The smell of marijuana was ubiquitous at The Errl Cup over the weekend in Tempe.

Patients came to Tempe from around the state to sample flower and concentrates from local dispensaries and caregivers, to enjoy live music and an onsite glass-blowing demonstration, and to see awards presented for best products and services.

A sizable turnout of patients from around the state wait in line to attend the Errl Cup.

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Testing was a focus of the event. Patients eagerly pored over the results of C4 Laboratories’ analysis of the products that were entered and secret-shopped from around the state.

EXPAND Part of the collection of samples that were entered and secret-shopped from around the state. Nate Nichols

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“You can’t understand or quantify the medicinal benefits of a product unless you know what cannabinoids and terpenes are in it,” said Ryan Treacy, chief operating officer of C4 Laboratories. “There can also be potentially harmful substances, such as fungicides, pesticides, growth regulators, and concentrates' residual solvents. All these things need to be considered. People need to know what’s in their medicine before it goes in their bodies.”

EXPAND Ryan Treacy CEO of C4 Laboratories stands next to the table of samples his company analyzed for the event. Nate Nichols

Treacy said this type of accountability is lacking in the current medical-marijuana market in Arizona.

“We need to be more transparent with patients," Treacy said. "Patients shouldn’t just have to trust what a dispensary or caregiver says. It should be proven with an independent test.”

EXPAND A glassblowing demonstration at the Chameleon Glass booth. Nate Nichols

Treacy also pointed out that testing is already mandatory in more mature markets such as Colorado and Washington.

Errl Cup awards were given based on the testing as well as the preferences of judges and a few randomly selected patients. A full list of award winners can be seen below.

EXPAND A street artist creates Errl Cup inspired art. Nate Nichols

Dispensary: Most Knowledgeable

1. Monarch Dispensary & Wellness Center

2. Nature’s AZ Medicines

3. Urban Greenhouse

Dispensary: Best Customer Service

1. The Downtown Dispensary

2. Yavapai Herbal Services

3. The Giving Tree

EXPAND Patients examine a unit used to produce marijuana extracts at the Terpp Extractor booth. Nate Nichols

Dispensary: Best Environment

1. Nature’s AZ Medicines

2. Herbal Wellness Center

3. Health For Life

Dispensary: Best Sativa Flower

1. Monarch Dispensary & Wellness Center

2. Sunflower Meds

3. TruMed

EXPAND Earl Cup organizer, Jim Morrison (right) and another cup volunteer reveal The Errl Cup Winners. Nate Nichols

Dispensary: Best Indica Flower

1. Herbal Wellness Center

2. Kind Meds

3. Health For Life

Dispensary: Best Solvent Based Sativa Extract

Nature’s AZ Medicines

Dispensary: Best Indica Solvent Based Extract

Yavapai Herbal Services

EXPAND A volunteer sells Errl Cup merchandise. Nate Nichols

Dispensary: Best Indica Non Solvent Extract

Herbal Wellness Center

Dispensary: Best High CBD Concentrate

Nature’s AZ Medicines

Dispensary: Best Sativa Vape Pen

Yavapai Herbal Services

EXPAND Jason Medar (center) and other Arizonans for Mindful Regulation volunteers collect signatures for their ballot initiative. Nate Nichols

Dispensary: Best Indica Vape Pen

Herbal Wellness Center

Caregiver: Best Sativa Flower

1 Advanced Organic Consultant

2 Sweet Leaf Farms

3 TVR LLC

EXPAND Local band Something Like Seduction performs on the main stage. Nate Nichols

Caregiver: Best Indica Flower

1 Advanced Organic Consultants

2 Sweet Leaf Farms

3 Sweet Leaf Farms

Caregiver: Best Solvent Based Extract

Omnipotent Extract

Caregiver: Best Non Solvent Extract

TVR LLC

