The Hemp Cup — People’s Choice 2022 Winners

Twelve categories. Hundreds of entries. One April afternoon in 2022 that changed the trajectory of several hemp brands forever. The High Times Hemp Cup — People's Choice 2022 is one of the cannabis industry's most democratic competitions: real consumers judge real products, meaning there's nowhere to hide behind marketing budgets or brand reputation. When the Digital Awards Show aired on April 3, 2022, the results delivered a clear message, craft genetics, novel cannabinoids, and formulation science are rapidly redefining what hemp can do. Here is a complete breakdown of every first-place winner, with full podium results across all twelve categories.

Flower & Pre-Rolls: Craft Genetics Take Centre Stage

The most closely watched category at any cannabis competition is always whole flower — and the 2022 Hemp Cup was no exception. The flower that took first place wasn't a well-known cultivar off a commercial shelf. It was something far more interesting.

FlowGardens, a small operation based in East Tennessee led by Erich Maelzer, claimed the top spot with their in-house genetic Blue Cheese #12 Flower — a cross of Ivanka and Male Cough Drops that produces an arrestingly unusual terpene profile. Judges and consumers alike described it as smelling of cilantro and sweet stink bug, which sounds polarising on paper but lands as deeply euphoric and lifting in practice. This is exactly the kind of phenotype-hunting result that reminds growers why keeping a dedicated breeding programme pays off. Second place went to White Triploid CBG Flower by Healing Canopy, and third to Sour Lifter Flower by Grateful Beginnings Farm.

The Pre-Rolls category told a similarly artisanal story.

Sweet Sensi CBD, which grows and presses all of its hemp in Austin, Texas, won first place with an entry that arguably could have competed in a luxury cigar show: the Improved Berry Blossom #17 Cigar. This is made from the hearts of limited-release artisanal hemp flowers, rolled in craft-made, all-natural wraps. Its dominant terpenes — Caryophyllene, Myrcene, and Humulene, deliver powerful notes of black pepper and sweet fruit. Beyond the flavour, the cigar's visual presentation was stunning enough that judges noted it would have won a hypothetical aesthetics category outright. Second place went to Pacific Cooler HHC Pre-Roll by Hemp Hop, and third to Honolulu Haze #3 Pre-Roll by CBD Hemp Direct.

• 1st – Flower: Blue Cheese #12 by FlowGardens (East Tennessee)
• 2nd – Flower: White Triploid CBG Flower by Healing Canopy
• 3rd – Flower: Sour Lifter Flower by Grateful Beginnings Farm
• 1st – Pre-Rolls: Improved Berry Blossom #17 Cigar by Sweet Sensi CBD
• 2nd – Pre-Rolls: Pacific Cooler HHC Pre-Roll by Hemp Hop
• 3rd – Pre-Rolls: Honolulu Haze #3 Pre-Roll by CBD Hemp Direct

Concentrates & Vape Pens: The Rise of Novel Cannabinoids

If the flower and pre-roll categories celebrated terroir and genetics, the concentrates and vape pen categories showcased something else entirely: the accelerating sophistication of minor and novel cannabinoid science.

First place in Concentrates went to Metta Hemp's HHC Wet Sugar — a dab product built around HHC (Hexahydrocannabinol), a semi-synthetic cannabinoid produced by hydrogenating THC. The result is a molecule that is notably more shelf-stable than Delta-9 THC and delivers a psychoactive experience that Metta Hemp's team describes as genuinely euphoric and mood-elevating. For concentrate connoisseurs curious about the outer edges of the cannabinoid spectrum, this was the product that validated HHC as a serious contender. Second place went to Gas CBD Terpsolate by Alliance Hemp Co., and third to Tennessee Tangie Flower Sift Rosin by Piur Select, the latter being a solventless option that showed the breadth of this category.

The Vape Pens category produced one of the most recognisable names on the entire winners list.

