Californicater
Active Member
You bet, charge packs available for shipping to all 50 states.
Results are great, but its not fool proof.
http://tgasupersoil.com/
https://www.rollitup.org/subcools-old-school-organics/324254-super-soil-results.html
The Weed Nerd~
- Thread starter subcool
- Start date
- Status
Results are great, but its not fool proof.
http://tgasupersoil.com/
https://www.rollitup.org/subcools-old-school-organics/324254-super-soil-results.html
SMOKEGOOD88
Member
Mickey Kush near week 2 of veg just wondering how early to top as recommended by sub ........sorry ima noob but you gotta start somewhere 
William Wonder
Well-Known Member
Smokegood88, You can top at any time but topping depends on what your final spacing is gonna be and the structure of what you're growing. Topping is for shaping the plant to suit your situation.
SMOKEGOOD88
Member
o ok thanks bro....so should I just let them go wild? I wanted to move the end pods to the back but IM scared I might mess up the roots...IM open to any suggestions
MichiganGrows
Active Member
They are Breeders from Oregon. Father and Son. They won the Oregon Medical Cannabis Award two years in a row with there strain Mad Scientist who is Mother to Dr.Who. They grow some of the best cannabis around and have teamed up with TGA to create some badass hybrids.
subcool
Well-Known Member
ALL ABOUT THE COMPETITION: 2013
Rules, Regulations & FAQ
How It Works
In 2011, HIGH TIMES developed a new, more comprehensive scoring system for cannabis
competitions. The new system employs a twotiered
digital (online) score sheet (aka, HT
Scorebook) that includes both a Qualitative score and Quantitative score. The highest possible
obtainable score is 100 points.
The Qualitative score will account for 70 percent of the total score. This score sheet will be
scored by each individual judge and will measure his or her professional opinions of each entry.
Categories are scored 15
by each judge (5 being the highest score). The categories are
weighted (a multiplier ranging from 1x to 5x is used in the final tally of each category), however
Judges are not given the weighted values (the HT Competition Director will do the calculations
when score sheets are submitted).
The Quantitative score will account for 30 percent of the total score. This score sheet measures
scientific data provided by the laboratory testing of each entry. This score sheet will be scored
by the HT Competition Director and results of this score sheet will not be made available to
Judges until after their final score sheets have been submitted. The HT Competition Director is
in no way a Judge and is only in place to manage the Judges, the judging process and ensure the
integrity of the competition. The Competition Director calculates Quantitative score based on a
set of predetermined point values set by a collaboration of the HT staff and industry experts.
On the final day of judging, Judges from each category will reconvene with the HT Competition
Director. At this time they will electronically submit their final score sheets and HT Scorebook
will use preset weighted values to calculate each judges qualitative score for each entry and
then take an average of the judges scores. The Competition Director will then electronically
input the lab values for each entry into the system. Scorebook will then use predetermined
scales to score the lab results and produce a quantitative score for each entry. This quantitative
score is then combined with the judges average qualitative score for each entrys total score
(aka the HT Cannabis Index) which is out of 100 total possible points.
As HIGH TIMES strives to create the most accurate and comprehensive scoring system on
Earth, your participation and feedback as a competitor is integral to the process. We hope you
are proud to be a part of the process and we thank you for your support and patience as we
slowly evolve this system into the worlds ultimate cannabis scoring index.
Please read the following Rules and FAQ carefully as rules are constantly changing with the
advent of new discoveries, information and technology within the cannabis industry.
2013 Competition Categories for the Bay Area Cannabis Cup
The Medical Cannabis Cup competition has six categories; Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, Edibles,
Concentrates (solvent extractions only) and Hash (all nonsolvent
extractions, including water,
dry siev, kiefs, etc.).
Please note that contestants may only enter one entry per category, per business entity.
For the Indica and Sativa categories, the entries must be over 70 percent dominant in the
category being entered. We ask participants to base this on the high/ stone of the entry as
Judges typically will fault a Sativa entry that smokes like an Indica (and viceaversa).
