In our fall Caregivers' Cup preview, organizer Tim Tipton predicted a crowd of 2,000, seventy-plus judged strains and an epic joint-rolling contest -- but that proved too optimistic. Tipton puts the actual turnout at 600, notes that just 22 strains were critiqued, and says the contest didn't happen. (See photos from the 2010 Caregiver's Cup.) But he still calls Sunday's bash "our best Caregivers' Cup by far" due in part to attendees like Larry Shurtleff, recently featured in this space.

Shurtleff is a medical marijuana patient with stage 4 cancer whose MMJ application was rejected due to a new Colorado Department of Health and Public Environment policy that saw nearly 2,000 other recommendations nixed. His own application is supposed to be among 1,300 to be temporarily reinstated following an uproar over the change. But when he spoke to Westword, Shurtleff was still worried that he would be unable to get the medicine that's been providing practically his only relief from a malady that's caused the loss of all his teeth and one eye.

On Sunday, however, Tipton says Shurtleff, who'd received a new prosthetic eye only days before, was "the king of the Cup. He was right in the center of everything and had a great time."

Tipton says he got good feedback from other patients and caregivers as well.

"The bar has definitely been raised," he maintains. "In fact, we had some members of our community tell us it was finer than a trip to Amsterdam," where the annual Cannabis Cup is taking place this week. "And I don't think there's any way the cup experience in Amsterdam could overcome what we achieved in terms of patients being able to audit different kinds of therapies and medicines."

Here are the details about the big winners as laid out in a Caregivers' Cup release:

OFFICIAL RESULTS FOR THE 2nd Annual CAREGIVERS CUP 2010

PEOPLE'S CHOICE #10 MATT H., ISLAND SWEET SKUNK 80% SATIVA 20 5 INDICA DAY STRAIN FOR CHRONIC PAIN

THE FIVE FOOT OFFICIAL CAREGIVERS CUP WILL BE PRESENTED DURING THE KUSH CON II DECEMBER 17-19, 2010 AT THE COLORADO CONVENTION CENTER.

MOST PHOTOGENIC: #16 HONG KONG Hydro indica Chemdog X Sensi Star for nightime pain management, nausea, and sleep AWARDED A CUSTOM ENGRAVED SILVER SURFER VAPORIZER

BEST AROMA: #15 TURIDAN ORGANIC Indica Trainwreck X Durban Poison for Mid-day pain management, vertigo, and PTSD AWARDED A CUSTOM ENGRAVED SILVER SURFER VAPORIZER

BEST HASH: Medicine #16 RICO C. Bubble Hash medicine made with Apollo (Cindy99 X Genius) for chronic pain

BEST HASH OIL AND EARWAX: Broadway Wellness

INFUSED PRODUCTS THERAPYS:

• Liquid B-3 KEEF Cola Indica good for Evening Pain Relief, Digestion and Intestinal Health (allergy warning Aloe Vera)

• Baked Wicked Awesome Alt. Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake with butterscotch crème)

• Candy JTB

• Tincture HONG KONG Glycerine

More from our Marijuana archive: "Bong porn: See photos of pieces by glass master Wes Richards, creator of Caregivers Cup trophy."

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