History of the High Times Cannabis Cup

The Underground Harvest Festivals: A Foundation for Change

The 1960s was a time of counterculture movements, including the rise of interest in cannabis. This period saw the beginnings of cannabis activism and the underground cultivation scene.

As cannabis was illegal in the United States for most of the 20th century, the very act of gathering to celebrate the plant was fraught with risk. However, despite the legal risks, cannabis activists, growers, and enthusiasts began organizing underground harvest festivals in the 1970s and 80s, particularly in regions like Northern California—home to the famous Emerald Triangle, a major cannabis cultivation area. These informal events were small, secretive, and often held in remote locations to avoid detection by law enforcement.

The harvest festivals were not just about partying; they were a celebration of the cannabis plant, a chance for growers to share cultivation tips, exchange seeds, and show off their harvests. It was a time for cannabis lovers to come together, share knowledge, and create a sense of solidarity. These festivals were also a space for advocacy—an opportunity to discuss the political struggles surrounding cannabis prohibition and the fight for legalization. While they were held in the shadows, these underground gatherings had a profound impact on shaping cannabis culture and laying the groundwork for future public events.

Birth of the High Times Cannabis Cup

By the mid-1980s, Steven Hager, a journalist who was working as the editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, recognized the need for a more open and visible celebration of cannabis culture. Inspired by the spirit of the underground harvest festivals and the growing movement for cannabis legalization, Hager wanted to create an event that would not only bring cannabis enthusiasts together but also showcase the best marijuana products in a positive and legal environment. The result was the High Times Cannabis Cup.

Hager’s vision for the event was clear: He wanted to celebrate cannabis culture, highlight the best marijuana strains and products, and, most importantly, create a platform for cannabis legalization. He chose Amsterdam as the location for the first Cannabis Cup because of the Netherlands’ progressive stance on cannabis laws, which allowed people to gather, consume cannabis, and participate in the celebration without fear of legal consequences. Amsterdam, with its famous cannabis coffee shops, provided the perfect backdrop for a celebration of cannabis culture that would attract people from around the world.

The inaugural Cannabis Cup took place in Amsterdam in 1988 The event was designed to unite the global cannabis community—growers, enthusiasts, activists, and consumers—by creating a space to openly celebrate the plant and its culture. It quickly became an annual gathering for cannabis lovers worldwide.

The Format and Influence

The Cannabis Cup is structured as a competition where cannabis growers and producers can showcase their best products—flowers, edibles, concentrates, and other cannabis-related goods. Participants vote for their favorite strains and products in various categories such as “Best Sativa,” “Best Indica,” and “Best Hash.”

Beyond its role as a competition, the Cannabis Cup played an important role in changing public perceptions of cannabis. The event helped legitimize cannabis in the eyes of the general public and positioned High Times as the central platform for cannabis culture. It also contributed significantly to the broader movement for cannabis legalization and normalization.

From Amsterdam to San Francisco

As the event grew in popularity and laws started to relax in the US, the Cannabis Cup expanded beyond Amsterdam. In 2010, Dutch police raided the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup venue. Later that year, High Times hosted its first Cannabis Cup in the United States and launched the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup, an annual event celebrating medical cannabis. The inaugural Medical Cannabis Cup took place in San Francisco, California, in 2010. Like the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup, many marijuana strains were judged, and trophies were awarded in a number of categories.

In 2014, after 27 years, Amsterdam hosted what seemed to be its final High Times Cannabis Cup. This decision was influenced by growing uncertainty surrounding Dutch cannabis laws, the emergence of legal cannabis markets in the United States and other countries, and the lingering effects of the 2010 raid. (The Cannabis Cup would later return to Amsterdam.)

Legalization in the US

The first recreational High Times Cannabis Cup in the United States was held in 2015 in Colorado, following the state’s legalization of recreational cannabis. This marked a significant milestone for the Cannabis Cup, as it was the first time the event could include entries from the newly legalized market in addition to medical cannabis. (In the same year, and also for the first time, High Times organized an additional World Cannabis Cup edition of the event in Jamaica.)

Since the event’s expansion into the legal cannabis market, High Times has organized Cannabis Cups in a number of states across the U.S., including California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, Illinois and Nevada.

Under New Management

When High Times Magazine was sold in 2021, the Cannabis Cup events continued under the new management, maintaining their status as a major cultural and industry event celebrating the best in cannabis. The Cannabis Cup expanded its reach, continuing its U.S.-based Medical Cannabis Cup and recreational Cups, adding states like Missouri and Oklahoma, and adapting to the growing legal cannabis markets. The competition remains a key part of the brand, evolving to reflect the changing cannabis landscape.

The Legacy

Steven Hager’s founding vision was to create a space where people who shared a love for cannabis could come together and use that collective energy to push for cultural change. Over the years, the Cup has grown into a celebration of cannabis innovation, culture, commerce and community. With that legacy, the High Times Cannabis Cup remains one of the most influential cannabis events in the world

▸Video: The History of the High Times Cannabis Cup, as told by Its founder, Steve Hager.