3Chi's Blue Dream HHC Vape claimed first place, and it's not difficult to understand why. Blue Dream, the beloved sativa-dominant hybrid born from a cross of indica-leaning Blueberry and sativa-leaning Haze, has been a flagship strain for good reason for well over a decade. Its reputation is built on a well-balanced cerebral lift paired with full-body ease — social, daytime-appropriate, simultaneously invigorating and relaxing. Delivering that experience through an HHC-format disposable vape means consumers get Blue Dream's characteristic uplifting spirit in a convenient, hemp-compliant format. Second place: Tangie HHC Sativa Vape by STNR. Third: Uplift Vape by Rove Remedies.

Edibles — Gummies and Non-Gummies: Formulation Gets Serious

Edibles are where consumer science and culinary craft converge, and the 2022 Hemp Cup demonstrated how far both have come. For a deeper look at how to navigate potency and onset times before you shop this category, the Edibles: Gummies dosage guide is required reading.

The Gummies category winner was as much a strain story as a formulation story. Pow-Pow's OG Kush Blood Orange Live Resin Gummies earned first place by doing something most gummy manufacturers don't bother with: using live resin rather than distillate as the cannabinoid source. Live resin preserves the full terpene spectrum of the fresh-frozen plant, meaning the entourage effect is dramatically more robust than in a standard distillate gummy. Each piece delivers 10mg of Delta-9 THC derived from hemp, drawn from OG Kush — the legendary, terpene-rich cultivar whose lineage anchors so much of modern Kush genetics. The blood orange flavour cuts through OG Kush's characteristic fuel-and-earth notes with bright citrus acidity. Fast-acting and potent. Second: Tropical Kush Moon Babies by Galaxy Treats. Third: Harvest Medley Wellness Gummies by Martha Stewart.

In the Non-Gummy Edibles category, a genuinely innovative product took first place. Realize's Citrus-Mango Drink Mix contains 50mg CBD and 10mg Delta-9 THC per serving — a ratio designed to take the edge off social anxiety without sedating the user. Unlike oil-based edibles that can take 60 to 90 minutes to reach peak effect, Realize's water-soluble formulation absorbs far more quickly, making it far more predictable for the consumer. It tastes excellent, too. Compare this to second-place finisher Mint Chocolate Bar by Buddy's Chocolate Haus, a hemp oil-infused confection that took the more traditional confectionery route, and you see the range of innovation this category now holds. Third: CBD Chocolate Truffles by Sweet Sensi CBD, who also appeared on the podium in pre-rolls.

1. Gummies 1st: OG Kush Blood Orange Live Resin Gummies by Pow-Pow — 10mg Delta-9 THC per gummy, live resin source
2. Gummies 2nd: Tropical Kush Moon Babies by Galaxy Treats
3. Gummies 3rd: Harvest Medley Wellness Gummies by Martha Stewart
4. Non-Gummies 1st: Citrus-Mango Drink Mix by Realize — 50mg CBD / 10mg Delta-9 THC, fast-onset water-soluble formula
5. Non-Gummies 2nd: Hemp Oil Infused Mint Chocolate Bar by Buddy's Chocolate Haus
6. Non-Gummies 3rd: CBD Chocolate Truffles by Sweet Sensi CBD

Topicals, Tinctures, and Capsules: Wellness Formulation at Its Best

The Hemp Cup's wellness categories — Topicals, Tinctures, and Capsules, exist to recognise products that deliver therapeutic value without psychoactive effect, and the 2022 winners in each demonstrated that hemp's medicinal potential is only deepening with time.

George! CBD's CBD Salve claimed first in Topicals despite the brand being less than five years old. Using hemp-derived CBD cultivated in Colorado, the salve is formulated to address muscle aches, arthritis, cramps, eczema, and burns — a broad therapeutic scope backed by the bioavailability advantages of transdermal delivery. When you compare this against the second-place Carefree Relief Cream by Care Division and third-place Redemption Body Recovery Oil by Horn Creek Hemp, what distinguishes the George! CBD product is its accessible simplicity: a clean, uncluttered ingredient list centred on high-quality hemp extract.

Tinctures first place was taken by Rove Remedies' Sleep Tincture — a THC-free, California-formulated product containing Chamomile, 1,700mg CBD, and 300mg CBN. CBN (cannabinol) has accumulated a growing body of user evidence as a sleep-promoting cannabinoid, and pairing it at that ratio with CBD and Chamomile is genuinely thoughtful formulation. Second: Dream Sleep Aid Tincture by Care Division. Third: All Natural CBD Oil by Lifessence.