The Competition Director will use the lineages of strains provided on the entry forms as an aid in
determining if your intended category placement is correct. (Please refer to the last page for
examples of commonly miscategorized entries.)
For flowers, we require 40 grams per entry. We ask that you label your entry clearly with the
name of the strain, category and company name. We ask that you label your entry ONLY
ONCE on the exterior of the box/ bag/ container that holds your entry.
*NEW RULE* Regarding Flower Entries (2013): Please separate your 40gram
entry
into 5gram
increments. These increments may be placed in either plastic jars or
plastic bags. Please do not label the individual jars or bags of 5gram
increments as
judging is conducted blind and removing these labels only equals more work for us.
Please understand that HIGH TIMES reserves the right to change the category of entry if the
entry is deemed misplaced (i.e., a contestant is entering a Haze variety into the Indica
category). In such instances the participating contestant may choose to withdraw that particular
entry and receive a refund on that particular entry fee. If the participant has already entered a
product into the category the entry is being switched into, the participant must then decide which
one entry to submit.
* PLEASE NOTE: We realize that some companies, particularly breeders, seed companies and
dispensary chains have multiple entities under their charge. In cases where multiple entities with
the same owners, or same company names, or same parent corporation have multiple stores or
companies entering, there must be different entries submitted for each. HT will not allow the
same entry to be entered more than once by related entities. This rule is actually in place
to protect companies from competing against themselves as well as to help ensure the fairness
and integrity of the competition.
Important Notes on Concentrates & Hash Categories
Beginning at the 2012 Seattle Medical Cannabis Cup, HT now allows for competitors to enter
two different hash categories. This is due to the fact it has become increasingly hard for
nonsolvent
extractions to compete against the much higher levels of cannabinoids present in
solvent extractions. Competitors may enter one entry into both the Concentrates category and
the Hash (nonsolvents
extractions such as water, ice, dry sieves, etc.) category.
Also, please note these important new regulations regarding Concentrates:
For
Concentrates, we require 20 grams per entry. However, we now ask that all Concentrate
entries come in single (1) gram increments. We recommend using small glass vials for oils,
liquids or any other viscous concentrates and using small plastic containers for wax or butter
entries.
*
NEW RULE* Regarding Concentrates & Hash: All concentrate and hash entries must
be submitted in either plastic containers or small glass vials. All containers must be unmarked.
Unfortunately, to ensure the fairness of the competition, HT cannot allow customized containers
such as dab dishes, blown glass jars or anything else that may reveal a specific competitors
entry to judges. Any entries brought to registration that are not in standard plastic or glass
containers will not be accepted.
We
ask that you place your 20 containers into a box or large plastic bag that is clearly labeled
with the name of the product, category and company name. However, please do not label or
sticker the individual jars, only the bag or box you deliver them in.
**
Lastly, please be sure to see the new rules below regarding disqualifications as a few
directly pertain to concentrate entries. There will be no tolerance for adulterated
concentrate products, whether by synthetic additives or organic compounds (terpenes, etc.)
derived from anything other than the original starting extract material material.
Important Notes on Edibles
The Edibles category is the most unique and perhaps toughest to judge. We do like to employ
laboratory testing within the Edibles category as well, but this requires proper dosage labeling
on all Edible entries so that the lab can provide our judges with cannabinoid levels for a single
serving size (one person dosage). As such, here are the criteria by which Judges will be scoring
Edible entries. Please take extra note of the labeling and packaging categories listed
below.
The following categories will be scored 15
by Judges and account for approximately 75
percent of the final score (using a weighted multiplier after score sheets are submitted); Food
Appearance; Taste; Strength/ Effects; Product Originality; Healthiness.
The following categories pertain to the products labels and packaging. These categories are
simply scored Yes/ No and will receive one point for Yes and zero points for No. This
accounts for five percent of the final score. They are: Ingredients List; Dosage/ Serving
Size; Potency Info; Clearly Marked Cannabis/ Medicine Label; Professional
Packaging.
