An Upstart Competition Challenges the Legendary Cannabis Cup

Jake Browne and Sohum Shah are cannabis critics for The Cannabist, a publication featuring ideas, people, art and news related to the world of cannabis and its culture. In Colorado (United States), their fervent passion for the plant spurred them to partner with Dark Horse Genetics, Cultivate Colorado and the analysis lab Steep Hill. The motivation for this unique alliance: to change the future of marijuana growing competitions with their competition: The Grow-Off.

To get this competition off the ground and carve out a place for it amongst those already enjoying recognition, its organisers were aware from the outset that setting their competition apart from the rest was essential. To do this, they equipped it with two particularities.

First, at The Grow-Off the playing field is evened, as all those participating must start out with the same genetics. Second, the competition's organisers provide the participants with clones, cut from the same plant.

The organisers have indicated that these factors make The Grow-Off a fairer competition, as it places its almost 200 participants on the same starting line, such that their experience and professionalism are the keys to coming in first.

When the growing cycles are over the entries are judged, with a winner for each of the three categories established: Performance, Strength (cannabinoids) and Aroma (terpenes). One of their partners, the laboratory Steep Hill, is charged with running the tests to determine the profiles of the cannabinoids and terpenes entered in the contest.

The winners will be announced at the event's closing ceremony and first place winners in each category receive a cash prize. Moreover, a percentage of the revenue is earmarked for a donation to Sensible Drug Policy, a non-profit student group focused on promoting drug policy reform, both in the United States and internationally.