For cannabis brands, making a great product is one thing. Getting retailers and consumers to notice it is another.
MJBowl is returning for a second year to give licensed cannabis companies an opportunity to put their products in front of professional critics, retailers and the broader industry.
The cannabis product competition from MJBizCon and professional review platform Budist is expanding to Colorado for 2026, joining California and New York. The competition is also adding wellness to its existing categories of flower, pre-rolls, concentrates, edibles and cartridges.
Registration for MJBowl 2026 is open through Sept. 30.
For brands considering entering, testimonials from MJBowl’s inaugural year show what recognition in the competition can mean at retail.
“Winning an MJBowl award had a positive impact on brand performance by providing immediate credibility and giving our Budtenders a meaningful selling point,” said Jason Bridges, director of purchasing at The Artist Tree, a California cannabis retail group that combines dispensaries with art galleries and consumption lounges.
The recognition also gave customers more confidence to try unfamiliar brands, particularly when considering a premium product, according to Bridges.
What can winning MJBowl mean for a cannabis brand?
Decibel Gardens’ MJBowl trophy for its Roswell 47 indoor flower earned it placement at select Artist Tree locations.
“Based on the brand’s strong performance, we expanded the lineup across all 12 stores, where it became one of our top-selling flower brands,” Bridges said.
Ay Papi, meanwhile, was already available at The Artist Tree before earning MJBowl honors in concentrates and edibles.
Bridges said the retailer saw “a noticeable increase in sales following the announcement, particularly in the edible category.”
How are cannabis products judged in MJBowl?
A professional judging panel in California, Colorado and New York will assess product entries using Budist’s standardized 100-point rating system, with winners selected within each subcategory.
The rating scale breaks down as follows:
- 96-100: Best in Class (top cannabis product in its category)
- 90-95: Outstanding (products of superior character and quality)
- 85-89: Very Good (high-quality products with notable distinction)
- 80-84: Good (solid quality products that just hit the mark)
- 75-79: Average (decent quality products with minor flaws)
- 70-74: Below Average (low-quality products with many flaws)
Products are evaluated across four criteria:
- Aroma: Intensity, complexity and appeal of scent
- Appearance: Visual appeal and condition
- Flavor: Depth, complexity and enjoyability of taste
- Experience: Effects, smokability and overall enjoyment
The judging panel includes certified ganjiers, educators, researchers, retailers, respected journalists and other experienced cannabis professionals.
For Amber Dorsey, an MJBowl edibles judge, an award-winning product comes down to several factors.
“As an edibles connoisseur and judge for the MJBowl, the things that I assess in an award-winning edible are taste/flavor profile, onset, product quality and overall effectiveness of the product,” Dorsey said.
What’s new for the MJBowl cannabis competition in 2026?
MJBowl is expanding from two states to three in 2026, bringing Colorado into the competition alongside California and New York.
The competition also is expanding from five major product categories to six, with the addition of wellness.
The 2026 categories are flower – indoor, outdoor and mixed light; pre-rolls – infused and non-infused; concentrates – solvent and solventless; edibles – candies, chocolates and baked goods; cartridges – solvent and solventless; and wellness – ingestibles and topicals.
Companies can submit up to three entries per subcategory.
New this year, MJBowl will recognize honorable mentions for products that rank just outside the top three.
Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists will be featured in the three-day MJBowl Winners Exhibit at MJBizCon and receive an official MJBowl medal, promotion across MJBiz and Budist channels, inclusion in a national press release and one MJBizCon Expo Pass.
MJBowl Trophy winners also receive featured placement at participating retail partner locations, a featured product review on Budist and one-on-one media interviews in the MJBizCon Media Room.
Who can enter MJBowl 2026, and when is the deadline?
Companies must hold an active cannabis license in California, Colorado or New York to enter MJBowl 2026.
Entries must be submitted through the official registration form by Sept. 30. Products must be retail-ready in fully compliant packaging, and five product samples per entry must be transferred by Oct. 23.
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Judging will take place Nov. 2-20.
Gold, Silver and Bronze medalists will be recognized during MJBizCon, with MJBowl Trophy winners announced Dec. 3 during MJBizCon Week in Las Vegas.
Think your product has what it takes? Enter MJBowl 2026 by Sept. 30 for the opportunity to put it in front of professional judges and compete for recognition at MJBizCon.
Want to experience MJBowl in person? Register for MJBizCon, taking place Dec. 1-4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
