Don Merfos
16 posts

Don Merfos
@donmerfoss
catch us at our next upcoming events ! Zalympix May 30th & Maryjane Berlin June 11-14






Judgment Day: The First High Times Cannabis Cup🏆 🌍 Cup Origins, Where the High began: In November 1988, the 1st @HIGH_TIMES_Mag Cannabis Cup took place in Amsterdam. A small gathering at the time, it laid the foundation for global cannabis competitions & legitimized connoisseur culture. ✊ From NorCal to Worldwide: Its roots trace back to 1970s Northern CA harvest fests, where growers quietly compared buds despite legal risks. These outlaw meetups proved there was demand for standards and recognition. ✈️ Why Amsterdam: The Netherlands had tolerated weed since 1976, & by ’88, over 100 coffeeshops operated in Amsterdam. It was the only city where a public cannabis contest could happen w/out legal interference. 👨⚖️ A Three-Person Jury: Steven Hager, Dr. Indoors, & a High Times photographer formed the judging panel. No fanfare or public vote — just 3 insiders evaluating unmarked samples on burn, taste, & effect. ⚗️ Skunk #1 Wins: Cultivators Choice Skunk #1 took top honors — a stabilized hybrid blending Colombian Gold, Acapulco Gold, & Afghani. With 15% THC, it stood out for its potency and sweet, pungent nose — rare for the era. 🏨 Park Hotel Origins: The Cup happened in a quiet conference room at the Park Hotel w fewer than 50 people. Cultivators Choice’s sample arrived mid-event by motorcycle courier — an unscripted moment that became part of Cup lore. 🧪 Defining Quality: This 1st Cup introduced a structured way to evaluate cannabis: aroma, flavor, potency, burn quality, & visual appeal. These criteria helped shape how we still judge flower today. 📰 Global Spotlight: @HIGH_TIMES_Mag covered the event in its February ’89 issue, boosting magazine sales by 20% & spotlighting Amsterdam as a cannabis destination. The Cup gave underground weed a platform — & a passport. ⚖️ Lasting Impact: The 1988 Cup proved cannabis could be organized, judged, & celebrated like wine or coffee — not just criminalized. It became a model for how legal markets could function before legalization existed. - nugg|notes🪴






