The 15th Annual Emerald Cup has an official green light for December 15 and 16, 2018 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds after being granted a local cannabis event license by the city of Santa Rosa this week. As of January 2018, cannabis use events must be in compliance with both California state and local event regulations and restrictions — something that has tripped up several planned events in cities where such events haven’t exactly been welcomed.
What’s got us stoked is that the Emerald Cup is a born and bred Northern California celebration of cannabis culture that’s grown from a handful of growers to a matured event that encompasses lifestyle, growing, music, entertainment and serious panels focused on regulation, health and permitting. When you’re within spitting distance of the Emerald Triangle, janky out-of-town organized events just don’t resonate.
“We’re proud that the Emerald Cup continues to grow and has become one of the most impactful cannabis events of the year,” said Tim Blake, Founder and Producer of the Emerald Cup. “It’s truly a forum and celebration for anyone who is passionate about cannabis—from the growers to the patients to the vendors and the performers—and captures all the elements that make this industry so special. We look forward to welcoming this year’s attendees and celebrating what cannabis means to this community.”
Not to say that there haven’t been a few warts over the years — this is a cannabis event after all, and celebrating the season’s harvest has always taken a front seat to things like, well, organization. Last year, however, Blake collaborated with nationally-known music promoters to create a more festival-like experience And it worked. This year, the Cup will expand its offerings with festival organizers Starr Hill Presents (Bonnaroo, SXSW, Outside Lands).
The lineup hasn’t been announced for this year, yet, but in 2017, bands included The Roots, Portugal the Man and Gramatik. The speaker included Lori Ajax, Chief of the California Bureau of Cannabis Control; SPARC’s Erich Pearson, a host of regenerative farmers, cannabis lawyers, law enforcement, doctors, cultivators and researchers.
Tickets are now on sale for early bird weekend passes ($120) and VIP Passes ($499) and will likely sell out.
