Dive into Kaya Cast each week for candid conversations with the visionaries shaping the cannabis landscape. We sit down with industry trailblazers to uncover their hard-earned insights and incredible experiences—arming retail entrepreneurs with the know-how and motivation to build a cannabis business they'll love.
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Dive into Kaya Cast each week for candid conversations with the visionaries shaping the cannabis landscape. We sit down with industry trailblazers to uncover their hard-earned insights and incredible experiences—arming retail entrepreneurs with the know-how and motivation to build a cannabis business they'll love.
Building the “Oscars of Cannabis” — Inside Best in Grass
Kaya Cast
40 minutes
1 month ago
Building the “Oscars of Cannabis” — Inside Best in Grass
In this episode of Kaya Cast, host Tommy Truong sits down with Mark Kazinec, founder of Best in Grass, to share the founding story behind the cannabis competition that puts everyday consumers in the judging chair. Mark traces his path from traditional marketing and High Times to building a nationwide, consumer‑driven awards platform that makes cannabis contests inclusive, transparent, and data‑rich. He explains how the pandemic sparked the shift from the exclusive Cannabis Cup model to a People’s Choice format with thousands of judges across states, and how Best in Grass pairs brand validation with retailer activation and an Oscars‑style awards gala. We break down the mechanics: how judge kits work, the two month judging window, QR coded packaging, and the scoring rubric that captures aesthetics, aroma, effects, and terpene notes, plus demographic insights. Mark also details the retailer advantage, including exclusive store participation, in‑store assets, judge credits that drive post show traffic and loyalty, and how the program scales across 10 states and counting. The conversation covers the tech roadmap, from a Yelp‑like platform to reviews and recommendations, and how brand data helps improve products and how stores discover winning products. If you’re a cannabis brand or retailer seeking honest feedback, measurable results, and real world exposure, this episode offers a practical, behind‑the‑scenes look at Best in Grass and what’s next for the team.
Find out more about Best in Grass at: https://bestingrass.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-kazinec-3148b82b/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/bestingrass/
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:15 Mark's Background and Career Journey 01:10 Transition to High Times and People's Choice Model 03:49 Founding Best in Grass 05:22 Challenges and Successes of Best in Grass 15:54 Building a Tech Platform and Expanding 22:03 Loyalty Program and Award Show Benefits 23:58 Retailer Kit Sales and Distribution 26:21 Brand Participation and Benefits 32:44 Judging Process and Consumer Involvement 37:53 Upcoming Events and Expansion Plans
Dive into Kaya Cast each week for candid conversations with the visionaries shaping the cannabis landscape. We sit down with industry trailblazers to uncover their hard-earned insights and incredible experiences—arming retail entrepreneurs with the know-how and motivation to build a cannabis business they'll love.
