Cannabis Cup
The Cannabis Cup was founded in 1988 by writer, Steven Hager. Whilst researching his article, 'The King of Cannabis', Hager was inspired by accounts of American cannabis harvest festivals during the '60's by American, Nevil (Seed Bank founder). This led Hager to the idea of holding a 'Cannabis Cup' in Amsterdam. The 1st cannabis cup was held with just 3 judges; Hager, Dr Indoors and a photographer. 4 seed companies entered, Sensi Seed Club, Super Sativa Seed Club, the Seed Bank and Cultivators Choice. Cultivators Choice won the cup.
The following year the 2nd Cup was held and was again a fairly low key affair... 4 seed companies entered and there were 6 judges. Popularity and coverage of the Cup was low evidenced by little coverage in the High Times, the cannabis culture magazine. The Seed Bank won the 2nd Cannabis Cup.
The 1990 3rd Cannabis Cup saw greater controversy and media coverage. Celebrity judges this year included the Furry Freak Brothers, artists Gilbert and Paul Mavrides, and the founders of PROVOS the famous Dutch activists of the 1960's. The Seed Bank won again. A few weeks after this event the Drugs Enforcement Agency tried to have Nevil extradited from Holland, as part of an operation to shut down both the High Times (the cannabis culture magazine) and the Seed Bank. The Dutch government refused to extradite Nevil; he was subsequently arrested when he visiting family in Australia. Nevil jumped bail and disappeared.
The 4th Cannabis Cup was seen as the 'Cannabis Crawl'...... following the previous years events many seed companies went underground and did not enter. The entries that year were limited and the judges complained of a poor quality turn out all round. Rodger Belknap, a judge, resigned that year when he realised none of the strains put forward at the cup deserved the title!
Confidence was restored during 1992 as more seed companies entered the 5th Cup. The occasion was marked by an awards dinner held at the Garden Cafe. Of significance that year, was the merger of Nevil's Seed Bank with Ben Dronker's Sensi Seed Club.....their alliance formed the Sensi Seed Bank.
Silver Cannabis Cups featured as awards at the 6th cannabis cup. The silver cups organised by Hager were forged by Robin Ludwig, based from a design created by his daughter. Many celebrity judges were present at the 6th cup including Jack Herer and Paul Krassner. 4 seed companies including Nirvana and Dutch Passion competed. 15 marijuana cafe amsterdam coffeeshops and 7 marijuana cafe coffeeshops from outside Holland also competed. Sensi Seed Bank won the 6th Cannabis Cup.
The 1994, 7th Cannabis Cup was a major success in terms of attendance of coverage. Over 700 judges attended and the cup was a worldwide media event. Opening ceremonies at the Melkweg and the Hemp Expo at the Pax Party House helped make this one of the best cups so far. Sensi Seed Bank won again this year with their Jack Herer strain.
During the following year, 1995, the cannabis cup went from strength to strength. The 8th cup featured 1500 judges, 21 coffeeshops and 5 dutch seed companies along with entries from the USA, Canada and Switzerland. A first, the 8th Cup featured a Cannabis Cup wedding performed during the ceremonies and directed by Garrick Beck. Arjan of the Green House won 4 cups including the Cannabis Cup. Sensi Seed Bank won the best Seed Company Cup.
Due to plans to unify Europes currencies, restrictions on cannabis were imposed at the time of the 9th Cup. Events such as the Cannabis Castle Tour were cancelled and strain entries were not displayed in the Judge's Lounge. However the event was still a big success. John Trudell, founder of the American Indian Movement was present at the cannabis cup and along with many other native celebrities helped make the 9th cannabis cup one of the most memorable. De Dampkring swept the awards by winning four Cups including the Cannabis Cup.
1997 saw the introduction of the Counter Culture Hall of Fame at the 10th Cannabis Cup. Bob Marley became the first inductee and Marley's widow, Rita Marley flew from Jamaica to support the event. The Cannabis Cup Band plaed a four hour tribute to Bob Marley. Homegrown Fantasy won the Seed Company Cup and de Dampkring won the Cannabis Cup for the second year running.
Louis Armstrong and Mezz Mezzrow were inducted to the Counter Culture Hall of Fame during the 11th Cannabis Cup with the ceremonies being supervised by John Sinclair. Green House won the Cannabis Cup this year after de Dampkring pulled out in protest that the Cup had become too commercial.
In the 1999 12th Cannabis Cup new award categories were introduced with seed companies competing for two Cannabis Cups, Sativa and Indica. The coffeeshops were given the task of voting for the 4 competing seed companies of that year as they had complained about previous years voting procedures. This led to confusion and many ballots were discounted. Green House won the Cannabis Cup. Sensi Seeds won the Sativa Cup whilst Paradise Seeds won the Indica Cup.
The 13th Cannabis Cup featured a theme of the 'Goddess' and many female cannabis celebrities flew in to attend the Cup. Ina May Gasking, founder of the modern midwife movement became the first living inductee in the Counter Culture Hall of Fame. Entertainment was of a high standard throughout with Canadian comedian Watermelon MC'ing the awards. Patti Smith performed live and the Five Points Band and Galatatic also made an appearance. Cannabis Cup voting was not for the public this year. The High Times ran a competition in which 6 entrants were chosen as the judges. They were left for 3 days on a barge boat with supplies of the competing strains to test. After 3 days of continual smoking the 'Castaways' decided Blueberry from the Noon was the winner. Kali Mist from Serious Seeds and Blueberry from Dutch Passion were the Sativa and Indica Cup winners respectively.
2001 saw the 14th Cannabis Cup. Due to the events of 9/11 the cannabis cup was scaled down. Rumours that the cannabis cup was to be cancelled also contributed to poor attendance and sales at the cannabis cup. Paul Krassner, considered the 'dean of underground journalism' was the first living male to be inducted into the Counter Culture Hall of Fame. Sweet Tooth from Barney's Breakfast Bar dominated the Cannabis and Press cannabis cups this year winning both the popular vote and the blind competition.