SOMERSET — Solar Therapeutics and South Kingstown, R.I.-based theFarmacist have partnered up to create the first-ever Massachusetts Cultivator’s Cup that will also feature a day of live music with hip-hop legends Cypress Hill and Method Man and Redman.
Jordan Carlson, founder of theFarmacist, has hosted three other successful cultivator cups of medical marijuana: two in Rhode Island and one in Jamaica. This upcoming cup will also be the first to feature recreational marijuana.
Marketing cannabis brands through event
“There is no way to market cannabis brands authentically,” Carlson says. “This is a way to bring all the growers together and support a community. There is disparaging thoughts between homegrown and dispensary cannabis and this event will highlight the ones that are doing it good in the dispensary world.”
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The concept of the Cultivator’s Cup is to “be the crown jewel of cannabis tourism. We want this to be a platform where people can gather to celebrate cannabis culture, products, licensed cultivators, as well as local makers and artists,” Carlson asserts.
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Edward Dow, Solar’s CEO, acknowledges the importance of celebrating the industry “in a safe environment” in order to “empower our consumers.”
Derek Gould, director of marketing and communications at Solar, also worked in the cannabis industry in Rhode Island, and linked up with Carlson for the event when he moved to Massachusetts.
Cultivator Cup judge kits will be available in August
The event was initially slated for last year, but like everything else, COVID forced them to postpone.
Gould says that the town of Somerset has continued their support of the event.
“The town has been great, and they’ve been working with us since last year,” Gould says. “We want to give back to the community, have something good here in Somerset.”
Judge kits will be available at Solar Therapeutics starting in August. Each kit contains 28 individual 1-gram of flower. Individuals who are interested in participating should know that they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. These kits and the users will ultimately be the blind judges that will choose the winner of the Cultivator’s Cup.
Cannabis VIP award ceremony planned for Sept. 3
The event will take place over two days. The first day will be a private, VIP award ceremony to announce the winner of the Cultivator’s Cup. The second day will be a full-day, 21+, general admission event for the entire community to enjoy local food truck fare, cocktails provided by the American Legion, and, of course, live music, culminating in the performance of Cypress Hill and Method Man and Redman.
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Carlson also owns the TetraHydro Club, a members-only social club located in Wakefield, Rhode Island. He recognizes there may be feelings of anxiety or skepticism among residents about the Cultivators Cup, but insists that every event he has ever hosted has been peaceful.
“The community we bring together is a really peaceful one,” Carlson said. “In eight years, no police have been called to our establishment, nor have any situations arisen at any of our shows.”
Carlson says that the Somerset Police and Fire Departments are involved and there will be a police detail.
“This is good for the cannabis community,” Gould says. “People need this, coming out of COVID.”
Cultivator’s Cup will be held on the Solar site at 1400 Brayton Point Road. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.cultivatorscup.eventbrite.com.
