Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/599676
1 0 0 | t h e c l e v e r r o o t For each flower entry, farmers choose one of four flavor categories: Fruity, Floral, Earth or Fuel. This encourages farmers to embrace the genetic diversity of cannabis and supports those who have traditionally gone unrecognized for growing beautiful, pungent flowers in other flavors, according to Jodrey. Not all of this plant's secrets have yet to be unlocked, which is why preserv- ing and celebrating the wider range of genetic qualities is not only good for the market but also for the patients who may be able to benefit from future discov- eries. "We thought we had bred CBD [a medically beneficial cannabinoid] out of existence because THC had dominated the market for so long," Jodrey said, and it took searching through a wide variety of genetics to find strains with high CBD totals. Regulating cannabis is a new concept. There have been policy successes and failures in every state that has legalized some aspect of the cannabis industry, but what has yet to addressed are testing requirements for cannabis and its value-added products. While there are testing labs around California that farmers can optionally use, there is a lack of oversight on the standards labs use and how accurate their results really are, but testing is paramount: Mold, pesticides, and fungicides are problematic, as the product is intended for consumption by people, including patients with serious medical conditions. For the inaugural Golden Tarp Award in 2014, only two of the 35 total entries tested positive for mold, and none tested positive for pesticides, fungicides, or chemical growth regulators. 2015 test results were different: From over 100 light dep flower entries this year, 52 of them tested positive for some type of mold and two tested positive for fungicide, according to the competition's of- ficial testing lab, Pure Analytics. Why the rise in mold this year? The forest fires in California and the subse- quent smoke are partially to blame, Jodrey said, as particulate matter from the smoke can settle into the flowers and encourage mold growth. The humidity was also a factor; many of the regions that grow cannabis were impacted by low rainfall with high humidity during spring and summer. The Golden Tarp Award was the one of the first outdoor competitions to test all entries before judging, but it's about to have big company. The Emerald Cup an- nounced this year that it will test all entries beforehand, a first in its 12-year history. Humboldt is known internationally as a source of high-end genetics and cannabis products, and those who live there have an opportunity not afforded to most: the ability to find and experience top- quality, clean cannabis. But even so, Jodrey said, the everyday person, even in Humboldt, doesn't always have access to the clean best of the best. Jodrey had seen thousands of California's best flowers come through other competitions, and he didn't want that honor to be available to only a limited group of people. "I wanted regular people to be able to touch and experience some of the best cannabis in the world," Jodrey said. "It's not just meant for high level people like me; I get to see this all the time." For that reason, a majority of the 20 judges selected to review the top 16 samples are chosen at random from people who come to the event. The Ganjier team selects a handful of judges as well, some of whom are industry experts. Shuttled to the offsite judge's hall, they gathered around tables, sharing samples of the top 16 and writing tasting notes. Scoring looks at each entry's visual appearance, scent, taste, and effect, which is worth twice as many points as the other categories. The Mateel Community Center was stand- ing room only as the award ceremony for the Golden Tarp Award started. The cer- emony began with Jodrey giving Terrance Alan The Ganjier Award, which is de- signed to honor those in the cannabis industry who do the hard work behind the scenes and often go unrecognized. Alan is the co-founder of California Cannabis Voice, a political action committee designed to engage California in sensible can- nabis reform that protects farmers and patients. Alan was also instrumental in the fight for Proposition 215 in 1996, which made California the first U.S. state with any kind of medical cannabis policy. Addressing the crowd, Alan told his story, including one pivotal moment, "As I'm sure all of you have come to the conclusion, I realized growing pot was not some moral wrong. In fact, you are contributing to the future of a healthier society." (Video of the awards is avail- able on TheGanjier.com) The top 16 cannabis flower entries were then announced. Each farmer who made it to this semi-final round was rewarded with a custom, bronze plaque and a bag of products and samples. Several came on stage to proudly receive their award in front of their community and the cameras, though not all chose to do so. of Testing The Importance PHOTO: JOSE QUEZADA FOR THE GANJIER Judges evaluate cannabis entries for visual and aromatic appeal. Selecting the Judges The 2015 Results