[PRESS RELEASE] – SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 22, 2026 – The 2026 California Cannabis Awards celebrated the very best in California cannabis on July 18, presenting “Best in California” Golden Bear trophies to the state's top cultivators, manufacturers and brands while paying tribute to the activists whose work made today's legal industry possible.
Held at the California Cannabis Experience during the California State Fair, the fifth annual awards recognized excellence across flower, concentrates, edibles, beverages, wellness products, pre-rolls, vape cartridges and more. Winners were selected through a rigorous judging process conducted by expert judges in partnership with Budist and SC Labs.
“The caliber of our contestants is incredibly high,” said Lauren Carpenter, CEO of embarc and co-producer of the California Cannabis Awards. “These Golden Bear winners are innovators and trailblazers, setting a new standard for the industry.”
Jason Gellman, founder of Ridgeline Farms, was awarded a Golden Bear in Mixed Light Flower for his Blueberry Caviar variety, an accolade he also received in 2025. He said the trophy symbolizes immense growth for the legacy cannabis community.
“This isn’t just about one farm or one harvest; it’s about the people who came before us, the legacy farmers who built this culture long before there were awards,” Gellman said. “The ones who took the risks, protected the genetics and passed down the knowledge that shaped Humboldt County.”
The California Cannabis Awards also featured a moving tribute commemorating the 30th anniversary of California's Compassionate Use Act (Prop. 215). Dozens of the activists, patients, caregivers and advocates who fought to pass the landmark 1996 initiative gathered on stage to collectively receive the Pebbles Trippet Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing their courage and commitment in changing the course of cannabis history.
"This year’s event was about more than celebrating exceptional products," said James Leitz, founder of FairPlay Ventures and producer of the California Cannabis Awards. "It was an opportunity to honor the pioneers who fought for compassionate access and helped build the foundation for the legal cannabis industry we celebrate today."
The awards are part of the California Cannabis Experience, a first-of-its-kind educational and retail activation at the California State Fair that showcases California's cannabis culture, agriculture, innovation and craftsmanship.
The celebration continues throughout the State Fair, including the inaugural Home Grow Competition on July 25 and the Consumers' Choice Awards, with winners to be announced live on Aug. 1.
A complete list of 2026 Golden Bear winners is available below:
2026 Golden Bear Winners
Sun Grown Flower: Greenshock Farms — Pink Rider
Mixed Light Flower: Ridgeline Farms — Blueberry Caviar
Indoor Flower: Wood Wide — Woodzy
Pre-Rolls: One of a Kind x Joy Ridge Farms — Dutch Treat
Cartridges: Moon Valley Cannabis — Neon Panther Live Rosin All-in-One
Concentrates: Moon Valley Cannabis — Neon Panther Ice Water Hash
Edibles: Emerald Sky — Blue Dream Live Rosin GrooveBar
Beverages: St. Ides — Lychee Pear High Tea
Wellness: Emerald Bay Extracts — Super Lemon Haze RSO Tablets
