Jeremy Norrie - Cup Curator
Mostly known for hosting and writing the judging criteria for events like The Secret Cup and Chalice California, Jeremy has been a veteran in the medical cannabis industry since its inception in California and has written for magazines like Treating Yourself Medical Journal and Skunk Magazine. He was a vital part of the teams who won the High Times Cannabis Cup Best Product Awards with the first dabbing tools in 2009 and 2012.
As cup curator, Jeremy Norrie and our team are busy working on all the details of the event, leading up to day we will celebrate the winners. With Jeremy’s experience as the ‘man in charge’, combined together with his work as a film director & producer, you can be sure that our final event is going to absolutely dope, you won’t wanna miss it!
Autoflowers have been around for over a decade now, and watching them evolve and advance has been an amazing and beautiful journey for everyone involved in this very special community of the cannabis world. All the years of passion and dedication put into autoflowering genetics has greatly paid off, and nowadays, autos can easily match photoperiodic plants and tick off all the important boxes - hefty yields and high THC/CBD potency, with terpene profiles to match.
We’ve seen all the hard work that breeders and growers alike have put into their strains and cultivations and we thought it was high time for the hard work to be rewarded by organising an exciting cannabis cup exclusive to autoflowering cannabis. The American Autoflower Cup is all about bringing together the best of the best in the auto world and seeing exactly what 2025 has to offer. There are multiple categories to compete in, with top awards going to:
If you’ve been dreaming of becoming an autoflower cannabis cup winner then here’s your chance! Registering is as simple as a few clicks of the mouse and keyboard. It’s your time to shine and show off your hard work: whether you’re a seedbank, commercial grower, or a have a small scale personal grow, we welcome you to participate with your amazing autoflowers.
Each category will be thoroughly reviewed with judges sampling each entry before rating the bag appeal, terpene profile, and overall effect. There will be an amazing variety of prizes for all of the categories’ winners.
Jump on board, and join us in sunny California for the first American Autoflower Cup in 2025!!
The American Autoflower Cup (AAC) is an elite cannabis competition held in the United States that showcases and awards the best autoflowering strains from around the world. It’s open to participants worldwide, offering national and international seed banks, grow stores, individuals, and collaborative growers the opportunity to bring their best autoflower breeds to the table.
This premier international contest brings out the best of the best, shining the spotlight on the best breeders, highest quality genetics, and revolutionary advancements in the autoflower industry. By making the AAC open to participants worldwide, it successfully drives the global movement of quality autoflower cannabis cultivation.
Focusing exclusively on the specific characteristics and challenges of breeding autoflowers - including recessive genetics, phenotype stability, preserving desired traits, and maximizing yields — the AAC gives successful autoflower breeders the recognition they deserve for the advanced skills and scientific understanding necessary to create high-quality autoflowering strains.
Each entry goes through meticulous inspection, with a judging system that includes the evaluation and analysis of industry experts and independent laboratory testing to ensure quality and safety. By doing this, the AAC sets the highest standards for quality, transparency, and dedication to professionalism in the autoflower industry.
Winners of the America Autoflower Cup don’t just attract international attention. Securing a win at the Cup creates the strong foundation necessary for brands or breeders that intend to become autoflower industry leaders, exposing them to new buyers, markets, and media sources. Creating an autoflower variety that wins the AAC is one of the highest honors in the industry, highlighting breeding mastery, innovation, discipline, and uncompromised commitment to shaping the future of the global cannabis market.
Selecting American Autoflower Cup winners is a meticulous process, where each entry is evaluated with rigorous standards that blend the insight of industry experts with strict scientific analysis. Combining a panel of expert judges deeply rooted in the cannabis industry with state-of-the-art lab testing ensures only the highest quality cultivars rise to the top.
Every autoflower entered in the AAC undergoes mandatory third-party lab testing before it’s evaluated by judges. These independent lab tests verify the potency of each entry by evaluating cannabinoid levels (THC, CBD, etc), as well as strict screens that detect the presence of potentially harmful substances like pesticides, heavy metals, mold, mildew, and mycotoxins.
This meticulous process ensures pure and safe autoflower entries are evaluated by the AAC’s expert panel of judges. But it doesn’t just ensure strain safety and quality — it also plays a major role in safeguarding the health of the judges. Any entries that are contaminated or non-compliant are eliminated from competition before the judging phase.
The American Autoflower Cup’s judging panel is made up of distinguished cannabis breeders, cannabis cultivation experts, professional lab technicians, and respected industry journalists. Each judge brings years of experience in the cannabis industry - including in evaluation of different phenotypes, development of strains, and product testing, which sets the highest quality standards for the introduction of the world’s best autoflower strains.
Any breeder, grower, or seed company working with autoflower genetics can submit entries for consideration. The Cup is open to participants worldwide, encouraging global innovation in autoflower cannabis cultivation.
The Cup features awards across multiple categories, including:
Each entry goes through a blind evaluation of visual, sensory, and effects, which primarily include appearance, aroma, taste, and the overall experience.
Other factors autoflowers are judged on can include cure quality and how smooth a strain smokes.
The American Autoflower Cup is held annually, with competition location and judges varying each year to reflect its commitment to international cannabis innovation. The last competition, held in May 2025 in Los Angeles, California at beTRUE Los Angeles - LA’s premier creative space and event venue - was the 3rd American Autoflower Cup.
Keep in mind, this elite event isn’t a huge cannabis festival like the Cannabis Cup — it’s a private and exclusive event with cannabis industry professionals. Sponsorship opportunities are available for companies and brands who want to network, expand, and reach potential investors. If you’re interested in presenting your brand through the American Autoflower Cup’s social media channels, introducing your product to award ceremony visitors, contact the AAC for more information as soon as possible to secure your spot. For more information please contact us as soon as possible to guarantee your spot: [email protected]
