On Friday, April 19, 2024, a small group of passionate growers gathered backstage at NCF waiting to hear the results of the 2024 National Cannabis Championship. On the main stage, NCF Hostess-with-the-Mostest, Poet Taylor, was joined by NCC Maryland State Judge Sebi Medina-Tayac for the Awards presentation. After months of waiting, the results were finally in.

A few months prior, growers in DC, Maryland and Virginia were invited to submit samples of their grows to the 3rd annual National Cannabis Championship for consideration in 6 categories:

• Cannabinoid Champion - based on lab testing results

• Terpene Champion - based on lab testing results

• DC State Champion - based on State Judge analysis

• Maryland State Champion - based on State Judge analysis

• Virginia State Champion - based on State Judge analysis

• Grand Champion - based on Finals Judge analysis

Round 1 - Lab Testing

In the first round of the competition, samples were submitted for lab testing to determine the percentage of cannabinoids and terpenes.

Terpenes Champion

Terpenes are naturally occurring chemical compounds found in plants and some animals. They help create the aromas, flavors, and colors that we associate with various types of vegetation. In terms of cannabis, terpenes are what give certain strains a smell or taste different from others.

• 3rd Place: John Maynard from Virginia with the strain Carbon Fiber 

• 2nd Place: Eric Zirnfeld from Virginia with  the strain Candy Fumez 

• 1st Place: Andras Kirschner from Maryland, representing District Cannabis with the strain Layer Cake

Cannabinoid Champion

Cannabinoids, the natural and multifaceted compounds found in the cannabis plant, have been garnering significant attention in recent years. There are over 400 different chemical entities in the cannabis plant with about 60 identified as cannabinoid compounds.

• 3rd Place: Marco Thomas from Virginia with the strain Silver Rock Candy

• 2nd Place: Brent Frazier from Maryland with the strain Ransomware

• 1st Place: Andras Kirschner from Maryland, representing District Cannabis with the strain Layer Cake

Round 2 - State Champions

After the lab testing rounds, samples were handed off to State Judges in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, including winners from our 2024 Community Judge Contest.

Maryland State Champion

For the first time ever, NCF welcomed Maryland growers to the 2024 NCC competition! As you can see from the results above, Maryland growers brought the heat this year, placing in the Cannabinoid and Terpenes Championships.

• 3rd Place: Taequan Hall with Over-Under

• 2nd Place: Andras Kirschner with Layer Cake

• 1st Place: Jay Wright with Vice City

Virginia State Champion

The Virginia Contest nearly overwhelmed our State Judges with more than 20 strong entries to choose from. Like Maryland, Virginia growers found top ranking in the lab testing portion of the competition.

• 3rd Place: Joshua Courtney with Raspberry Parfait

• 2nd Place: Ron England aka Big Worm of Big Worm Organics with RS11

• 1st Place: Eric Zirnfeld with Candy Fumez

DC State Champion

The DC growers showed up in force with participation for the first time from both home and pro-growers. The results showed that talent is spread across the board in our craft and commercial grow community.

• 3rd Place: Jayron Johnson with Gooberry Moonshine

• 2nd Place: James Watts with Hawaiian Unicorn

• 1st Place: Mikeda Better with The Blow Job

Round 3 - Finals

Overall NCC Grand Champion

After 2 rigorous rounds of testing and one round of judge’s analysis, the top finishers from each state were delivered to our esteemed panel of Finals Judges, pitting the highest scoring contestants from each state in a blind head-to-head competition for the top honors. When the final scores were tallied (taking into account both the lab testing rounds and judge’s analysis scores), the winner was clear.

2024 National Cannabis Championship Grand Champion: Congratulations to Andras Kirschner and the team from District Cannabis with the strain Layer Cake!

After sweeping the lab testing categories and taking second in the Maryland State Round, Layer Cake wow-ed the finals judges, tipping the scales and handing the overall NCC victory to the team from District Cannabis!

congratulations!

Congratulations to all of our finalists and winners, and a special thank you to Levo, King Palm, Cap City Organics, Bouqe Papers, MJ Arsenal, Genius Pipe, Puffco and Stache for providing our Judge’s box swag and prizes for our winners.

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