The 2025 MJBowl marked a new era for cannabis competitions in the United States—one built on credibility, transparent scoring, and a celebration of craftsmanship across two powerhouse markets: California and New York. Designed as a bi-coastal showcase for the “Most Valuable Products” (MVPs) of the year, the MJBowl brought together judges, brands, retailers, and consumers to recognize excellence across flower, vapes, concentrates, pre-rolls, and edibles.
With a structured judging system and national visibility through MJBizCon and Budist, the event immediately positioned itself as a major new industry benchmark. Below is a refined breakdown of this year’s competition, winners, and why the MJBowl matters.
What Is the MJBowl?
The MJBowl is a collaborative cannabis product competition produced by MJBizCon and the consumer review platform Budist. Launched for the 2025 season, the competition evaluates products from California and New York using standardized criteria and a professional judging panel.
Timed with MJBizCon, the world’s largest cannabis industry event, the MJBowl aims to give top products national recognition while offering producers a structured, credible pathway to showcase their craft. Organizers emphasize the competition as a celebration of quality rather than hype.
READ MORE: mjbizdaily.com
Competition Timeline (2025)
- Entry window: August 14 – October 12
- Product submission deadline: October 24
- Judging period: October 27 – November 21
- Awards ceremony: December 4, live at MJBizCon in Las Vegas
Categories include Flower, Pre-Rolls, Vapes, Concentrates, and Edibles—each judged through detailed subcategories such as indoor vs. outdoor flower, solventless vs. solvent vapes, and edible treats vs. beverages.
MVPs (1st place) and All-Stars (2nd & 3rd place) are named in each subcategory, with MVP winners advancing to compete for the ultimate MJBowl trophy.
2025 MVP Winners
Ten brands—five from California and five from New York—claimed MVP status across core categories.
READ MORE: budist.com
California MVP Winners
Flower
- Indoor: Decibel Gardens – Roswell 47
- Mixed Light: That Good Good Farm – Glitter Bomb
- Outdoor: Alpenglow Farms – Jack Herer
Pre-Rolls
- Non-Infused: One of a Kind – Piescream Pre-Roll
- Infused: Fire King x Hogwash Farms – Whitethorn Rose Hash Hole
Vapes
- Solventless: Natural Gas – Papaya Solventless Rosin Bar (RAWsin)
- Solvent: Holy Water x Casa Flor – Agua Fresca AIO
Concentrates
- Solventless: Ay Papi – Sapphire Thumbprint
- Solvent: Humboldt Terp Council – Amarelo Live Resin
Edibles
- Treats: Ay Papi – Apple Pear Tajin Live Rosin Gummies
- Beverages: 5G – Ginger Lemon Pop
New York MVP Winners
Flower
- Indoor: Lit by the Lake – Pannacotta
- Mixed Light: Rolling Green – MacFlurry
Pre-Rolls
- Non-Infused: Alibi – Dream Star / Nilla Wafer Combo Pack
- Infused: HeadyTree – Blue Lobster Infused Joint
Vapes
- Solventless: Jetty – Papaya Smash Mini Tank AIO
- Solvent: PAX – TRIP Blue Dream Live Rosin AIO
Concentrates
- Solventless: New Roots Gardens – Bickett OG Live Rosin
- Solvent: MFNY – Honey Banana Live Resin Badder
Edibles
- Treats: Announced as a top NY edibles product (official brand dependent on final roster)
Why These Wins Matter
MJBowl victories are more than bragging rights. They bring:
Industry Prestige
Many winners—often smaller, craft-oriented brands—gain national visibility and validation.
READ MORE: mjbizdaily.com
Retail Momentum
Winning MVP products receive priority placement in partner retail chains such as The Artist Tree (CA) and Gotham (NY).
Consumer Trust
Because judging criteria are published and standardized, shoppers can confidently use MVP status as a guide for product quality across categories.
A Spotlight on Craft & Solventless Innovation
A clear theme emerged in 2025: solventless extraction, small-batch flower, and artisanal infused pre-rolls dominated judge scoring.
What’s Next for the MJBowl?
Organizers plan to expand participation to additional state markets in the coming years, building an even broader national competition.
With industry-standard scoring, prominent media partnerships, and a growing fan base, the MJBowl is poised to become a defining annual showcase—one that elevates craftsmanship and encourages higher quality across the legal cannabis landscape.
Final Thoughts
The inaugural 2025 MJBowl set the bar high, celebrating products that represent the very best of modern cannabis culture. From solventless vapes to heritage outdoor flower and innovative edibles, this year’s winners demonstrated that quality, creativity, and craftsmanship still matter in a rapidly evolving industry.
If you’d like, I can also create a full finalist list or a consumer-friendly “Top Picks” guide based on these results.