Essie Awards (New Mexico's Cannabis Awards, Kurple Magazine)
A short look at the Essie Awards, New Mexico's cannabis awards, set up in 2017 by Kurple Magazine. The 2024 and 2025 editions were held at the El Rey Theater in Albuquerque.
- 154results on record
- 2023–2025years in our data
- 3editions
- 44matched to strains
- Albuquerque, NMlatest location
01Beginnings
The Essie Awards are described as New Mexico's cannabis awards. Kurple Magazine set them up in 2017.1
The sources do not say why the magazine started the awards, who ran the first one, or where it took place.
02The story so far
The one source we have gives two recent editions. The 7th annual Essie Awards happened on April 7, 2024, at the El Rey Theater in Albuquerque.1
The 8th annual followed on April 6, 2025, at the same venue.1
The sources do not say what the early years looked like, or how the show changed between 2017 and 2024.
03Culture and community
The 2025 edition was an adults-only event, for ages 21 and over.1
The sources do not say what the categories are, how entries are judged, or who takes part. They also do not describe what the event is like.
04Where it stands now
The most recent edition the sources list is the 8th annual, held on April 6, 2025, at the El Rey Theater in Albuquerque.1
The sources do not name any winners, and give no entry numbers or attendance figures.
05What comes next
The sources do not say anything about a 2026 edition, or about plans for future dates or venues.
One thing to watch: the same source also lists other New Mexico cannabis events, such as the New Mexico Growers Cup, the New Mexico Legacy Cup and the Kurple Kup. These are separate events, and this page does not cover them.
The results, in our data
CannaLib holds 154 results from this cup across 3 years (2023 to 2025), 44 of them matched to a strain in the catalogue.
Recent first-place strains
| Year | Strain | Category | Entrant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Peaches And Dream | Best Cartridge Distillate | Elevated |
| 2024 | Cap Junky | Best Cartridge Live Resin | Higher Cultures |
| 2024 | Gorilla Treats | Best Cartridge Live Rosin | Nero by Pharmers Quality Concentrates |
| 2024 | Sour Cane | Best Hash (Ice Water/Bubble) | OLIO |
| 2024 | Lemon Tree | Best Caviar/Terp Sauce | OLIO X Gasd Up Exotics |
| 2024 | Kandy Kush | Best Diamonds | Herbal Edibles & Extracts |
| 2024 | Cherry Punch | Best Live Resin | Olio |
| 2024 | Toronja | Best Live Rosin Jam | Alabastra X New Mexico High Grade |
| 2024 | Strawnana | Best Specialty Extract | Urban Wellness |
| 2024 | Sensi Star | Best Indica Flower | Taos Mountain Grown |
| 2024 | Sub Zero | Best Sativa Flower | Urban Wellness |
| 2024 | Red Runtz | Best Hybrid Flower | Prohibition 37 |
| 2024 | Super Boof | Best THC Preroll | Green Fuego |
| 2024 | Gucci Links | Best THC Pre Roll Keif/Infused | Urban Wellness |
Editions on record
- 2023 · Albuquerque, NM
- 2024 · Albuquerque, NM (El Rey Theater)
Sources
Written from the sources above and checked on 2026-11-08. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.