Despite dank weather, about 10,000 folks were stoked to toke even danker pot at the 11th annual Emerald Cup in Santa Rosa this past weekend, reports Smell The Truth. The event was created and named for the so-called Emerald Triangle: the three cultivation destinations of Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity counties.

At the Sonoma County Fairgrounds the sold-out, two-day festival featured hundreds of exhibitors and more than 600 entrants in the highly competitive outdoor flower competition. The band Slightly Stoopid played, too, because of course.

First place in flowers, which is awarded to individuals, went to Mendocino County breeder and grower Joe Peinado for his customized breed of Diesel X Ogre. We can all agree that's a pretty dope mashup, and he calls the stuff which clocked in at a mind-numbing 26.51 percent THC "Sweet Serenade." Mean Gene and Aficionado Seeds took Silver with their Black Lime Reserve, and bronze went to grower Budonymous and Ganja Girl Scout for their strain Cheese.

Hard-working judges in the flower competition sampled about 130 strains in a week, with one saying to Smell The Truth: “We proved once again it is impossible to overdose on smoking marijuana,” said one judge. Here are some more photos of their deliberations.

Organizers estimate the industry added more than $1 million in tourism over the course of the weekend. And, reports the Press Democrat, back eleven years ago when the event was first held in Humboldt County, there were just 34 samples, as opposed to the total of 898 in all categories. That first year, also, there were only 200 attendees.

You can check out a full slideshow from the event for a real contact high over at SFGate's Smell The Truth blog.

The Emerald Cup via Facebook