Emerald Cup 2024: Behind the Scenes at a Celebration of Cannabis Culture in Oakland

OAKLAND — Last month, the Emerald Cup 2024, a premier event in the cannabis community, took place at the historic Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this iconic event honors cannabis culture, advocacy, and innovation against a backdrop rich in history, having hosted legendary performances by The Doors and The Grateful Dead and notable speeches by Martin Luther King Jr.

A Historic Venue

The Kaiser Convention Center provided a fitting venue for this year’s Emerald Cup, combining its storied past with a vibrant present. The space’s legacy of groundbreaking performances and speeches created an inspiring setting for the celebration of cannabis culture.

20 Years of the Emerald Cup

Founded by Tim Blake in 2004, the Emerald Cup has become a cornerstone of the cannabis community. Tim, alongside his daughter Taylor Blake, has steered the event through two decades of growth and change. During the event, Tim Blake addressed the industry’s current challenges, stating, “We are going through an extinction event in cannabis,” highlighting the dramatic decline in the number of cannabis companies due to excessive taxation and over-regulation in California.

Urbana’s Key Role

Local retailer Urbana played a significant role in the event, managing the end-to-end cannabis inventory and sales through their cannabis license. Their prominent stand featured a popular claw crane game with cannabis product prizes, drawing large crowds.

Trip Mekki, one of Urbana’s managers, shared her enthusiasm, “Working in Oakland in cannabis means you’re close to the source of the cannabis movement, close to the OGs who visited this year’s event, and close to the Emerald Triangle where cannabis was traditionally cultivated for decades in California.”

Trip Mekki and Mark Collins, President of Highly Capitalized, on the floor of the Cup, conducting their interview next to the fun behind the scenes at Urbana’s Emerald Cup booth. 

Find our Highly Capitalized Network interview with Trip Mekki here. 

Marty Higgins, CEO of Urbana, expressed his pride in his team’s crucial role.

“We were honored to provide end-to-end inventory and sales management for the Emerald Cup. While the Emerald Cup created community, our nearby Urbana consumption lounges will sustain it. These lounges will feature music, talks, and other social community events, embodying our commitment to fostering a vibrant cannabis community.”

Find our Highly Capitalized Network interview Marty Higgins here. 

In addition to their involvement in the Emerald Cup, Urbana is set to open a new flagship retail store and consumption lounge in Oakland at the site of the popular former restaurant Luka’s. This new location represents a significant expansion for Urbana, with Marty Higgins emphasizing that it is a testament to their commitment to the future of cannabis culture in Northern California.

Derek Dauchan, Urbana’s official Ambassador, also praised the event, saying, “It’s all about community at the Emerald Cup. Afterwards, come on down to keep the spirit of community going in our new dispensary opening next month on the site of Luka’s, the renowned Oakland eatery and landmark.”

Find our Highly Capitalized Network interview with Derek Dauchan here.

Top Winners from the Emerald Cup 2024

The Emerald Cup 2024 showcased outstanding entries across various categories. Here are some of the top winners:

– Best Flower: Mendo Dope – Headies

– Best Pre-Roll: Holy Water x Good Pizza x CGO – Fugazi x Tractor Fuel Hash Hole

– Best Edible – Sweet: Oui’d Confections x ST6R x Huckleberry Hill Farms – Blackberry Limeade Soft Chew

– Best Edible – Gummies: Ay Papi x ST6R x Huckleberry Hill Farms – Whitethorn Rose Single Origin Live Rosin Infused Gummies

– Best Cannabis Edible Beverage: Blaze Mota x Cheech’s Stash – Cheeche’lada

The Cultural Impact

The Emerald Cup is more than an industry event; it’s a celebration of cannabis culture and its rich history. This year’s event paid tribute to the pioneers of the cannabis movement while spotlighting future innovations and community-building efforts.

Looking Ahead

As the Emerald Cup continues to evolve, it remains a vital platform for celebrating cannabis culture, advocating for industry advancements, and fostering community. The 2024 event underscored the resilience and creativity of the cannabis community, affirming the Emerald Cup’s role as a symbol of the enduring spirit and progress of the cannabis industry.

Special Thanks and For More Information

A special thanks to the team at Urbana for their pivotal role in making the Emerald Cup 2024 a success. The Highly Capitalized Network is proud to be a partner of Urbana and a media partner of the Emerald Cup. We were there to conduct interviews for our popular Highly Capitalized Network newsletter. 

To learn more about the Emerald Cup, visit their website at www.theemeraldcup.com. 

For more information on Urbana, check out their information deck: here. Urbana is currently raising funds to support the opening of their new store in Oakland. To find out more, contact them at [email protected].

About Urbana: New Oakland Dispensary and Lounge

Urbana is one of California’s most progressive cannabis dispensary brands and the operator of two award-winning retail locations in San Francisco, in the popular Inner Richmond and Mission Districts. Urbana proudly announces a third retail location joins their family of Bay-area dispensary lounges in August 2024, now in the heart of Oakland’s eclectic commercial and entertainment district.

Since first opening in 2016 as Harvest and then transforming to Urbana in 2019, their stores have continually changed how customers shop for and enjoy cannabis. With bright and open retail spaces and beautiful on-site consumption lounges, Urbana attracts consumers from all walks of life looking for a safe and modern way to buy premium cannabis products. Voted one most beautiful dispensaries in America, a top-10 dispensary in Northern California, and “one the best dispensaries to visit with your Mom,” Urbana is proud to announce the expansion of their hospitality-rich service and commitment to serving the community.

Visit Urbana online to get directions or delivery, and browse their selections, rewards and events at www.urbananow.com. Learn more about Urbana’s renowned dispensary consumption lounges by downloading their deck here. 

Visit Urbana Oakland
Visit Urbana’s premiere dispensary and lounge at 415 W. Grand Ave, Oakland, to discover the best social cannabis lounge and retail experience in the city. Enjoy premium cannabis products in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

Contact Urbana:
Marty Higgins
Founder and CEO, Urbana
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.urbananow.com

Media Contact:
Highly Capitalized Network
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.highlycapitalized.com