In Capsules, first place belonged to TayCo's R.S.O. Capsules — each containing 870mg of high-concentration, full-spectrum, whole-plant extract CBD in RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) format. RSO is typically derived from heavy indica strains and retains the complete chemical profile of the source plant: cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids intact. For patients seeking maximum entourage-effect dosing in a discreet, measured capsule format, TayCo's entry set the standard. Second: Vivimu #Relax CBN Softgels by Vivimu.

Pet Products and Delta-8 Categories: Expanding the Hemp Universe

The final three categories of the 2022 Hemp Cup reflected how broadly the hemp industry has expanded beyond human wellness alone — and how Delta-8 THC has carved out an entirely distinct competition tier of its own.

Pet Products first place went to Mary's Tails' Calm & Quiet Hemp Canine Chewables, each delivering 2mg of full-spectrum hemp extract containing naturally-occurring CBD. The formulation targets anxiety and restlessness in dogs without sedation — an important distinction for pet owners who want their animals calm but present. Second: Best Bud's Bacon-Flavoured CBD Dog Treats by Mary Palmer. Third: Peanut Butter CBD Calming Support Dog Chews by CBD Living.

Delta-8 Inhalables saw a strain name that needs no introduction rise to the top. Euphorica's Maui Wowie D8:D10 Sativa Vape won first place on the strength of its terpene fidelity — tropical fruit with background notes of pine and pepper, exactly as the classic Hawaiian sativa strain demands. The D8:D10 blend delivers a calming, centring energy lift that mirrors the original cultivar's legendary daytime suitability. Second: D8 Vape by Rove Remedies. Third: Sugar Extrax Lemonade Kush D8:D10:THC-O Vape by Sugar Extrax.

Delta-8 Non-Inhalables first place was claimed by Derived Creations' Chewy Sea Salt Caramels — hand-crafted at 25mg Delta-8 per piece, judged on taste, textural smoothness, and their reliably mild psychoactive effect with notable temporary anxiety relief. Second: Watermelon Delta 8 THC Gummies by 3Chi. Third: Delta 8 Peaches Interstellar Gummies by JustCBD.

• Pet Products 1st: Calm & Quiet Hemp Canine Chewables by Mary's Tails — 2mg full-spectrum hemp extract per chew
• Delta-8 Inhalables 1st: Maui Wowie D8:D10 Sativa Vape by Euphorica
• Delta-8 Non-Inhalables 1st: Chewy Sea Salt Caramels by Derived Creations — 25mg Delta-8 per piece

What the 2022 Hemp Cup Results Tell Us About Where Cannabis Is Heading

Across all twelve categories, three clear trends emerge from the 2022 Hemp Cup — People's Choice results.

First: craft genetics still win. FlowGardens' proprietary Blue Cheese #12 and Sweet Sensi's Improved Berry Blossom #17 Cigar both triumphed because of meticulous, small-batch cultivation — not volume. Consumers can taste the difference, and they voted accordingly. Second: novel cannabinoids are no longer niche. HHC appeared in both the Concentrates and Vape categories. Delta-8 filled two categories of its own. Delta-9 hemp edibles took the gummies crown. The landscape has fragmented productively, with each cannabinoid finding the format and consumer profile that suits it best. Third: formulation sophistication is accelerating. Live resin gummies, water-soluble drink mixes, CBN-forward sleep tinctures, and high-concentration RSO capsules all represent a level of product engineering that would have been rare five years ago.

For Canadian growers and buyers navigating their own craft hemp and cannabis market under the Cannabis Act framework, these results are instructive. The products that win people's choice competitions are the ones with the most honest relationship between strain genetics, processing method, and final consumer experience. A congrats is due to every winner, every entrant, every judge, and High Times for maintaining a competition that keeps raising the bar. For more cannabis culture, cultivation education, and strain deep-dives, explore the full Marijuana Lifestyle section — there's always more to learn, and the industry is moving fast enough that staying current pays off every harvest.