Independent cannabis publication and Zig-Zag bring Faces of Cannabis back to the California State Fair for a second year of celebrating the people behind the plant.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Fat Nugs Magazine is proud to announce its return as the official media publication partner of the California Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair for the third consecutive year.
Taking place at Cal Expo in Sacramento, the California State Fair remains one of the most unique events in the world of cannabis. Beginning July 17th and running through August 2nd, the fair welcomes hundreds of thousands of attendees from across California and beyond to celebrate agriculture, innovation, food, entertainment, culture, and community. Within that experience sits something truly historic: the only state fair in the world where adults can legally purchase and consume cannabis on-site.
For cannabis advocates, cultivators, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike, the California State Fair has become much more than a traditional fairground experience. It has evolved into a living demonstration of what cannabis normalization can look like when regulation, education, and responsible consumption come together in a public setting.
At the center of that experience are the California Cannabis Awards, taking place on Saturday, July 18. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious cannabis competitions in the country, the awards recognize excellence across a variety of cannabis categories and celebrate the cultivators, brands, and innovators who continue to raise the bar for quality throughout California’s legal market.
Unlike many cannabis competitions, the California Cannabis Awards carry a unique level of significance. Hosted as part of the State Fair itself, the awards place cannabis alongside California’s other celebrated agricultural products, reinforcing the plant’s rightful place within the state’s rich farming heritage and economy. The event highlights the craftsmanship, dedication, and passion that fuel California’s cannabis industry while providing an opportunity for consumers to engage directly with the culture that surrounds it.
As part of this year’s festivities, Fat Nugs Magazine is excited to partner with Zig-Zag, one of the most iconic and recognizable rolling paper brands in the world, to bring the Faces of Cannabis photography project back to the State Fair for the second consecutive year. Created to document the people who make up the cannabis community and industry, Faces of Cannabis captures authentic portraits and stories from every corner of the culture. From legacy cultivators and medical patients to first-time consumers, advocates, entrepreneurs, and everyday supporters of the plant, the project serves as a visual archive of the individuals who continue to shape cannabis around the world.
Throughout the event, attendees can expect to see the Fat Nugs Magazine team on the ground documenting the experience, conducting interviews, capturing photography, creating content, and highlighting the stories that need to be told.
“Every year, the California State Fair reminds us of what cannabis looks like when it’s fully integrated into everyday normal life,” said Dustin Hoxworth, Founder and Editor-at-Large of Fat Nugs Magazine. “It’s farmers, consumers, brands, advocates, families, and the curious all sharing space together. And to be returning as the official media publication partner for a third straight year while being able to work directly with Zig-Zag to bring Faces of Cannabis back puts a huge smile on my face.”
For Fat Nugs Magazine, the partnership represents more than event coverage. It reflects the publication’s ongoing commitment to documenting the people, places, and moments that continue to shape cannabis history as it unfolds. The magazine also extends its gratitude to the countless organizers, staff members, volunteers, judges, exhibitors, vendors, and behind-the-scenes professionals whose work makes the event possible each year. And let’s not forget James Leitz, Rachelle Gordan, the Budist team, and the host of others that spend hours upon hours building out the experience so that the rest of us get to see, hear, and feel what California cannabis really is.
“Events like this don’t happen by accident,” Hoxworth added. “There are so many dedicated people working behind the scenes long before the gates open and long after they close. Their passion, professionalism, and commitment create one of the best events of the year for the rest of us to enjoy. We see you, and we’re grateful for everything you do.”
As California continues to serve as a global leader in quality cannabis, policy, and innovation, events like the California State Fair and California Cannabis Awards provide a powerful reminder of how far the industry has come while showcasing the people working every day to move it forward.
For more information on the California Cannabis Awards, visit https://calcannabisawards.com/
For more information about Fat Nugs Magazine, visit www.fatnugsmag.com.
About Fat Nugs Magazine
Fat Nugs Magazine is an independent cannabis media company and nationally distributed print publication dedicated to documenting cannabis community, culture, science, advocacy, history, and industry through authentic journalism, powerful photography, and meaningful storytelling. With readers in all 50 states and beyond, Fat Nugs Magazine exists to amplify the people, stories, and experiences that make cannabis culture worth preserving.