The Cannabis Awards for Australia and New Zealand 2024 have officially launched, introducing three new categories and a more thorough judging process than in previous years.
At last year's event, ECS Botanics claimed three trophies before a capacity crowd, with tickets selling out a fortnight before the ceremony.
Judging this year will unfold across two distinct stages. In the first, jurors will assess entries within their assigned categories and produce a shortlist. The second stage brings each jury together on a video call to deliberate on the shortlist before each judge independently casts their vote.
Votes will remain confidential and independently cast, but the process is more collaborative than before, giving judges the opportunity to share expertise and weigh in on matters such as regulatory compliance.
The first deadline for entries is March 15, with the shortlist set to be revealed on April 18. The awards ceremony will be held at Zinc, Federation Square, Melbourne on May 30.
Three categories are new for 2024: Best Use of Technology, Nurse of the Year, and a split of the former Cultivator/Manufacturer of the Year into two separate awards.
Co-founder Martin Lane said: "We received lots of feedback on the categories, with the overwhelming consensus being that the cultivator and manufacturing awards should be split.
"There was also a strong feeling that we should reward nurses for the role they play in the patient's treatment journey and in advocating for plant-based medicine.
"And the Best Use of Technology award recognises that, despite having its roots in the ground, this is an industry that's always looking for new and innovative ways to use tech to better serve its customers."
Joining the judging panel for the first time this year are Somai Pharmaceuticals founder, chairman and CEO Michael Sassano, MCIA chair and Cann Group CEO Peter Koetsier, Invert Inc head of Asia Pacific Ben Quirin, and Lambert Initiative deputy academic director Jonathon Arnold.
They sit alongside political figures including Greens NSW MP Cate Faehrmann, Legalise Cannabis MPs Dr Brian Walker and Rachel Payne, and former Reason Party leader Fiona Patten. The healthcare sector is represented by Cannabis Clinicians Australia president Dr Joel Wren, GP Dr Matty Moore, and ANZ College of Cannabinoid Practitioners president Dr Orit Holtzman.
Joining Sassano from abroad are cannabis entrepreneur Bruce Linton, MJBizDaily international editor Matt Lamers, and Prohibition Partners co-founder and CEO Stephen Murphy. On the academic side, alongside Arnold, the panel includes Southern Cross University clinical research fellow Dr Janet Schloss and Swinburne University of Technology research fellow Dr Thomas Arkell.
All three of Australia's medicinal cannabis trade associations have a presence on the panel, with Koetsier, MCIA executive officer Patty Holmes, AMCA interim chair Emily Rigby, and GM Gail Wiseman joining ETAA chair Guy Headley and NZ Medicinal Cannabis Council executive director Sally King.
Industry consultants represented include Cassandra Hunt, Rhys Cohen, Clare Barker, and Quirin. Completing the jury are honahlee co-founder Tom Brown, award-winning documentary filmmaker and journalist Helen Kapalos, Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance president Charles Kovess, Astrid Dispensary founder and CEO Lisa Nguyen, Omega Assets director and Health House International founder Paul Mavor, OnTracka founder and product CEO Chad Walkaden, Pharmalytics MD Dr Russell Kinghorn, and Klick X founder Kim McKay.
Sponsored by Somai Pharmaceuticals, Pharmalytics, CMI Safe Company, The Entourage Effect, Oz Medicann Group, MediGreen, MCC, Traad, and Judo Bank — with support from MCIA, AMCA, and ETAA — the awards are divided across five streams: companies, individuals, industry leadership, healthcare, and product.
Companies
Company of the Year
Best Place to Work
Start-up Company of the Year
Medical Science Liaison Team of the Year
Individuals
Business Leader of the Year
Best Industry Newcomer
Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year
Nurse of the Year
Patient Advocate of the Year
Industry Leadership
Award for Innovation
Environmental, Social and Governance Award
Best Use of Technology
Award for Industry Advancement
Award for Industry Collaboration
Healthcare
Clinic of the Year
Dispensary/Pharmacy of the Year
Best Education/Engagement Initiative
Best Patient-Focused Initiative
Product
Cultivator of the Year
Manufacturer of the Year
Hemp Product of the Year
Launch of the Year
R&D Project of the Year
To protect the integrity of the program, jurors are excluded from voting in any category where they hold a direct interest or face a conflict of interest.
Lane said: "The knowledge, experience and authority of our judges was one of the key factors in making the inaugural awards such a success and we are delighted to welcome new colleagues to this year's panel.
"We pride ourselves on the independence of our editorial coverage and the The Cannabis Observer Awards have the same high standards of integrity. While we are very grateful to our sponsors and judges, their support has no bearing on the final results."
For more information about the Cannabis Awards for Australia and New Zealand 2024 and to enter, click here.