NOTE: Edible entries will receive scores for both THC and CBD levels per single serving.
Thus, participants MUST clearly delineate exactly how much of your product is ONE serving,
because if you do not, the lab will not test your product (and you will not be able to receive a
score on the Quantitative score sheet). This score sheet will account for approximately 20
percent of the final score.
Lab testing of edibles is always done using an HP LC (liquid chromatography) machine. We test
for THC, CBD and THCA,
all of which are worked into the equation for the final quantitative
score. The THCA
number is used to deduce how effectively the chef was in his or her
conversion of potential THC potency. We require 20 individually packaged samples for
competitors entering the Edibles category. We ask that if your edible requires
refrigeration, that you bring it in a cold cooler (which we will try to return to you, but no
promises
Rules, Regulations & FAQ
How It Works
In 2011, HIGH TIMES developed a new, more comprehensive scoring system for cannabis
competitions. The new system employs a twotiered
digital (online) score sheet (aka, HT
Scorebook) that includes both a Qualitative score and Quantitative score. The highest possible
obtainable score is 100 points.
The Qualitative score will account for 70 percent of the total score. This score sheet will be
scored by each individual judge and will measure his or her professional opinions of each entry.
Categories are scored 15
by each judge (5 being the highest score). The categories are
weighted (a multiplier ranging from 1x to 5x is used in the final tally of each category), however
Judges are not given the weighted values (the HT Competition Director will do the calculations
when score sheets are submitted).
The Quantitative score will account for 30 percent of the total score. This score sheet measures
scientific data provided by the laboratory testing of each entry. This score sheet will be scored
by the HT Competition Director and results of this score sheet will not be made available to
Judges until after their final score sheets have been submitted. The HT Competition Director is
in no way a Judge and is only in place to manage the Judges, the judging process and ensure the
integrity of the competition. The Competition Director calculates Quantitative score based on a
set of predetermined point values set by a collaboration of the HT staff and industry experts.
On the final day of judging, Judges from each category will reconvene with the HT Competition
Director. At this time they will electronically submit their final score sheets and HT Scorebook
will use preset weighted values to calculate each judges qualitative score for each entry and
then take an average of the judges scores. The Competition Director will then electronically
input the lab values for each entry into the system. Scorebook will then use predetermined
scales to score the lab results and produce a quantitative score for each entry. This quantitative
score is then combined with the judges average qualitative score for each entrys total score
(aka the HT Cannabis Index) which is out of 100 total possible points.
As HIGH TIMES strives to create the most accurate and comprehensive scoring system on
Earth, your participation and feedback as a competitor is integral to the process. We hope you
are proud to be a part of the process and we thank you for your support and patience as we
slowly evolve this system into the worlds ultimate cannabis scoring index.
Please read the following Rules and FAQ carefully as rules are constantly changing with the
advent of new discoveries, information and technology within the cannabis industry.
2013 Competition Categories for the Bay Area Cannabis Cup
The Medical Cannabis Cup competition has six categories; Indica, Sativa, Hybrid, Edibles,
Concentrates (solvent extractions only) and Hash (all nonsolvent
extractions, including water,
dry siev, kiefs, etc.).
Please note that contestants may only enter one entry per category, per business entity.
For the Indica and Sativa categories, the entries must be over 70 percent dominant in the
category being entered. We ask participants to base this on the high/ stone of the entry as
Judges typically will fault a Sativa entry that smokes like an Indica (and viceaversa).
The Competition Director will use the lineages of strains provided on the entry forms as an aid in
determining if your intended category placement is correct. (Please refer to the last page for
examples of commonly miscategorized entries.)
For flowers, we require 40 grams per entry. We ask that you label your entry clearly with the
name of the strain, category and company name. We ask that you label your entry ONLY
ONCE on the exterior of the box/ bag/ container that holds your entry.
