Press Release: Headies Cup 
Judging Begins, Awards Party Rescheduled for May 20

BURLINGTON – As spring slowly warms the Green Mountain State, more than 300 cultivators and more than 30 manufacturers are now licensed by the Vermont Cannabis Control Board. Heady Vermont has kicked off the judging phase of its signature event, the fourth annual Headies Cup, featuring both Homegrow and Adult Use tracks for the first time ever.

In order to allow quality judging time in both tracks, Cup organizers have rescheduled the Awards Party for Saturday, May 20, 2023. Tickets are onsale now for the new date, with free admission for Heady Vermont members.

The event will feature a showcase and exhibition of all competitors, awards ceremony, Cannasations Podcast host Kris Brown MCing, food and drink vendors, lounge areas, lawn games, raffles, merch giveaways and more.

Presented by Morrisville dispensary Higher Elevation, the mission of The Headies Cup is to showcase Vermont’s most talented cultivators and makers. The 2023 Cup received around 30 homegrow entries and 60 adult use entries.

The 2023 Cup received around 30 homegrow entries and 60 adult use entries.

With more than 40 Vermont dispensaries now open across the state, Heady Vermont teamed up with licensed partner wholesaler Ojorojo Cannabis and retailers in select locations, as well as grow store White River Growpro, during the competitor and judging phases of the Cup.

A limited run of People’s Choice Judge’s Kits from categories in the Adult Use Track, including Outdoor, Hybrid and more, will be available to 21+ adults at partner retailers Higher Elevation in Morrisville, Grass Queen in Burlington and Sunday Drive in Woodstock.

“We’ve observed quite a bit during this process, but right from the outset, we understood that about 80% or more of our competitors had become licensed since last year.”
— Heady Vermont CEO Monica Donovan

“We’ve observed quite a bit during this process, but right from the outset, we understood that about 80% or more of our competitors had become licensed since last year,” said Heady Vermont CEO Monica Donovan. “We wanted to find a way to keep working with all of them – Even though adult use is a fairly new system that’s literally still being built as we roll out the Cup.”

With concentrates hampered by potency limits and vapes facing a 92% tax until July 1, The Headies Cup saw few concentrate entries.  Topicals, CBD-dominant and hemp flower also did not receive enough entries to qualify those categories this year.

Edibles categories in both tracks saw a healthy amount of interest, with a beverage category in the Adult Use Track for the first time ever.

Meanwhile, Hybrid received a solid number of entries in both tracks, with fewer overall Indicas and Sativas, indicating a continuing trend away from these classifications. Outdoor Flower in the Adult Use track received the most competitors, topping out at 13 entries.

Buy Tickets: The Headies Cup
Saturday, May 20, 2023

Said Donovan, “A lot of the categories we’re seeing – or not seeing – make sense given current regulations and the order in which licenses were given out. Personally, I would love to see more interest in 1:1 and balanced cultivars in the CBD Flower category.”

The Headies Cup returned in April of 2022, with hundreds attending an Awards Party showcasing Vermont craft-grown talent. A number of those cultivators and makers are now licensed, and their winning entries are now products that can be found on shelves at dispensaries across the state.

Tickets are now on sale, and the Awards Party takes place Saturday, May 20 at The Barns at Lang Farm in Essex Junction, Vermont. This event is 21+ only and ID is required for entry. Go to headies.headyvermont.com to buy tickets or get sponsoring and vending info.

Presented by Higher Elevation; and by retail sponsors Grass Queen, Sunday Drive, and grow store White River Growpro. Exclusive Sponsors: Vermont Compost, Bia Diagnostics. Wholesale Partner: Ojorojo Cannabis, Education/Retail: Capital Cannabis Company, Prize + Wristband: Cannatrol, Silver: Gram Central, Photo: JAM Creative and Packaging: Cannaster Supply Company

ABOUT: Heady Vermont produces events and provides essential news, information, and membership perks to cannabis businesses and consumers in and around Vermont.

We believe that building a just and equitable cannabis industry – one that’s infused with an ethos of social, racial, environmental, and economic justice – can have a positive and meaningful impact on all people and their overall well-being.

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