A new competition is coming to Western New York, brought to you by the team behind the Amsterdam Coffeeshop Awards. The inaugural Solventless Cup will honor the best across the region in two distinctive areas. A total of 10 different categories will highlight the best solventless products and services around: 5 awarded by industry analysis and 5 awarded by people’s choice.
Why Solventless?
Unpurged products pose a hazard of residue or potentially hazardous solvents for inhalation, which makes solventless extracts the preferred concentrate among health-conscious consumers. For this reason, at the Solventless Cup, we have chosen to exclusively highlight solventless products. This will increase awareness of solventless processing techniques, healthy consumption, and the best solventless products available for consumers who value their health. Sifting, ice water extraction, and pressing are examples of solventless techniques.
Why Western New York?
With 15.8 million adults in New York State, some 2.7 million New Yorkers 18 or older have admitted to using cannabis at least once a month, state regulators revealed. That’s a whopping 17% of New York adults who admit to consuming cannabis products at least once a month.
New York may have legalized cannabis in 2021. However, with many delays, the retail market was slow to gain momentum, seeing its first round of adult-use recreational dispensaries by early 2023. While this delay persisted, Native American nations began to license legal dispensaries on their land.
Now, in 2024, the state has issued around 275 provisional licenses for recreational dispensaries, of which 90 are currently in operation. An additional 150+ are registered with their sovereign nation. With close to 250 dispensaries across the state, a third of the dispensaries operate within the Western New York region.
New York’s New Home Grow Regulations
New York has approved regulations for home cultivation, which will allow residents to grow 6 plants (with a maximum of 12 plants per home). This new movement in New York’s cannabis industry opens the doors for home growers. With the right tools and information, these home growers can start producing their own solventless products at home.
Cup Competition & People’s Choice Awards
Solventless Cup will honor the best across the region in two distinctive areas. A total of 10 different categories will highlight the best solventless products and services around: 5 awarded by industry analysis, and 5 awarded by people’s choice.
The 5 industry awarded categories will include WPFF Hash, Sifted Hash, Live Rosin, Rosin Cart, and Edibles (solventless-based), and will be analyzed by a panel of experts in their respective fields. We recognize that, in addition to providing superior products, customer service and education are essential. Solventless Cup has developed an approach for customers to express their appreciation. 5 People’s Choice categories include Most Knowledgeable Staff, Dab-Tender Of The Year, Best Dab-Bar, Best Glass Artist, and Best Solventless Menu.
The People’s Choice nominations will open for 2 weeks on June 7th, with the voting round commencing on June 25th, for another 2 weeks, leading up to the award ceremony on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. This 4-week period enables an effective marketing campaign. QR voting cards will be on display at all dispensaries in the region, plus headshops and other outlets.
Judging for the Solventless Cup will take place from July 5th – 10th, with the award ceremony and party in Downtown Buffalo, NY on July 10. Networking events, dispensary sessions, and other activities will be organized across the region on July 5, 6, & 7.
