2024 Australia and New Zealand Cannabis Awards Shortlist Announced

The Cannabis Observer ·
2024 Australia and New Zealand Cannabis Awards Shortlist Announced

The shortlist for the Australia and New Zealand The Cannabis Observer Awards 2024 has been announced, with close to 100 entries advancing to the second round of judging.

Biortica Agrimed/Green Farmers topped the field with nine shortlisted entries. Astrid Dispensary & Specialty Clinic followed with seven, while Cann I Help/Medcan Australia and Tasmanian Botanics each received six nominations.

ECS Botanics earned five nominations and Australian Natural Therapeutics Group secured four. From New Zealand, Helius Therapeutics received two shortlisted entries.

During the first round, judges independently assessed each entry to decide which would progress to the next stage.

In the second round, each jury will convene via video call to deliberate on the shortlisted entries before voting for the winners.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on the evening of May 30 at Zinc, Federation Square, Melbourne, with a special guest MC to be confirmed in the weeks ahead.

Tickets (with discounted rates for Premium members) go on sale tomorrow. Last year's event sold out completely.

The full shortlist appears below.

Clinic of the Year 

Astrid Clinic
Cann I Help
Heyday Medical
MediCann Clinics
MediGreen Clinic

Dispensary/Pharmacy of the Year

Astrid Dispensary
Cann I Help Dispensary
Green Life Clinics & Dispensaries
MediGreen Dispensary
My Botanical Dispensary
RAYS Wellness

Best Patient-Focused Initiative 

The Driving Forward Campaign – Astrid
COMPASSionate Access Program – Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association
Greencare Wellness Experts – Greencare Clinics
Scripts – honahlee
Compassionate Access Scheme – Little Green Pharma
Compassionate Access Program – Medcan Australia
Pioneering Patient Equity Through Compassionate Access – Rua Bioscience

Environmental, Social & Governance Award

Biortica Agrimed
ECS Botanics

Launch of the Year 

OMG Topical Pain-Relief Salve – OMG Pharma
Stanley Brothers
Strain-Specific Vapes – Tasmanian Botanics

Hemp Product of the Year

Cannabella Hemp Jelly – Cannabella
Hemp Oz Sleep Tea – Hemp OZ, an OZ Medicann Group Company
Australian Hemp Posts – Riverlands

R&D Project of the Year

The Solace Vape – Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
Bod BioAbsorb 27.5mg Soft-gel Capsules – Bod Science
QUEST Initiative – Little Green Pharma

Cultivator of the Year

Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
ECS Botanics
Green Farmers
Tasmanian Botanics

Manufacturer of the Year

Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
Helius Therapeutics
Medcan Australia
Tasmanian Botanics

Best Place to Work

Cannatrek
ECS Botanics
Green Farmers
Kind Medical
Tasmanian Botanics

Best Industry Newcomer

Bronte Jade – Nova Therapeutics
Kishan Patel – Green Life Clinics & Dispensaries
Daniel Rooney – OXINS Risk Solutions
Kathleen Ward – Biortica Agrimed

Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year

Dr Priya Ayyar – Heyday Medical
Lisa Dick, Nurse Practitioner – Health104
Dr Orit Holtzman – Leura Wellness
Dr Mihindu Jayasuriya – Releaf Clinics 
Dr Laurence Kemp – Cann I Help
Dr Shu Ng – Astrid Clinic
Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman – MediGreen Clinic

Nurse of the Year  

Ginny Connell – Heyday Medical
Sarah Harding – Cann I Help
Danielle Holloway – CDA Clinics
Olivia Lackmann – Astrid Clinic
Deb Ranson – Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association

Award for Innovation

Biortica Agrimed
Zero Waste Cannabidiol Dermal Patches – Encapsolutions
Humacology House
Humacology oils
OMG Pharma

Best Use of Technology

Marvel Machine by Kierton Technologies – Green Farmers
RAYS Wellness Online Patient Portal & App – RAYS Wellness
CanView – Vitura Health

Award for Industry Advancement

OMG Pharma
Emily Rigby
Australian Medicinal Cannabis Symposium – United in Compassion

Award for Industry Collaboration

Project Unity – Biortica Agrimed
CBD Vets Australia
MedTEC Pharma

Best Education or Engagement Initiative

Australian & New Zealand College of Cannabinoid Practitioners
Little Green Pharma
Medihuanna

Medical Science Liaison Team of the Year

Cannatrek
Humacology
Kind Medical

Start-up Company of the Year

Breathe Life Sciences
Green Life Clinics & Dispensaries
Medical Cannabis Australia (MCA)

Company of the Year

Astrid
Biortica Agrimed
ECS Botanics
Little Green Pharma
MedReleaf Australia
Tasmanian Botanics

Business Leader of the Year

Dirk Beelen, Chief Commercial Officer – MedTEC Pharma
Matt Cantelo, Founder & Chief Executive Officer – Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
Carmen Doran, Chief Executive Officer – Helius Therapeutics
Dan Howard, Chief Executive Officer – Tasmanian Botanics
Lisa Nguyen, Founder & Chief Executive Officer – Astrid
Nan-Maree Schoerie, Managing Director – ECS Botanics
Tom Varga, Managing Director & Co-founder – Biortica Agrimed
Lisa Varley, Chief Executive Officer – The Entourage Effect & MiDispensary

Alongside the shortlist announcement, new sponsors Humacology and the Stanley Brothers have been welcomed on board, with thanks extended to them and all existing partners for their support.