On January 11th, the third annual Empire State Cannabis Cup brought nearly 500 cannabis enthusiasts, growers, and advocates together at the historic Clocktower Building on 31 Prospect Street in Amsterdam, New York. The event featured a dynamic lineup of educational booths, vendors, and innovators, all celebrating the progress of New York’s cannabis industry.
Organizers Robert Tambasco and Michelle Taylor have been instrumental in the event’s success and the broader growth of the local cannabis community. Robert, who started Yankee Seeds and an influential Facebook group several years ago, reflected on how his passion project has blossomed into a massive movement. Michelle provided insight into the competition, explaining the meticulous submission and judging process for the three categories: indoor flower, outdoor flower, and edibles. She personally handled the samples, ensuring every entry met the highest standards.
At the event, Mike Cohen from Kaycha Labs explained how every submission was tested for THC and terpene profiles, with extra points awarded for the highest ratings. Judges received packets containing samples, rolling papers, and instructions for using the Tetragram app, a popular, cannabis journaling tool created by Otha Smith, with support from CTO Julius Moore. The app replaced paper ballots used in previous years, allowing for a seamless, electronic judging process. Otha, who was on-site to assist, shared how the app helps patients track strains and their effects to better understand what works best for their needs.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin Mercucio of Chronicle Gardens Educational Institute, who highlighted the importance of cannabis education. Alongside co-founder Matt Moller, Kevin teaches classes on everything from living soil to cloning. Chronicle Gardens also operates a retail space on the Clocktower’s first floor, offering Yankee Seeds, Tree Leaf soil blends (crafted with local compost and worm castings), grow gear, and products supporting local farmers. Kevin emphasized their mission to provide the cleanest and most sustainable products, with Kaycha Labs playing a key role in quality assurance…