*NEW RULE* Regarding Flower Entries (2013): Please separate your 40gram
entry
into 5gram
increments. These increments may be placed in either plastic jars or
plastic bags. Please do not label the individual jars or bags of 5gram
increments as
judging is conducted blind and removing these labels only equals more work for us.
Please understand that HIGH TIMES reserves the right to change the category of entry if the
entry is deemed misplaced (i.e., a contestant is entering a Haze variety into the Indica
category). In such instances the participating contestant may choose to withdraw that particular
entry and receive a refund on that particular entry fee. If the participant has already entered a
product into the category the entry is being switched into, the participant must then decide which
one entry to submit.
* PLEASE NOTE: We realize that some companies, particularly breeders, seed companies and
dispensary chains have multiple entities under their charge. In cases where multiple entities with
the same owners, or same company names, or same parent corporation have multiple stores or
companies entering, there must be different entries submitted for each. HT will not allow the
same entry to be entered more than once by related entities. This rule is actually in place
to protect companies from competing against themselves as well as to help ensure the fairness
and integrity of the competition.
Important Notes on Concentrates & Hash Categories
Beginning at the 2012 Seattle Medical Cannabis Cup, HT now allows for competitors to enter
two different hash categories. This is due to the fact it has become increasingly hard for
nonsolvent
extractions to compete against the much higher levels of cannabinoids present in
solvent extractions. Competitors may enter one entry into both the Concentrates category and
the Hash (nonsolvents
extractions such as water, ice, dry sieves, etc.) category.
Also, please note these important new regulations regarding Concentrates:
For
Concentrates, we require 20 grams per entry. However, we now ask that all Concentrate
entries come in single (1) gram increments. We recommend using small glass vials for oils,
liquids or any other viscous concentrates and using small plastic containers for wax or butter
entries.
*
NEW RULE* Regarding Concentrates & Hash: All concentrate and hash entries must
be submitted in either plastic containers or small glass vials. All containers must be unmarked.
Unfortunately, to ensure the fairness of the competition, HT cannot allow customized containers
such as dab dishes, blown glass jars or anything else that may reveal a specific competitors
entry to judges. Any entries brought to registration that are not in standard plastic or glass
containers will not be accepted.
We
ask that you place your 20 containers into a box or large plastic bag that is clearly labeled
with the name of the product, category and company name. However, please do not label or
sticker the individual jars, only the bag or box you deliver them in.
**
Lastly, please be sure to see the new rules below regarding disqualifications as a few
directly pertain to concentrate entries. There will be no tolerance for adulterated
concentrate products, whether by synthetic additives or organic compounds (terpenes, etc.)
derived from anything other than the original starting extract material material.
Important Notes on Edibles
The Edibles category is the most unique and perhaps toughest to judge. We do like to employ
laboratory testing within the Edibles category as well, but this requires proper dosage labeling
on all Edible entries so that the lab can provide our judges with cannabinoid levels for a single
serving size (one person dosage). As such, here are the criteria by which Judges will be scoring
Edible entries. Please take extra note of the labeling and packaging categories listed
below.
The following categories will be scored 15
by Judges and account for approximately 75
percent of the final score (using a weighted multiplier after score sheets are submitted); Food
Appearance; Taste; Strength/ Effects; Product Originality; Healthiness.
The following categories pertain to the products labels and packaging. These categories are
simply scored Yes/ No and will receive one point for Yes and zero points for No. This
accounts for five percent of the final score. They are: Ingredients List; Dosage/ Serving
Size; Potency Info; Clearly Marked Cannabis/ Medicine Label; Professional
Packaging.
NOTE: Edible entries will receive scores for both THC and CBD levels per single serving.
Thus, participants MUST clearly delineate exactly how much of your product is ONE serving,
because if you do not, the lab will not test your product (and you will not be able to receive a
score on the Quantitative score sheet). This score sheet will account for approximately 20
percent of the final score.
