Amsterdam Cannabis Cup

The High Times Cannabis Cup is arguably the highlight of Amsterdam's smoking calendar. Started in 1987 by High Times editor Steven Hager, the Cannabis Cup has become one of the most well known events among smokers and members of the cannabis industry. An industry expo, conferences, concerts and coffeeshop crawls all form part of the line up of events.

Expo
The Amsterdam Cannabis Cup expo is held at PowerZone, a large club and venue on the southeastern outskirts of Amsterdam. The expo provides a platform for seed companies and coffeeshops to promote their weed as well as an opportunity for smokers to rub shoulders with marijuana industry players and counter culture celebrities. Seminars also take place here, as well as the induction of celebrities into the Counter Culture Hall of Fame.

Counterculture Hall of Fame
Every year, High Times inducts a prominent counterculture celebrity into the High Times Counterculture Hall of Fame. This ceremony forms a central part of the Cannabis Cup and can lead to some very recognisable faces wandering the expo. Inductions happen on Thanksgiving and often involve the screening of a documentary about the inductee. Previous inductees include Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin, Bob Dylan, Louis Armstrong, Bob Marley and Allen Ginsberg, to name a few. The 22nd Cannabis Cup's inductee in 2009 is to be Thomas King Forcade, the founder of High Times magazine.

Judges Passes
Members of the public can purchase judges passes, either online or in person at the event, for approximately EUR 250 and are invited to record their impressions of the various strains of marijuana on offer. The results are compiled and used to decide the best new product, best booth, best glass, best hash and best Nederhash. Included in the price of the judges pass is admission to all of the Cannabis Cup's ceremonies, concerts and seminars as well as the expo itself. Judges passes do not entitle the holder to free samples of weed or hash, all of which must be purchased in the participating coffeeshops; however, some booths at the expo offer free samples, mostly in the form of vapour bags. Judges passes are non-refundable but can be held over for another year or transferred to a friend, should you not be able to attend.

Other Tickets
If you don't wish to attend the entire event, single tickets to the Cannabis Cup expo can be purchased on the door at PowerZone for EUR 30 per day. The various concerts, held in Melkweg, can also be attended by purchasing a ticket from the Melkweg box office. Visit www.melkweg.nl for full details of concerts.

Timing
The High Times Cannabis Cup is held in Amsterdam every year towards the end of November, during the week of Thanksgiving in the USA. This year's 22nd Cannabis Cup will be held on November 22nd-26th, 2009. It can often be a good idea to arrive in Amsterdam a few days early to benefit from pre-registration and avoid the long queues that are a feature of opening day.

Contacts
Email: phoenix420@hightimes.com
Homepage: www.cannabiscup.com