Budist Newsletter: Shaping The Conversation
Dear Friends,
From the beginning, Budist set out to help people develop product appreciation in cannabis. What started with the ratings & reviews has grown into something broader as we’ve come to recognize that great products are only one part of the story. Behind every exceptional expression of cannabis are the breeders, farms, makers, and regions that shape it.
As our work has expanded, so has our sense of responsibility to the culture and industry around it. Cannabis is entering a period of normalization, but with that progress comes an important question: as the market matures, how do we preserve the culture, heritage, and agricultural tradition that shaped it? The industries that have navigated this transition successfully, from wine to craft beer to culinary arts, did so by developing shared standards, common language, and a deeper appreciation for quality.
Budist is increasingly focused on helping cultivate that foundation. Through expert evaluation, competitions, live events, and expert content, we’re creating spaces where the people shaping this industry can come together around a shared understanding of excellence and the plant’s medicinal benefits. The goal is not simply to highlight great products, but to help establish the frameworks that allow quality, craftsmanship, and innovation to be recognized and valued.
This work has taken an important step forward with the launch of our Thought Leadership Reports series. Each report invites industry leaders to engage with the forces shaping cannabis today and contribute to the shared knowledge that will guide its future. As the market continues to evolve, we believe its long-term strength will depend on the standards and collective stewardship we build together.
With Gratitude,
Jocelyn Sheltraw
Co-Founder & CEO
Thought Leadership Report Series
Budist is formally launching our Thought Leadership Report series, a collection of research-driven publications that explore product categories, market trends, and the evolving standards of quality across the cannabis industry. The series began with the 2024 California Harvest Report, which explored how place, climate, and farming practices influence quality across California’s leading sungrown regions.
The next report, The Future of Cannabis Premiumization, examines how consumer education and product appreciation can help counter price compression and support stronger product differentiation at retail. The report will debut March 12 at a private industry gathering in Berkeley. Future reports will explore topics including health and wellness use cases, evolving product categories, and innovation in consumption and delivery methods.
Companies interested in participating as underwriting partners are invited to get in touch. You can also learn more about the Premiumization report and the upcoming release event on our Events page.
Event Recap: MJBowl Grand Tasting
Last month, Budist hosted the MJBowl Grand Tasting at The Artist Tree lounge in West Hollywood, bringing several first-place winners from the competition directly to consumers. Guests had the opportunity to explore the winning products in a lounge setting designed for guided tasting and conversation.
Events like this reflect Budist’s broader effort to raise the standard for cannabis competitions. Rather than ending with medals and an award show, the goal is to create meaningful follow-through for participating brands, including retail visibility, in-store education, and direct engagement with consumers who want to better understand what makes these products stand out.
By connecting competitions, retail, and consumer experience, we’re helping ensure that recognition for quality translates into real visibility and appreciation at the retail shelf.
Read the full event recap on the Budist blog.
2026 California Cannabis Awards
Submissions are now open for the 2026 California Cannabis Awards, and we’re excited to return as the official judging partner for the third consecutive year. Hosted by the California State Fair, the program recognizes the state’s top cultivators, manufacturers, and producers across a range of product categories.
Budist will once again lead the evaluation process, bringing together a panel of experienced judges to assess entries through structured tasting and scoring. The awards continue to set a high bar for transparency and rigor, helping highlight the producers and products that represent the best of California’s legal market.
Entries are now being accepted for the 2026 competition. Producers interested in participating can learn more and submit their products through the California State Fair website.
Event Recap: Fleur Nouveau II
Last week, Budist returned to The Woods in West Hollywood alongside POET for the second annual Fleur Nouveau, an evening dedicated to the 2025 sungrown harvest. Inspired by the spirit of Beaujolais Nouveau, the gathering offered Southern California consumers a chance to experience fresh Northern California sungrown flower while connecting directly with the farms and makers responsible for bringing it to life.
Throughout the evening, guests explored flower from the 2025 harvest alongside products made from those same cultivars, including live rosin, vapes, edibles, and topicals. Experiencing these expressions side by side revealed how a plant evolves through careful hands as it moves from farm to hashmaker to finished product, highlighting the craftsmanship that shapes each step along the way.
Events like Fleur Nouveau also help shift perception in the SoCal market, where sungrown flower is often positioned as a lower-tier alternative to indoor cultivation. By introducing consumers to the agricultural context behind these products, the evening helped build appreciation for the quality and craft behind sungrown cultivation and support stronger recognition for producers whose work is often underrepresented at retail.
To learn more about the farms, makers, and brands featured at Fleur Nouveau, read the full recap on the Budist blog.
Connect with Us
For brands interested in working with Budist, we support operators through verified reviews, editorial, events, and competitions. Reach out to learn more about our 2026 programs and services.
Connect with us here!