Budist Newsletter: Season of Sessions
Dear Friends,
Event season is officially underway, and this year we’re excited to expand one of our most popular ways of bringing people together: Budist Sessions. These curated tasting experiences are designed to deepen our collective appreciation of cannabis through expert-guided explorations of the plant’s aromas, flavors, and effects—all while creating meaningful connections with fellow enthusiasts, brands, and the broader Budist community.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be unveiling Sessions as an event series, and, as always, our goal is to bridge the gap between producers and consumers, transforming product education into memorable, real-world experiences. Throughout the year, we’ll be hosting Sessions at dispensaries, consumption lounges, and private venues across California, offering more opportunities than ever to engage with the insights, passion, and connoisseurship that drive our platform. We’re also excited to collaborate on other leading industry events, such as the Farmers Cup, Hall of Flowers, PuffDao, and California Cannabis Awards—all of which are featured in this month’s newsletter!
We’d love for you to join us. Keep an eye on our newsletter, events page, and social media for upcoming events near you—and come connect with the community that’s shaping the future of cannabis culture.
With Gratitude,
Jocelyn Sheltraw
Co-Founder & CEO
Featured Session
Last weekend we kicked off our Budist Sessions SoCal series with Big Spicy—a 4-course hash pairing dinner that explored the intersection of cannabis in Asian cuisine, culture and history. Our fellow Budists and cannabis chefs—Christina Wong and Wendy Zeng—led this incredible dining experience, and on March 23 we’re teaming up again to host our inaugural Blue Dream Tasting Party! This one-of-a-kind Budist Sessions offers a guided exploration of one of the most legendary cultivars in the world—Blue Dream—and for the first time ever you’ll have the chance to taste multiple expressions side by side, comparing how the terroir and cultivation techniques of 10 different brands shape its appearance, flavor and effect. Register today!
Farmers Cup Awards Sesh
Join Budist and over 80 cannabis brands and exhibitors at the Farmers Cup Awards Sesh on March 15—the first licensed cannabis event in the San Diego region! This groundbreaking event is taking place at the Moonlight Amphitheater in Vista CA, and features 8+ hours of live music, gourmet food vendors, and on-site cannabis sales & consumption. Budist is the official judging partner for the competition and we’ll be on-site to interview the award winners, sesh with the community, and participate in the award ceremony. We’ll also announce two lucky winners of the Best Judge Award—a first-ever Harvest Cup award that honors the judges who dedicate their talents to selecting the top products in each category. Visit the Farmers Cup Event Page to learn more and purchase tickets!
Hall of Flowers
Hall of Flowers returns to Ventura on March 19th and 20th, bringing together top brands, retailers, and industry leaders for two days of networking, discovery, and deal-making. Several members of the Budist team will be in attendance, and on Day 1, you can find Budist CEO Jocelyn Sheltraw at the Grown Women Good Weed (GWGW) activation in Booth 420 of the Outdoor Lounge. From noon to 2 PM, she’ll join other female leaders for an open conversation on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the future of cannabis. Purchase tickets here.
PuffDAO
Budist is thrilled to partner with PuffDAO for Buds & Bites, a 420 celebration in the heart of West Hollywood at the stunning PleasureMed dispensary, restaurant & lounge.This immersive farmers market-style experience will feature interactive brand activations and a curated “passport” journey, guiding guests through some of California’s leading cannabis brands, accompanied by yummy bites and beverages. Budist will be showcasing a special selection of top-rated products, with our cannabis sommeliers on hand to elevate the tasting experience. Mark your calendars for April 20th, and stay tuned for early-bird tickets and event details!
CA Cannabis Awards
Budist is thrilled to partner once again with Embarc and Fairplay Ventures for the 2025 California Cannabis Awards! As the trusted team powering the judging process alongside SC Labs, we’re inviting all California licensed brands to enter this historic competition. With over 150 Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals up for grabs, the California Cannabis Awards uses scientific testing and professional judging methods to celebrate the best of California cannabis. All entries are eligible for the coveted Golden Bear trophies—honoring agricultural excellence across the Golden State for over 170 years. Winners will also be featured in the State Fair’s educational cannabis exhibit and considered for on-site sales opportunities. Registration is now open for CA licensed cultivators and manufacturers—visit the official website to learn more!
Brand Sponsorship Opportunities
If you’re a brand looking to connect with engaged cannabis consumers through unique and transformative experiences, we’d love to collaborate. We have a limited number of sponsorship opportunities available for our upcoming Budist Sessions so contact us to learn more!