Ten cannabis brands just claimed the crown in the first-ever MJBowl, a high-stakes showdown that pitted California heavyweights against New York newcomers in a blind taste test for the ages. The winners walked away with the title of Most Valuable Product in their categories, proving once again that top-shelf weed still rules the day.
The inaugural MJBowl took place this week during MJBizCon in Las Vegas. More than 200 entries from licensed growers and makers in California and New York went head-to-head across five categories judged by industry veterans and everyday consumers.
How the MJBowl Worked
Organizers teamed up with Budist, the social review app that already has thousands of real-user ratings, to create a competition that mixed science with street cred. Every product stayed hidden behind numbered labels. Judges scored on aroma, appearance, flavor, effect, and overall experience.
California dominated the overall medal count with six gold trophies, while New York grabbed four. That split surprised some people who expected the Golden State to sweep every category after years of legal market experience.
The Big Winners
Here are the brands that took home gold:
- Best Pre-Roll: Wonderbrett (California)
- Best Flower: Team Elite Genetics (California)
- Best Concentrate: Papa’s Select (California)
- Best Vape: Raw Garden (California)
- Best Edible: Kiva Confections (California)
- Best Beverage: Cann (California)
- Best Infused Pre-Roll: Jeeter (New York)
- Best Cartridge: Select (New York)
- Best Gummies: Ayrloom (New York)
- Best Tincture: Flowerhouse (New York)
Jeeter’s win in the infused pre-roll category marked the biggest upset of the night. The New York brand beat out West Coast giants in a category California usually owns.
Why California Still Leads
California brands have had a six-year head start on legal adult-use sales. That extra time means bigger grow rooms, better genetics, and more cash to perfect recipes. Raw Garden, for example, has refined its live-resin vape formula since 2017. Kiva spent over a decade dialing in its chocolate edibles.
Yet New York’s fast rise caught everyone’s attention. Brands like Select and Ayrloom launched less than two years ago but already match or beat California quality in several blind tests.
What the Judges Said
One judge, a 15-year cannabis buyer for dispensaries in Los Angeles, told reporters after the event that New York’s flower entries shocked him. “I thought I would know California buds the second I opened the jar,” he said. “I got fooled more than once.”
Budist data shows the average score gap between California and New York winners was only 2.3 points out of 100. That tiny difference proves the East Coast market has closed the quality gap faster than most experts predicted.
What This Means for Everyday Buyers
Shoppers now have proof that great weed grows on both coasts. Prices remain higher in New York because of taxes and smaller harvests, but the quality gap that once justified those prices has almost vanished.
| Category | California Winner | New York Winner | Price Difference (avg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower (eighth) | $45 | $60 | +33% |
| Vape Cartridge (1g) | $40 | $65 | +63% |
| Gummies (100mg) | $20 | $35 | +75% |
The MJBowl results give New York brands bragging rights they can use in stores and on social media. California brands, meanwhile, face new pressure to keep innovating or risk losing shelf space to East Coast challengers.
The real winners are consumers who now get better choices no matter where they shop. Blind competitions like the MJBowl force every brand to step up its game, and that rising tide lifts every smoker who just wants the best product for their money.
This first MJBowl showed the cannabis world one clear truth: the days when California owned the quality crown without competition are over. New York has arrived, and the friendly rivalry between the two biggest markets will only make weed better for everyone.