The global cannabis conversation reached a new frenzy last weekend with the 10,000-person Spannabis festival in Barcelona, Spain.
Top-ranked packs like Dying Breed Seeds OZ Kush, Peach Ringz, and Z 3.0 fetched 500 euros for 12 seeds. We’re busy adding dozens of new cultivars to the database. Watch along for more Day 1 and Day 2 highlights straight from the event and recorded live above Las Ramblas.
Live Recaps
More industry tips for decisionmakers
Cultivar news for store buyers
Z strains dominated flower and hash competitions. Wizard Trees’ booth was so packed you couldn’t get near it. RS-11 is hot. Zoap is hot. Leafly’s Strains and Products reporting is right on the money.
Extract news for hashmakers
The hash type of the moment is called piatella— a delicate, gooey solventless hash that is maximally terpy.
Legal market progress
California’s legal providers now serve 47% of that market, according to leading cannabis economist Beau Whitney. New York is at an appalling 4% penetration, which matches Spain under prohibition. Vangst releases the 2024 Jobs Report by Whitney and Bruce Barcott in two weeks.
Global market outlook for business development
Thailand is tightening back up after rapid commercialization engendered a backlash.
Germany is red-hot with decriminalization and medical advancements.
Shop highly rated dispensaries near you
Showing you dispensaries nearJudging from vape supply sales at Abstrax—markets that are warming up include Japan, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, Ecuador, and Argentina.
Prohibition markets are contributing as well. Britain and Italy are making names for themselves in hash and seeds ahead of legalization. It’s not binary. You have to be part of the underground now if you want to compete above ground later.
Cannabis is a field of infinite possibilities.
DJ Muggs, Cypress Hill, at the International Cannabis Business Conference
Global marketing
The cannabis genetics conversation is global and social. Hash trends circle the world in 30 days, due to social media, and the ease of shipping seeds or clones or counterfeiting a brand.
What’s your global marketing strategy? It has become table stakes for major flower and seeds brands to conduct international marketing campaigns. You’re either trying to keep pace with brands like Doja Pak, Terphogz, Alien Labs, and Mills Nutrients, or you are eating their dust.
Living soil in cultivation
Living soil is a wave. Jeff Lowenfels presented the latest research showing 40% of plant nitrogen coming not from the soil or bottles, but from cannabis plants cultivating and consuming bacteria. It’s called rhizophagy. A future of strain-specific beneficial bacterial inoculants is coming.
Seed technology
Seeds are getting easier. Regular male and female seeds are being replaced by feminized, autoflower, triploid, and stabilized lines. If you are in cultivation or extraction and don’t have a plan to take advantage of that technology—you will be outcompeted.
Meet the GastroBros
We learned the term “GastroBro”—a stoner who is also a big foodie. True marketing wins will fuse cannabis and culture like food, art, and music.
420 is going to be big in New York. The Astor Club is working with Archive Seeds on an awards show—The Billies—headlined by rapper Larry June. ‘How much did Larry June cost?’ we asked. “A lot. A lot.”
DJ Muggs’ words of wisdom
Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs— the closing speaker at the International Cannabis Business Conference—brought a message of optimism, authenticity, and grit.
“Cannabis is a field of infinite possibilities. It’s a struggle—a battle. It is what it is. Don’t be a little b*tch. The strong will survive. It’s not just get rich quick— those people will not survive.”
Leafly competition report: Spain 2024
By Matt Jackson
The main Spannabis conference includes a week-long run-up of contests thrown by brands and private clubs in Barcelona. Who won what is like the Rosetta Stone to getting stoned in 2024. Let’s take a look.
-Z continues to dominate the landscape in Europe with most entries including either a blend of Zkittlez or a straight offering of those sought-after terps, (see Leafly’s March Strain HighLight for more info on the Original Z).
-At the “Dabadoo”—where Hash legend Mila Jansen celebrates the competition’s 40th edition, Michigan’s The Baked Taters plowed through the pack and took home 1st in Rosin.
–Dochazed was involved in around six different wins this year, further cementing himself as a powerhouse in the Spanish hashmaking scene.
–The Real Cannabis Chris took home several wins across multiple competitions including The Organic Cup and Terp Tower Invitational for his Thailand Dreams, Wild Cherry and Dulce De Fresa blends.
-Humboldt County’s own Have Hash managed to secure first place at the prestigious Masters Of Rosin competition for their Zkittlez, along with Real Deal Resin whose version of Zkittlez took third place.
