New Brunswick has announced the launch of its inaugural Cannabis NB Cup – and up to 600 New Brunswick cannabis connoisseurs will have the opportunity to personally judge who grows the best bud on the East Coast.

The competition, which has been organized by sole legal provincial cannabis retailer Cannabis NB, will feature products from eight different Atlantic Canada-based licensed producers.

Enthusiasts can participate by shelling out $250 for a Cannabis Cup box containing eight different 3.5-gram bags of dried flower, including FIGR’s Black Cherry Punch; AtlantiCann’s Msiku ICC x Kush Mints 11; Aqualitas’ Ghost Train Haze; Stewart Farms’ Sky Cuddler Double Kush; Crystal Cure’s Tiger Bomb; Zenabis’ Namaste D Bubba; Organigram’s Edison Mac-1; and Mernova Medicinal’s Ritual Cannabis Lemon Haze.

The 30-gram judging kits are available for purchase at select Cannabis NB locations across New Brunswick until July 28, and include a book for scoring various aspects of each cultivar such as visual appeal, taste, and bud structure.

Categories will include Best in Grow (the overall winner); Runner Up (second overall high score); Honourable Mention (third highest overall score); Best Looking (top score in appearance and aroma); and Best Experience (top score in consumption and experience). Judging will take place via an online vote.

The product that wins the Best in Grow category will be featured in a Cannabis NB Cup display in all 20 Cannabis NB stores across the province. The winner will also be awarded an automatic entry into the upcoming Cannabis NB Cup National Edition.

All entrants in the competition were “carefully selected and had to meet specific THC and terpene requirements in order to be included,” according to Cannabis NB.

“We are very excited to be launching our first Cannabis NB Cup. It’s a great opportunity for our partners in Atlantic Canada to showcase their best dry flower products, and a chance for our customers to participate directly in this unique event as judges,” said Lara Wood, VP of Operations for Cannabis NB. “After the launch of the Atlantic Edition, our team will be working to expand the competition to include competitors from across Canada for the Cannabis NB Cup National Edition in the fall.”

Winners will be announced on July 30.