The Fairest Fair for Every Stoner: The California State Fair & California Cannabis Awards

July 28, 2026
By Daniel Crawford

What do you enjoy most about your state fair?

Is it the giant-sized, greasy fair food? Is it your special time of year to indulge? Is it the music or all the adorable farm animals? Is it people-watching and carnival rides, or the fresh-squeezed lemonade and corn on the cob?

My favorite parts of the state fair revolve around the sights, sounds, and snacks, of course. Round that out with the agricultural area and the animals, maybe a ride or two, and a foot-long corndog with a funnel cake to call it a day. How could it possibly get any better than that?

I’ll tell you how.

Every year, the California State Fair keeps getting better for attending stoners and the farmers who pour their hearts and souls into the craft of cultivating cannabis because they get it. Things have come a long way in the first five years. Stoners have their own dedicated space where they can purchase and consume without hassle.

The space is welcoming and central to the rest of the fair. The prices were affordable, and the activations were engaging. The taco truck came in clutch, and the terpene-infused slushies hit the spot. Temperatures were better this year than last, and next will be even better with the fair set to change dates to October.

Celebrating Five Years In & 30 Since Prop. 215 at the California Cannabis Awards

This marked the fifth year cannabis has been part of the California State Fair, and the third year the Fat Nugs team got to be a part of the Cali Cannabis Awards and all the opening-weekend action. Reflecting on the significance of the occasion, Fat Nugs Editor-In-Chief Jessica Reilly-Chevalier shared:

“The California State Fair’s embrace of cannabis remains one of the greatest normalization events in the world. Putting cannabis alongside the other great agricultural commodities of the state—worthy of winning coveted Golden Bear awards—elevates the plant exactly where it deserves to be. It is always a joy to bring Faces of Cannabis here and be a part of a milestone event. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Prop 215 with a handful of people who championed the legislation was incredibly touching, and a reminder of how far we’ve come with normalization, even when it doesn’t feel like it.”

The Faces of Cannabis exhibit made its second appearance at the fair, made possible by sponsor Zig-Zag. Mark Zatta, Senior Brand Manager at Zig-Zag, spoke to the deep roots connecting the brand to this evolving movement:

“As one of the longest-tenured brands in cannabis culture, Zig-Zag has had a front-row seat to the industry’s evolution. Seeing cannabis celebrated at the California State Fair—and the pioneers who helped shape the movement being recognized—is a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come. Cannabis culture has always been built on community, craftsmanship, and authenticity, and it’s inspiring to see those values honored on such a prominent stage as the California Cannabis Awards. As we at Zig-Zag look ahead, we’re excited to help advance a future rooted in education, innovation, and responsible enjoyment while staying true to the culture that brought us here.”

To ensure the highest standards for the competition, Jocelyn Sheltraw, CEO and Co-Founder of Budist, supplied her expert team of judges. She noted how this year’s landmark anniversary brought both reflection and pride:

“The fifth anniversary of the California Cannabis Awards was a celebration of both our history and our future. The pioneers of the Prop 215 movement helped make this moment possible, and today we’re seeing cannabis recognized as the world-class agricultural product it has always been. Every year, the state fair brings me back to my roots, but this time felt different. Speaking with the activists behind Prop 215 and the dawn of medical cannabis was deeply nostalgic and inspiring.”

That deep sense of historical reverence resonated throughout the entire event. Rachelle Gordon, host and producer of the California Cannabis Awards, summed up her emotional experience:

“Honoring the activists who helped pass The Compassionate Use Act was one of the highlights not just of the California Cannabis Awards, but of my entire career. These are the unsung heroes who laid the groundwork for the cannabis industry of today. We owe them so much. Placing the Pebbles Trippet Lifetime Achievement Award medals around their necks and seeing them beam with pride brought tears to my eyes.”

Another meaningful addition this year was the inclusion of the Homegrown Cannabis category, where the very first Golden Bear was awarded on Saturday, July 25th.

Mom of Three Dominates the Home Grow Category of the California Cannabis Awards

Lacee Horner dominated the category, winning six awards for her homegrown strains: Sugar Monster (Underground OG x Naughty Cookies F1 hybrid) and Limelight (aka Rockstar) (Limelight x Limelight) from Kali Grown. Expressing her gratitude, Horner stated:

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized during the fifth anniversary of the California Cannabis Awards at the California State Fair, especially in the inaugural Home Grower category. As cannabis continues to become more widely accepted and normalized, I think it’s important that we continue to recognize the growers and advocates who laid the foundation under Prop 215. The addition of the Home Grower category feels like a return to those roots, celebrating the passion, craftsmanship, and community that have always been at the heart of cannabis culture. I’m grateful to be part of a community that honors where we’ve come from while continuing to inspire the next generation of growers.”

Another home grower who took home awards was Mikey Tebb, who was equally as honored.

“To have something I care so deeply about recognized like this is incredibly meaningful.

Growing has been a passion of mine for years, but it’s never been something I could talk about openly. For a long time, it was something I kept to myself or shared only with close friends who understood. Even today, there are countless home growers who still can’t openly share what they do, which makes me especially grateful to live somewhere that allows me to pursue this passion without fear of incarceration.

At the end of the day, I just enjoy getting my hands in the dirt and creating something that brings joy to the people around me.

To see what was once a quiet, private hobby recognized by the State of California is something I never imagined. It feels like a milestone, not just for me, but for everyone who has loved this plant from the sidelines.”

Capturing the broader cultural shift that’s occurred since Prop 215, freelance journalist Jackie Bryant, who covers cannabis, food, travel, and culture, summed up this year’s fair experience:

“The Cannabis Experience at the CA State Fair is one of those events that made me stop and take stock of how much progress has already been made in the cannabis legalization movement, despite the many, many hurdles it has had and still has yet to face.

Because this is the 30th anniversary of California’s landmark Prop 215, I was not surprised—but also very glad—to see the Prop 215 pioneers honored at this year’s fair awards. Outside of the legalization advocacy movement, a lot of people don’t know that in the United States, cannabis legalization was ushered in by some of the most marginalized groups in society: people with disabilities, immigrants, people living with HIV and AIDS and other illnesses, queer people, non-white people… in short, from sick people who were dying and decided to break the law in public so nobody else would need to in the name of getting health care.

30 years later, their work is why a licensed dispensary can sell flower on a fairground between the corn dogs and the Ferris wheel—it’s the most ordinary setting imaginable, which is the bedrock point of legalization. Making this culture we all call home normal, because it is nowadays, thanks to the risk and dedication by many people society denigrated as dangerously abnormal. Most of the people who made Prop 215 and eventual legalization possible never got a license or a payout out of it, and a lot of them aren’t around anymore. Their names should come up more often than they do, and it was really special to see them honored at this year’s fair surrounded by people energized and poised to hopefully carry their legacies forward.”