The 11th annual Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards (OMCA), held at the World Famous Cannabis Café in Portland, brought together medical cannabis growers, patients and caregivers from all over the state.

This year’s vendors included those who cater to the medical cannabis community along with a variety of goodies that cater to everyone. The free day event was open to the public and included a lawyers’ information panel, featuring Paul Loney, last year’s OMCA Freedom Fighter Award winner. The sustainable fashion show, coordinated by Nickie Gates was a fitting Grand Finale for the day.

“Every year we strive to make the day event better by having a wide variety at our Holiday Bazaar,” saids Madeline Martinez, owner of the cafe and innovator of the event. “This year, we decided to include specialties that are helpful to medical cannabis patients like baked goods and body care products. It’s very exciting!”

David Bram, creator of the scoring method used by the OMCA, is the first to learn the results. He created a bar code system that ensures anonymity. In all the years that he has done this, there has yet to be a breach of confidentiality, which has helped earn the OMCA it’s reputation.

11th Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards winners are:

Overall:

1st Place: Mad Scientist grown by Ray Bowser & Homegrown Natural Wonders

2nd Place: Grand Daddy Purple grown by Greg Bennett

3rd Place: Grape Ape grown by Jason Breazeale of Farmageddon

By Category:

Appearance: OrangeCream Soda by Homegrown Natural Wonders

Aroma: Pine Double Apple grown by Vanessa Martinez

Smoothness: TIE – Pine Double Apple grown by Vanessa Martinez & Touch of Grey grown by Homegrown Natural Wonders

Taste: Blue Dream by Hansen Farms Potency: OrangeCream Soda by Homegrown Natural Wonders

11th Oregon Medical Cannabis Awards Kush Creams High Class Bakery Sustainable Fashion Show ‹›

The evening kicked off with the announcement of the Dr. Rick Bayer and Freedom Fighter of the Year Awards. Paul Stanford and the Measure 80 Campaign crew, respectively, received the awards for their tireless efforts to pass the legalization initiative here in Oregon. Bill Appel, one of the chief petitioners of the measure, accepted the Freedom Fighter Award, saying, “We came so close. We will keep on fighting until we win. Thanks to Washington and Colorado, this will be easier now.”

After a fabulous dinner catered by the Headwaters Cafe, Jay Mack and Big Dub stopped by to perform new songs from their latest CD, Still Medicated, and some faves from their “Heavily Medicated” CD. It was an honor to have them; they have supported the cafe since it began. They have had some serious struggles lately, and the cafe will host a fundraiser for them on January 12, 3013.

Jessi, of Jessi James Gardens and the 2010 winner said, as she was leaving much later, “Every year, I say this is the best one so far, and that’s true for this one, too. Winning the OMCA has opened so many doors for us; we will always be grateful. It’s great to have this night to get together and celebrate our OMCA friends and family.”

Check out Mack and Dub live at the cafe: