The California State Fair said it will make history this July by integrating onsite cannabis sales and consumption, making it the first time cannabis will be legally sold at a state fair.
This action is a continuation of the California State Fair’s leadership on cannabis after legislation signed by the governor allowing for licensed cannabis events to take place. In 2022, the California State Fair introduced an educational cannabis exhibit and awards competition to showcase the plant alongside California’s other agricultural bounty, such as wine, cheese, olive oil and craft beer. This year, the event will expand to include a broadened cannabis competition and onsite sales and consumption, bolstering the significant efforts already made to destigmatize cannabis through education, advocacy and access.
The cannabis exhibition hall for state fair attendees ages 21 and over is packed with educational information about the state’s cannabis history and exhibits of top California brands and farms. Attendees can scan QR codes to learn more about Golden Bear award-winning products, add items to a virtual shopping basket and purchase them at Embarc’s on-site dispensary. The area will feature a 30,000-square-foot consumption lounge, accessible via a designated walking path, to provide attendees over the age of 21 with an opportunity to try winning products from diverse farms and brands from across California.
As part of this commitment to consumer education and awareness, this year's cannabis competition was expanded to include product categories for pre-rolls, concentrates, cartridges, edibles, beverages and wellness products in addition to flower, enhancing the science-based testing with additional judging by a panel of experts. With more than 500 entries—double the number compared to last year—the California State Fair Cannabis Awards is the largest state-sanctioned cannabis competition of its kind.