Lab testing of edibles is always done using an HP LC (liquid chromatography) machine. We test
for THC, CBD and THCA,
all of which are worked into the equation for the final quantitative
score. The THCA
number is used to deduce how effectively the chef was in his or her
conversion of potential THC potency. We require 20 individually packaged samples for
competitors entering the Edibles category. We ask that if your edible requires
refrigeration, that you bring it in a cold cooler (which we will try to return to you, but no
promises
subcool
Well-Known Member
Lastly, if a nonedible
medicallyinfused
product (MIP) fails to place in the Edibles category
(1st, 2nd or 3rd) we will award a single award to the Best NonEdible
MIP entered into the
Edibles category as we understand that without a NonEdible
category it can be a daunting task
for some MIPs to compete against edibles. In the future, if enough nonedible
entries are
entered into the competition we will consider making a new category for them, but as it stands
now we do not get enough entries to warrant a separate category.
IMPORTANT: Please understand that the Edibles category does not lend itself to the same
blind judging process that the other categories do. This is due specifically to fact that
packaging is a n important component in the scoring this category.
** Notes Regarding Disqualifications:
● HIGH TIMES reserves the right to disqualify (DQ) entries for any rules violation and in
cases where HT deems the entry, or practices of the competitor therein, to be against
the spirit of fair competition.
● Entries that have high incidents of mold, bacteria, or pesticides as identified either by
either the competition committee or our partner labs will be privately disqualified and the
competitors immediately notified.
● If any entry is found to have been tampered with, adulterated or doctored in anyway
using any synthetic or artificial substances, that entry will be disqualified. This includes,
but is not limited to, any substance that did not originate from the original source
material, including additives such as terpenes or oils, even when derived from natural or
organic sources. This does NOT apply to entries in the Edibles category.
● HT is not out to publicly embarrass any of our competitors and these rules are solely in
place for the safety and welfare of our judges and the community at large. As such,
disqualification will not be made public and will be privately handled between HT and
competitors.
● Unfortunately, HT does not offer refunds in the rare event of a disqualification.
Common Category Misplacements (Cannabis)
If you believe you have a strain that exhibits a mutant phenotype that is expressed in its high or
stone, we understand that. But that strain should no longer be called by its original name.
Rather, we recommend renaming it to reflect this unusual deviation, such as putting a number
after the name or something that denotes it is different from the norm. Here are a few strains that
participants have wanted to enter into erroneous categories;
Chem Dawg is an indica.
OG Kush may be an indica or Hybrid, not a sativa.
Sour Diesel is a Hybrid. (Note: If you have a Chemo x Mexican Sativa strain, that is not
considered Sour Diesel by HT. Entry must be renamed.)
A Kush cross is an indica or hybrid. (If you have one that smokes sativa, please rename it.)
All Hazes are sativas
medicallyinfused
product (MIP) fails to place in the Edibles category
(1st, 2nd or 3rd) we will award a single award to the Best NonEdible
MIP entered into the
Edibles category as we understand that without a NonEdible
category it can be a daunting task
for some MIPs to compete against edibles. In the future, if enough nonedible
entries are
entered into the competition we will consider making a new category for them, but as it stands
now we do not get enough entries to warrant a separate category.
IMPORTANT: Please understand that the Edibles category does not lend itself to the same
blind judging process that the other categories do. This is due specifically to fact that
packaging is a n important component in the scoring this category.
** Notes Regarding Disqualifications:
● HIGH TIMES reserves the right to disqualify (DQ) entries for any rules violation and in
cases where HT deems the entry, or practices of the competitor therein, to be against
the spirit of fair competition.
● Entries that have high incidents of mold, bacteria, or pesticides as identified either by
either the competition committee or our partner labs will be privately disqualified and the
competitors immediately notified.
● If any entry is found to have been tampered with, adulterated or doctored in anyway
using any synthetic or artificial substances, that entry will be disqualified. This includes,
but is not limited to, any substance that did not originate from the original source
material, including additives such as terpenes or oils, even when derived from natural or
organic sources. This does NOT apply to entries in the Edibles category.
