Harvest Cup brings cannabis growers, suppliers and enthusiasts together

WORCESTER, Mass. — Home growers of cannabis turned out this weekend in Worcester to compete for the Harvest Cup.

The competition and convention hosted at the DCU Center was organized by the Massachusetts Grower Advocacy Council partly as a way to raise money for lobbying efforts on behalf of legalized cannabis.

Clinton Bradshaw of Rogues Island Genetics in Rhode Island took home the top award in the Harvest Cup for his topical salve called “Sweet Re-Leaf.” The topical ointment won its category and beat out flowers and edibles to take home the overall top prize.

Cannabis-infused lotions can be absorbed for localized pain relief or inflammation, but don't produce the intense high you'd get by smoking it.

MORE: Cannabis cafes may be in Massachusetts' future

Also at the convention, a group of growers from Boston rolled a 100-foot long joint. That record-setting attempt was organized by Beantown Greentown, which calls itself a cannabis culture club.

The Harvest Cup was a chance for cannabis fans, growers and suppliers to mingle before retail sales roll out next summer.

Some medical marijuana dispensaries were also present to show off their supply.

Recreational sales regulations are still being drafted by the Cannabis Control Commission. The first draft is due by the end of the month.

MORE: Cannabis regulators busy rolling out the rules for legal pot

Cox Media Group