MJBizCon and Budist add Colorado to 2026 MJBowl cannabis competition

MJBizCon and Budist are expanding their cannabis product competition MJBowl for 2026, adding Colorado to the lineup alongside California and New York. Submissions open Aug. 3 and winners will be recognized during MJBizCon Week in Las Vegas in December.

Why it matters: - MJBowl is widening one of cannabis's few cross-state product competitions, giving licensed producers in three major markets a single stage for comparison. - The Colorado expansion adds a third adult-use market to a contest that aims to set common quality standards across state lines. - Winners get visibility at MJBizCon and the Emjays, which can help brands build credibility with retailers, consumers and industry peers.

What happened: - MJBizCon and Budist opened submissions for the second annual MJBowl on Aug. 3. - The 2026 competition now includes California, Colorado and New York. - The contest runs through Sept. 30. - Gold, Silver and Bronze medals will be awarded onsite at MJBizCon. - Best of Category winners will be announced at the Emjays on Dec. 3 during MJBizCon Week in Las Vegas.

The details: - MJBowl is built for licensed producers and is meant to highlight craft, innovation and product excellence across state lines. - The 2026 field expands from five categories to six with the addition of Wellness, which covers ingestibles and topicals. - The full category lineup is Flower, Pre-Rolls, Concentrates, Edibles, Cartridges and Wellness. - Flower includes indoor, outdoor and mixed light. - Pre-Rolls include infused and non-infused products. - Concentrates include solvent and solventless products. - Edibles cover candies, chocolates and baked goods. - Cartridges include solvent and solventless products. - Budist will lead judging with a panel that includes certified Ganjiers, longtime competition judges, cannabis journalists and industry tastemakers. - The competition will use a standardized scoring rubric. - Nabis will serve as the exclusive distributor of judging kits. - The Artist Tree dispensaries in California, Dazed Cannabis dispensaries in New York and Social Dispensary in Colorado will partner on judging kits. - Winners will receive recognition at MJBizCon, expo passes, award show tickets and post-show spotlight coverage on MJBiz, Budist and partner channels.

Between the lines: - The expansion signals a push to make MJBowl more than a marketing contest and more like an industry benchmark for product quality. - Budist's judging model blends expert critics with a scoring system, which is meant to make results feel more standardized and credible. - Adding Colorado reflects the market's long-standing role in cannabis and broadens the competition's geographic relevance.

What's next: - Producers in the eligible states can submit products through Sept. 30. - Winners will be revealed in December at MJBizCon Week in Las Vegas. - MJBizCon returns to Las Vegas from Dec. 1-4, 2026, with pre-show certifications on Dec. 1. - More information is available at MJBizCon and MJBizDaily. - More information is available at Budist.