging

Please separate your 5.5-gram entry into eleven (11) ½ -gram increments. Ten of these are for judges and one is for photo/display.

Submissions should contain eleven (11) ½ gram packages. Please label your photo/display sample “display” but leave the judges samples unmarked. You may place your branding on the photo/display sample if you wish. Concentrates may be packaged in parchment or PTFE squares inside a blank coin envelope or airtight bag, or in small glass jars. 

These smaller containers may be placed in a larger container. Please label the outside container with your identifying information including the name of the strain, category and company name or handle.

Concentrate Judging

The ten samples will be distributed to ten judges. Concentrate entries will be judged on the following items on a scale of 1-10 for a total possible score of 50 points: visual, aroma, taste, purge/cure, and effect.

Edibles & Topicals Entries

The edibles categories encompass any infused product that is eaten, including food and baked goods. Under edibles the categories are Edibles: THC and Edibles: CBD. Please see the CBD section for additional notes on CBD edibles.

If there is enough interest, in the future we may add Tinctures, Beverages or Savory/Sweet.

The Topical category encompasses any infused product that is applied topically, including cream, salve, lotion, butter, soap, bath bomb, balm, chapstick, sun screen, and the like. 

Under Topicals the categories are Topicals: THC and Topicals: CBD. Please see the CBD section for additional notes on CBD topicals.

Packaging Edibles & Topicals Entries

Please provide eleven (11) individual servings of your edible or topical, placed in one sealed container. Ten of these are for judges and one is for photo/display. 

The outside container must clearly state the product name, category and company name or handle. **Edibles and Topicals require labeling, ingredients, dosing and serving size on the form submitted with your entry. 

Please do not label your individual servings – we will handle this. You may, however, label your photo/display sample if you have a preference for which one is used. YOu may also place your branding on the photo/display sample if you wish. 

We ask that if your edible requires refrigeration that you bring it in a cooler. We will prioritize edibles Judging Kits first during the submission week. 

The Edibles and Topicals categories will be judged blind. In the future, with legal adult-use products, we may be able to incorporate packaging into the judges’ scoring. For this year’s Cup, however, we will keep blind judging. This will mean a bit more work in terms of preparing your entry, but it will keep things the most fair for everyone.

Because they contain more perishable products, we prioritize edibles Judges Kits first during the submission week. We ask that you have your edibles entry in on time!

Note: Any items that require refrigeration/freezing are to be entered at your own risk as we cannot guarantee the stability of the product during transition periods. For this reason, easily spoiled products are discouraged but may still be entered at your own personal risk. If you do decide to enter a product that must be fresh or is easily spoiled, we ask that you take responsibility for getting a fresh sample to us for the display case at the actual event.

Edibles Judging

The ten samples will be distributed to ten judges. Edibles entries will be judged on the following items on a scale of 1-10 for a total possible score of 50 points: appearance/aesthetics, aroma, taste, dosage/accuracy, and effect.

Topicals Judging

The ten samples will be distributed to ten judges. Edibles entries will be judged on the following items on a scale of 1-10 for a total possible score of 50 points: appearance/aesthetics, aroma, effect/high, pain relief, and dosage/accuracy.

CBD & Hemp Flower Entries

The CBD category encompasses any flower, concentrate, edibles or topicals that meet the minimum CBD percentage required to compete.

Samples entered in the CBD flower category require a minimum of 5% CBD to compete.

Samples entered in the CBD concentrates category require a minimum of 25% CBD to compete.

Samples entered in the CBD edibles require a minimum ratio of 1:1. 

Samples Entered in the Hemp Flower category must test at below .3% THC.

What do I get with my entry?

Each competitor receives photography, one ticket to the Awards Party on May 20th, and display of their entry during their awards. We’ll also share a discount code for family & friends tickets.

What do I get if I win?

First place winners receive an engraved trophy, recognition during the awards ceremony and online, and a prize kit from our sponsors. 

Second place winners receive a prize kit from our sponsors, shout out during the awards ceremony.

What are the rules regarding disqualification?

Heady Vermont reserves the right to disqualify entries for any rules violation and in cases where we deem the entry, or practices of the competitor therein, to be against the spirit of fair competition. 

  • Entries that have been adulterated with non-cannabis derived products will be disqualified. 
  • Entries that have incidents of mold, bacteria, or pesticides as identified either by the competition committee or our partner labs will be disqualified. 
  • If any entry is found to have been tampered with, adulterated or doctored in any way using any synthetic, artificial, or non-cannabis organic substances, that entry will be disqualified. This includes, but is not limited to, any substance that did not originate from the original source materials (cannabis), including additives such as non-cannabis derived terpenes, oils or flavonoids. This does NOT apply to entries in the Edibles or Topicals categories. 

These rules are solely in place for the safety and welfare of our judges and the community at large. We do not offer refunds in the rare event of a disqualification. 

Questions?

Please reach out to us anytime with your questions at [email protected]

Best of luck to all competitors!