● HT is not out to publicly embarrass any of our competitors and these rules are solely in
place for the safety and welfare of our judges and the community at large. As such,
disqualification will not be made public and will be privately handled between HT and
competitors.
● Unfortunately, HT does not offer refunds in the rare event of a disqualification.
Common Category Misplacements (Cannabis)
If you believe you have a strain that exhibits a mutant phenotype that is expressed in its high or
stone, we understand that. But that strain should no longer be called by its original name.
Rather, we recommend renaming it to reflect this unusual deviation, such as putting a number
after the name or something that denotes it is different from the norm. Here are a few strains that
participants have wanted to enter into erroneous categories;
Chem Dawg is an indica.
OG Kush may be an indica or Hybrid, not a sativa.
Sour Diesel is a Hybrid. (Note: If you have a Chemo x Mexican Sativa strain, that is not
considered Sour Diesel by HT. Entry must be renamed.)
A Kush cross is an indica or hybrid. (If you have one that smokes sativa, please rename it.)
All Hazes are sativas
subcool
Well-Known Member
A Final Word
Lastly, wed like to thank all of our participants for supporting our event, the competition and
the movement overall. While we tweak our new scoring system and strive to make the
competition as fair and accurate as possible and this scoring system the best in the world we
want to ensure that we do not lose sight of the overall goal of promoting the best medicine
possible for patients.
To this end, we hold the human element of the judging system as the most valuable
component to the process, even more so than the measurable science component. This is why
the Qualitative side of the score sheet accounts for 70 percent of the scoring while the
Quantitative side accounts for only 30 percent. That being said, please understand that until this
new system is deemed flawless, we will give preference to the judges panel in terms of
juxtaposing final placing of winners, especially in, but not limited to, cases where a numeric tie
occurs. We appreciate your understanding, patience and feedback during this process.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Entries Scored On?
The five categories on the Qualitative side to be scored by each Judge are as follows: Aroma;
Taste; Visual Aesthetics; Stone/ High; and Burnability/ Flush.
The three categories on the Quantitative side that will scored are very basic and are as follows:
Potency (THC levels); Medicinal Properties (CBD levels); Cure/ Age/ Storage (CBN
levels). This scoring is based solely on lab results. Points are awarded in each category based
on a scale that gives scores of 1 through 5 for the various ranges of cannabinoid levels.
Please take note of some new additions to the scoring rules:
● HIGH TIMES awards CBD Awards (1st, 2nd & 3rd) at Medical Cannabis Cups for
those entries that test highest in CBD (cannabidiol). Because we do not have enough
CBDrich
entries to award 1st, 2nd and 3rd in every category, HT tries to award a CBD
Award in each of the three category types meaning one CBD award to a flower, one
to an edible and one to a concentrate. The order of those Awards will be decided by
merit at each Cup event by the HT staff.
● It should also be noted that this year the laboratory has been instructed to test for
contaminants as well. Entries bearing any amounts of mold, mildew, etc. will be
automatically disqualified (DQ). DQs will not be publicly announced, but competitors
will be privately notified of the situation. There is no refund for a DQ entry.
● Please be sure to read the above section entitled Edibles for information on how this
category will be judged as it varies significantly from the Cannabis and Concentrates
categories.
● Also, please be sure to read the above section entitled Concentrates as new
requirements have been added to that competition category.
How Many Judges Are There?
There are two Official Judges and one HT Coordinator PER CATEGORY.
The HT Competition Director oversees all Judges and Category Coordinators as well as the
intake and processing of entries, the judging process itself, score tabulations and finalizing of
winners.
Who Are The Judges & How Are They Selected?
All Judges are experts or professionals from the local cannabis industry. We go to great lengths
to ensure that the Judges selected have demonstrated exceedingly high levels of cannabis
knowledge and are extremely dedicated to both the cause and the task of judging.
Each category Coordinator must be an employee of HIGH TIMES.
Unfortunately, due to legal transgressions and advice from counsel, we are no longer going to
publicly divulge the names of the Judges or Overseers. In the past, we would wait until the
contest is over and then, with permission from each individual Judge, make the Judges publicly
known. However, to better ensure everyones right to privacy and security, we will no longer
practice this acknowledgment.