–The Spannabis Champions Cup saw everyone talking about Barcelona brand Neighbors’ living soil flower which won best sativa, as well as California’s Feeling Frosty Hash Co. who blew European judges away with their Zkittlez rosin, becoming possibly the only Americans to ever take first place at this event.
-At The Ego Clash, where European makers took home five of the nine prize-winning spots, the UK brought the house down by taking home both first and second place in the rosin category for Grateful Seeds’ ZHead and a Poochie’s Papaya.
-One of America’s favorite joint rollers Bruno Rolls came away with the best hashhole award at Munch and Roll Cup using a mix of Proper Doinks Flower and Swollen Heads Hash.
-This year’s Legends of Hashish saw another win for Trichome Tortoise and that purple Ze Boof Melt.
-In the Auto Flower World Cup, Humboldt Seed Company secured best Indica for Mint Jelly, and the judges named Sweet Seeds’ “Diablo Rojo XL” (Dark Devil Auto x Strawberry Cola Auto), as the new auto flower strain of the year.
-Of the top ten Sativa selections from this year’s Spannabis Champions Cup, Selva Club in Barcelona took home four spots.
Spannabis 2024 contest winners list
*Apologies to anyone whose info we couldn’t find through the event organizers at the time of publishing.
Compiled by Matt Jackson
ROSIN
1st – The Baked Taters “Strawberry Melons”
2nd – Hisens Crew “Manzana Postobon”
3rd – The Real Cannabis Chris “Thailand Dreams”
ICE WATER HASH
1st – Ciubyyy “ZAP” (Grease Monkey x Zkittlez)
2nd – Gastown Fire – “Tallymon x Banana Punch”
3rd – The Real Cannabis Chris “Wild Cherry”
DRY SIFT
1st – The House of Great Gardener “Sweet Peach”
2nd – Dutch Passion “Melonade Runtz”
3rd – Trichome Science & Serious Seeds “Serious Lemon Plant”
SOLVENT
1st – Colombian Dabber & Terpene Apothecary “ Grape Sorbet”
2nd – Nature’s Lab “Glitterbomb” Live Resin
3rd – Refined Lab Group “Durban Poison”
1st – Trichome Tortoise “Ze Boof”
2nd – Swollen Heads “Banana Cooler”
3rd – Zure Farms – Elite Cut – R-Kiem Seeds – “Bananaz”
ROSIN
1st – Single Sorcery “Z Head” from Grateful Seeds
2nd – London Organix “Poochie’s Papaya”
3rd – Secret Society Hash Co. “Zkittlez”
HASH
1st – Bud Professor “Melon Ball” (Papaya x Devil Driver)
2nd – The Real Cannabis Chris “Baja Surf Break AKA Thailand Dreams”
3rd – Santa Hash “Cap Junky” from Marijuantuak Gardens
FLOWER
1st – La Chanvrerie “Sunsetz”
2nd – The Zombie Farmer “ZLime”
3rd – Pure And Proper “Kamikaze”
SIFT
1st – Roo Labs
2nd – Femme Fatale
3rd – The Uncle Jack
1st – Have Hash “Zkittlez” from Royal Budline
2nd – We Flowers “G-Limez”
3rd – Real Deal Resin “Zkittlez”
SATIVA DOMINANT
1st – The Ganjaneer “Apricot” by Fast Buds
2nd – Mephisto Genetics “Dosidelerium”
3rd – Fuegobud “Delicious Cookies” by Delicious Seeds
INDICA DOMINANT
1st – Humboldt Seed Company “Mint Jelly”
2nd – Weedydi Bobbidi Boo “Oh My Gushers” by Dutch Passion
3rd – Seed Stockers “Tropical Zmoothie”
BEST NEW STRAIN
1st – Greenforce “Diablo Rojo XL” by Sweet Seeds
2nd – Sebastian Phil Good “Papaya Cookies” by Fast Buds
3rd – Breadandbuds “HighCLoudZ” by Greenhouse Seeds
BEST CBD
Mateo Aznar “Blueberry” by CBDAlchemy
BEST SEED BANK
Mephisto Genetics (voted online)
INDICA
1st – Mile High Dave “Colorado Cherries” (Dante’s Inferno #6) by Clearwater Genetics
2nd – Selva Club “Banana Cooler”
3rd – The Plug “Zhessy” (ZOZ x Barbara’s Bud x Jessy’s Juice)
SATIVA
1st – Hasher Club & Neighbors “Tropaya BX” by Oni
2nd – GWA “ZOZ”
3rd – Selva Club “Tea Time #26”
ROSIN
1st – Feeling Frost Hash “Zkittlez”
2nd – Dochazed, The Zombie Farmer, Brothers In Farm Growshop “ZLime”
3rd – Slite23 “Grape Gas”
HASH
1st – Zure Farms “Bananaz”
2nd – GWA “Rapple / OZK Blend”
3rd – We Flowers “Peach n’ Limed”
CBD FLOWER
1st – Gemelli Forte “Ferrari OG”
2nd – Research Development Cannabinoid “Sweet Pihaze”
3rd – WeNeed “Mela Sour”
-JUDGES PICKS-
INDICA
Sticky Buds “Highribo” (Mendocino Chanel Kush x Strawberries and Cream)
ROSIN
Slite23 “Grape Gas”
HASH
Zure Farms – Elite Cut – R-Kiem Seeds “BananaZ” (Zkittlez x Banana Sherbet)
ROLLING PAPERS
1st – Raw
2nd – Elements
3rd – Lion Rolling Circus
PORTABLE VAPE
1st – Davinci
2nd – Puffco
3 – PAX
SEED BANK/BREEDER
1st – Royal Queen Seeds
2nd – Humboldt Seed Co.
