Leadership / 12.26.19

Emerald Cup Blazes Ahead as California Settles Into Recreational Cannabis Legalization

Access Staff

Pollstar (12/13/19) Brown, Eric Renner

The Emerald Cup event in Santa Rosa, California — a yearly combination marijuana competition, wellness convention, agriculture summit, marketplace and music festival — is a logistical challenge compounded by the state's legalization of recreational cannabis. Founder Tim Blake claims it was easier to host the event when cannabis was outlawed, as legalization now requires compliance with new state regulations and California's Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC). "It costs us a substantial amount of time and money to make sure that we are 100% legal and compliant," adds Jim Lewi with Emerald Cup partner Red Light Management. Lewi and Dustin Moore with the International Cannabis Farmers Association's board cooperated with the BCC to keep the Cup's character intact without breaking the law. "The main thing I want to do is just have the same event that people are used to, where they can just come in and they can share, they can participate, they can buy easily and comfortably," Blake says. Lewi notes the compliance effort is designed to champion small farmers, ensuring they "can have a direct conversation with the consumer, just like someone growing a tomato." This year's Cup showcased a lot of eclectic musical acts, including Flatbush Zombies, Santigold and Steel Pulse.

Read the full story from Pollstar. 

Tags: Regulations , News , Leadership