How Long Do Judges Have To Judge?
This is perhaps the most heavily questioned aspect of the competition the length of the judging
period. Judges will have a minimum of one full week to complete their judging.
We are currently looking for ways to increase this time period, but this model has and continues
to work for our Judges. Logistically speaking, there are still quite a few issues to be worked out
if we were to increase the judging period. But we are looking into it.
HIGH TIMES has taken a proactive step to counterbalance this issue and ensure the integrity of
the competition by capping the number of entries in each category at 40. Once each category
reaches the 40entry
limit it will be closed. Period.
How Are the Lab Results Compared and Used in Scoring?
The primary reason for using two labs is to ensure fairness for all competitors involved in the
competition. Having two separate and unaffiliated labs testing all entries not only serves in
keeping those labs honest, but also protects against any systemic error in the actual testing.
It is at the discretion of the Competition Director as to how the lab results are used. If the results
come from the same methods, standards, calibrations and equipment and each set of lab results
are relatively similar in comparison, the two sets can be merged with an average of the two
taken for a final value. If the two separate lab sets show a larger degree of variation from each
other, only one set may be chosen to use in the quantitative scoring. (In the latter scenario, the
Competition Director would choose the more accurate results set by comparing them to the
averages of results of same strains tested by several other labs, in several cities, over several
previously held Cup competitions.)
If you have any questions on the Judging process & scoring, please contact our Competition
Directors, Craig Coffey (coffey@hightimes.com) or Bobby Black (bobby@hightimes.com)
Many thanks for your participation & good luck!
Lastly, wed like to thank all of our participants for supporting our event, the competition and
the movement overall. While we tweak our new scoring system and strive to make the
competition as fair and accurate as possible and this scoring system the best in the world we
want to ensure that we do not lose sight of the overall goal of promoting the best medicine
possible for patients.
To this end, we hold the human element of the judging system as the most valuable
component to the process, even more so than the measurable science component. This is why
the Qualitative side of the score sheet accounts for 70 percent of the scoring while the
Quantitative side accounts for only 30 percent. That being said, please understand that until this
new system is deemed flawless, we will give preference to the judges panel in terms of
juxtaposing final placing of winners, especially in, but not limited to, cases where a numeric tie
occurs. We appreciate your understanding, patience and feedback during this process.
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Entries Scored On?
The five categories on the Qualitative side to be scored by each Judge are as follows: Aroma;
Taste; Visual Aesthetics; Stone/ High; and Burnability/ Flush.
The three categories on the Quantitative side that will scored are very basic and are as follows:
Potency (THC levels); Medicinal Properties (CBD levels); Cure/ Age/ Storage (CBN
levels). This scoring is based solely on lab results. Points are awarded in each category based
on a scale that gives scores of 1 through 5 for the various ranges of cannabinoid levels.
Please take note of some new additions to the scoring rules:
● HIGH TIMES awards CBD Awards (1st, 2nd & 3rd) at Medical Cannabis Cups for
those entries that test highest in CBD (cannabidiol). Because we do not have enough
CBDrich
entries to award 1st, 2nd and 3rd in every category, HT tries to award a CBD
Award in each of the three category types meaning one CBD award to a flower, one
to an edible and one to a concentrate. The order of those Awards will be decided by
merit at each Cup event by the HT staff.
● It should also be noted that this year the laboratory has been instructed to test for
contaminants as well. Entries bearing any amounts of mold, mildew, etc. will be
automatically disqualified (DQ). DQs will not be publicly announced, but competitors
will be privately notified of the situation. There is no refund for a DQ entry.
● Please be sure to read the above section entitled Edibles for information on how this
category will be judged as it varies significantly from the Cannabis and Concentrates
categories.
● Also, please be sure to read the above section entitled Concentrates as new
requirements have been added to that competition category.
How Many Judges Are There?