3rd – Barney’s Farm
NUTRIENTS
1st – Biobizz
2nd – CANNA
3rd – Playgron
INDUSTRY PIONEER AWARD
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS BRAND AWARD
Luis Pinheiro (Biobizz)
INTERNATIONAL WOMAN TRAILBLAZER OF THE YEAR
SOCIAL CONTENT CREATOR OF THE YEAR
PODCAST OF THE YEAR
CULTIVATING COMMUNITY AWARD
CANNABIS MEDIA PIONEER AWARD
Moises Lopez revista Cañamo
INTERNATIONAL SEED PIONEER AWARD
FLOWER
1st – Champion Seeds “Karel x Face Off”
2nd – Club Standard Bio “Rainbow Chip”
3rd – Selva Club “Permanent Marker”
TRADITIONAL HASH
1st – Weed You & Omnia Farm “Maracuja”
2nd – Weed You & Omnia Farm “Orange Groove BX”
3rd – One Love Breeder “Potito”
ROSIN
1st – The Real Cannabis Chris “Dulce De Fresca”
2nd – Raiders of The Lost Terps “F2 Zkittlez x Banana Punch”
3rd – The Real Cannabis Chris “Wild Cherry”
FULL MELT
1st – Fire House Barcelona – Dochazed – Mystikz Flowers – Mycelium Rootz “Banana Pinez” (Banalima / Forbidden Blueprint / Peach Tree)
2nd – Weed You & Dochazed “Dosi Papaya x (strawnana x cookies n’ cream)” by Wooksauce Winery
3rd – French Touch Seeds “Dee Dee”
FLOWER
2nd – Weed You “Trop Cherry”
TRADITIONAL HASH
1st – Weed You & Omnia Farm “Orange Groove BX”
2nd – Weed You & Omnia Farm “Maracuja”
MELT
1st – The Real Cannabis Chris “Baja Surf Break AKA Thailand Dreams”
2nd – Weed You & Dochazed “Sunset Guava / Limez”
ROSIN
1st – The Real Cannabis Chris “Dulce De fresa”
ROSIN
1st – Dochazed & Jungle Club “Fruitland #11 by Nuggs420
3rd – Alto Jardin “Raimbow Belts 2.0”
WATER HASH
2nd – Alto Jardin “Raimbow Belts 2.0”
MELT
1st – Dochazed & Jungle Club “Peach n’ Lime / Banalima” cold cured 90/140 single source
Munch and Roll CUP
BAKED
1st – La Pâtisserie Cannabique
2nd – Cannateria
3rd – Green Sins
CHOCOLATES
1st – Cannateria
SAUCES/CREMES
1st – Cannateria
FRESH MADE
1st – Cannateria
SWEETS
1st – Cannateria
2nd – Dulces Cookies Weed
3rd – Fudge This x Ex-Tractor
DRINKS
1st – Los Porritos
2nd – We Flowers & Squirt Syrup
3rd – Think Different
RESIN VAPE
ROSIN VAPE
ASH HOLES
–Bruno Rolls with ProperZ by Proper Doinks and ZHead by Swollen Heads from Grateful Seeds
INFUSED ROLLS
Seaside Farms “Lobster Sticks”
FLOWER PREROLL
Badalonia Organic Club “Frosted Onionz” Grateful Seeds Breeders Cut
