{"id":10834,"date":"2025-09-20T21:54:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-20T21:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cannabisindustryjournal.com\/?post_type=news_article&amp;p=37419"},"modified":"2025-09-20T21:54:35","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T21:54:35","slug":"mjbowl-comes-for-new-york-brands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/mjbowl-comes-for-new-york-brands\/","title":{"rendered":"MJBowl Comes For New York\u00a0Brands"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0 5px 5px;float:right;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/mjbowl-comes-for-new-york-brands\/\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"false\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mjbowl-comes-for-new-york-brands.png\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">MJBizCon, the largest and one of the most influential gatherings in the cannabis industry, is adding a new element to its lineup: a cannabis competition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This year marks the debut of the MJBowl awards on December 4th in Las Vegas, produced in partnership with Budist, the first-ever review platform to combine consumer feedback with expert ratings from seasoned professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Elevating Cannabis Standards<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Often compared to<\/span> <em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Wine Spectator<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the influential magazine known for expert ratings, detailed tasting notes, and industry news, Budist applies a similar model to cannabis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cCannabis needed a professional ratings and review platform that elevates a brand\u2019s standards,\u201d said Claudio Miranda, co-founder and COO of Budist. \u201cJust like wine, coffee, or craft beer, cannabis deserves a transparent, unbiased system for measuring quality.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The inaugural event will feature separate competitions in California and New York, with winners crowned in each state. While future editions may pit markets against one another, for now, the MJBowl is designed as a celebration of excellence rather than a direct state-to-state showdown, since cannabis remains federally illegal and cannot be shipped across state lines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Driving Premiumization in Cannabis<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Beyond ratings and reviews, Budist is also tackling one of the industry\u2019s most persistent challenges: the lack of education around products. Miranda points out that cannabis is often reduced to a race to the bottom, where products are judged primarily on low prices and high THC percentages.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">By introducing expert-driven evaluations, Budist aims to help consumers understand why some products command a higher price, just as wine drinkers learn to distinguish between a $10 and a $100 bottle. The platform also shines a spotlight on cultivators and brands that invest in craftsmanship, such as high-quality sun-grown flower, which is often undervalued in today\u2019s market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cEducation is key,\u201d Miranda explained. \u201cSome consumers want value products, and that\u2019s fine. But others are willing to pay more for craftsmanship and quality, and they want to know why that product is worth the premium. That\u2019s where we come in\u2014helping consumers make sense of the differences.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Budist<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">vs. Ganjier: Complementary Roles<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Because Budist is often compared to the Ganjier program, Miranda clarifies the distinction and how they complement one another.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Ganjier<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, founded by renowned cultivator Kevin Jodrey, is the industry\u2019s first sommelier-style certification program. It provides deep product knowledge, professional credentials, and evaluation training similar to earning a degree.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Budist<\/span><\/strong> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">is a platform. It gives certified experts, including many Ganjiers, an outlet to apply their skills in the marketplace.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In addition to expert reviews, Budist also includes consumer ratings, creating a dual system modeled after platforms like<\/span> <em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rotten Tomatoes<\/span><\/em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, where both critics and everyday users contribute.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cBoth perspectives are valid,\u201d Miranda said. \u201cOur professionals might include Ganjiers, longtime competition judges, journalists, or educators, but they all share a commitment to standardized, unbiased product evaluation. At the same time, consumer input provides balance and insight into what everyday users value.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Together, programs like Ganjier and platforms like Budist help professionalize cannabis evaluation, giving the industry tools to recognize quality while also educating consumers about the nuances that distinguish one product from another.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>California vs. New York: Different Stages, Different Stories<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">One of the most compelling aspects of the MJBowl will be seeing how winners differ between California and New York.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">California has had a legal cannabis framework for over 20 years and is a hub of innovation for brands, product formats, retail experiences, and cultivation and extraction methods. New York\u2019s regulated market, by contrast, is still in its early stages. While its traditional market is longstanding, the legal side has fewer brands and less product diversity, making it more of a developing market than a mature one.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s not just about the products. Each MJ Bowl competition reflects the culture of its state. In New York, social equity license holders make up a majority of the market, accounting for approximately 54 percent across cultivation, manufacturing, and retail. Many of these operators come from the legacy market and support one another as they transition into the legal industry. Growers supply brands, brands support retailers, and retailers provide visibility for their community peers. This longstanding network of collaboration is now thriving in the regulated space, giving New York\u2019s cannabis scene a uniquely cooperative spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">California, by contrast, brings decades of product innovation and a deep bench of brands, with judges steeped in West Coast cannabis culture. New York\u2019s judging team is being built from within its own community. \u201cThis isn\u2019t about California going to New York and telling them what we think of their products,\u201d Miranda said. \u201cIt\u2019s about letting each market speak for itself, from producers to consumers and professionals alike.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>How Judges Decide What Wins<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">According to Miranda, winning products don\u2019t follow a single formula; trends, innovation, and what\u2019s bubbling up in the market all matter. Years ago, hydrocarbon extracts such as shatter and wax dominated competitions, while today\u2019s connoisseurs favor solventless products like rosin. Edibles have evolved from simple brownies to precisely dosed chocolates, beverages, and nanotech-infused products. Judges also reward innovation across hardware and packaging, not just flower or concentrates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Budist is working to elevate standards by implementing a 100-point evaluation rubric that scores aroma, flavor, appearance, and effect, weighted differently according to category. For example, concentrates are judged heavily on aroma and<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">flavor<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, while medicinal capsules are judged primarily on whether they deliver the promised effect.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The scoring system also recognizes that consumer expectations vary widely across categories. \u201cYou can\u2019t measure rosin against distillate and call one better than the other; they\u2019re different products serving different purposes,\u201d Miranda explained. That\u2019s why products compete within subcategories, ensuring fair comparisons and allowing each style to shine on its own merits.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For the MJBowl, there are five main competition categories:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Flower<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Pre-rolls<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Vaporizers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Concentrates<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Edibles<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Within these, entries are divided into 11 subcategories\u2014such as distillates, live resin, solventless extracts, chocolates, gummies, and beverages to ensure recognition across the full spectrum of cannabis products.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>What Winners Receive<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In addition to honoring winners on the national stage at MJBizCon, the MJBowl ups the stakes with event tickets, an<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">awards show entry, and a travel voucher to Las Vegas. Winning brands also gain<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">major<\/span> <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">visibility through post-event press coverage, Budist social promotion, and amplification from MJBiz.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Retail partners in each state, such as The Artist Tree, with 10 California locations, and Gotham, with four dispensaries in New York, have committed to showcasing winners on their shelves.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThis isn\u2019t an award that disappears once the show ends,\u201d Miranda said. \u201cIt translates directly into new opportunities for brands. So we hope everybody enters.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"sharedaddy sd-sharing-enabled\">\n<div class=\"robots-nocontent sd-block sd-social sd-social-icon-text sd-sharing\">\n<h3 class=\"sd-title\">Share this:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MJBizCon, the largest and one of the most influential gatherings in the cannabis industry, is adding a new element to its lineup: a cannabis competition. This year marks the debut of the MJBowl awards on December 4th in Las Vegas, produced in partnership with Budist, the first-ever review platform to combine consumer feedback with expert [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10788,5062,52,10790,8769,8461,5179,8503,8458,609,8770,8564,10789,5334,184,9,8471,8554,8472,5235,1,3,61,1736],"tags":[10791,5063,2632,10793,8779,8483,5181,8529,8480,3182,8780,8586,10792,5350,2762,8493,8576,8494,5237],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10834"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10834"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10834\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10834"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10834"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannitrol.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}