There are two Official Judges and one HT Coordinator PER CATEGORY.
The HT Competition Director oversees all Judges and Category Coordinators as well as the
intake and processing of entries, the judging process itself, score tabulations and finalizing of
winners.
Who Are The Judges & How Are They Selected?
All Judges are experts or professionals from the local cannabis industry. We go to great lengths
to ensure that the Judges selected have demonstrated exceedingly high levels of cannabis
knowledge and are extremely dedicated to both the cause and the task of judging.
Each category Coordinator must be an employee of HIGH TIMES.
Unfortunately, due to legal transgressions and advice from counsel, we are no longer going to
publicly divulge the names of the Judges or Overseers. In the past, we would wait until the
contest is over and then, with permission from each individual Judge, make the Judges publicly
known. However, to better ensure everyones right to privacy and security, we will no longer
practice this acknowledgment.
How Long Do Judges Have To Judge?
This is perhaps the most heavily questioned aspect of the competition the length of the judging
period. Judges will have a minimum of one full week to complete their judging.
We are currently looking for ways to increase this time period, but this model has and continues
to work for our Judges. Logistically speaking, there are still quite a few issues to be worked out
if we were to increase the judging period. But we are looking into it.
HIGH TIMES has taken a proactive step to counterbalance this issue and ensure the integrity of
the competition by capping the number of entries in each category at 40. Once each category
reaches the 40entry
limit it will be closed. Period.
How Are the Lab Results Compared and Used in Scoring?
The primary reason for using two labs is to ensure fairness for all competitors involved in the
competition. Having two separate and unaffiliated labs testing all entries not only serves in
keeping those labs honest, but also protects against any systemic error in the actual testing.
It is at the discretion of the Competition Director as to how the lab results are used. If the results
come from the same methods, standards, calibrations and equipment and each set of lab results
are relatively similar in comparison, the two sets can be merged with an average of the two
taken for a final value. If the two separate lab sets show a larger degree of variation from each
other, only one set may be chosen to use in the quantitative scoring. (In the latter scenario, the
Competition Director would choose the more accurate results set by comparing them to the
averages of results of same strains tested by several other labs, in several cities, over several
previously held Cup competitions.)
If you have any questions on the Judging process & scoring, please contact our Competition
Directors, Craig Coffey (coffey@hightimes.com) or Bobby Black (bobby@hightimes.com)
Many thanks for your participation & good luck!
MichiganGrows
Active Member
Damn. Sounds stressfull. I understand why you don't enter yourself
g00sEgg
Well-Known Member
Wish I could make it out that way, Sub. Sounds like it's going to be a blast! One of these days I'll make it an event. I'll be def. looking for the TGA booth when I do.
Mohican
Well-Known Member
I was lucky enough to have my great TGA experience at the LA/Glendale/San Berdoo Cup! I need to let other weed nerds get a chance to bask in all that is TGA and the HT CUP!
I am sure your excellent footage will make me feel like I was there to some degree.
Still I am sad that I can't be there to hang with you and Frenchy.
Cheers,
Mo
I am sure your excellent footage will make me feel like I was there to some degree.
Still I am sad that I can't be there to hang with you and Frenchy.
Cheers,
Mo
geekmike
Well-Known Member
There are two Official Judges and one HT Coordinator PER CATEGORY.
That's the main reason to not enter IMO, 20g of concentrates for 2 "real" (miss HT and someone's buddy) judges and 18 HT staffers, lol.
Txchilies
Well-Known Member
Would love to have the photo on my wall. I'm currently growing The Flav and have 3 different phenos, one of which smells so bad that it's going to be so good. 4 weeks left to flower and it has chunked up twice it's size every week since bud set. Truly impressed with this strain.
TCurtiss
Well-Known Member
Just to clarify we are going to raffle this picture off for charity so please stop by the TGA booth / circus and grab a ticket
I'm thinking the raffle will be held late Sunday so everyone has a chance to win over the weekend
It is for a good cause
Thanks
T
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