The shortlist and venue for the Cannabis Awards for Australia and New Zealand 2023 have been revealed following an exceptional volume of entries received across all 20 categories.
Medcan and Puro NZ led all nominees with six shortlisted entries apiece, while Astrid Dispensary and Herbal Health Clinics followed closely with five nominations each.
Australian Natural Therapeutics Group, ECS Botanics, Little Green Pharma, Cannatrek and Helius Therapeutics each secured four nominations, placing them among the most-recognised organisations in the field.
The awards ceremony is scheduled for the evening of June 8 at Melbourne's Showtime Events Centre, a venue within easy walking distance of the CBD.
Medcan's shortlisted entries span Company of the Year, Clinic/Telehealth Service of the Year for its Cann I Help service, and Best Patient-Focused Initiative for its compassionate access program, along with additional nominations.
Puro NZ topped the trans-Tasman contingent with nominations across Cultivator/Manufacturer of the Year, the Environmental, Social and Governance Award, and the Industry Collaboration category alongside Helius.
Astrid received recognition in categories including Company of the Year, Best Place to Work and Dispensary/Pharmacy of the Year, while Herbal Health Clinics earned five nominations with Dr James Stewart shortlisted for both Business Leader of the Year and Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year.
Tickets for the gala dinner and presentation ceremony — with discounted rates available to Premium members — will go on sale next week.
The full shortlist appears below.
COMPANIES
Company of the Year
Astrid Dispensary
Biortica Agrimed
Cannatrek
Little Green Pharma
Medcan Group
Phytoca
Puro NZ
Vitura Health
Best Place to Work
Astrid Dispensary
Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
Bod Science
ECS Botanics
Helius Therapeutics
MediGreen
Naturally Elevated
Puro NZ
Start-up Company of the Year
Alfie Therapeutics
Biortica Agrimed
Farma
HempGenTech
Herbal Health Clinics by Dr James Stewart
Standard Botanic
Medical Science Liaison Team of the Year
Althea
Cannatrek
CanView
Tilray
HEALTHCARE
Clinic/Telehealth Service of the Year
Cann I Help
Greencare Clinics
Herbal Health Clinics by Dr James Stewart
MediGreen Clinic
PlantMed
Polln
Dispensary/Pharmacy of the Year
Astrid Dispensary
Broadbeach Waters Pharmacy
Dispense Direct
MediGreen Dispensary
Scott Street Pharmacy
TerryWhite Chemmart, Hawthorn
Best Education/Engagement Initiative
Advancing Cannabis Education and Reducing Stigma in Healthcare, The Australian and New Zealand College of Cannabinoid Practitioners
CBD Vets Australia
Levin Health
Medicinal Cannabis Awareness Week
Medihuanna
Best Patient-Focused Initiative
Cannatrek's Compassionate Access Support Program
Little Green Pharma's Compassionate Access Scheme Program
Medcan Group's Compassionate Access Program, Cann I Help
Medicinal Cannabis Awareness Week
Provocatus, The Veteran Access Scheme
PRODUCT
Cultivator/Manufacturer of the Year
Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
Cannatrek
ECS Botanics
Helius Therapeutics
Little Green Pharma
Medicinal Harvest
Puro NZ
Tasmanian Botanics
Hemp Product of the Year
Bloom Pharms, Bloom Pure Infusion 1500mg
Hemp Oz Kombucha
Herbee Hemp-Infused Gin
Margaret River Hemp Co's Organic Hemp Body Butter
Product Launch of the Year
Alfie Therapeutics
Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
Cultiva
Helius Therapeutics
Kind Medical
Medleaf
R&D Project of the Year
Little Green Pharma/The University of Sydney – The QUality of life Evaluation STudy (QUEST) Initiative
Medcan Group's project with WA University – The Effects of THC and CBD on Schizotypy
OnTracka
INDIVIDUALS
Business Leader of the Year
Dan Howard, Tasmanian Botanics
Dr James Stewart, Herbal Health Clinics
Jo Patterson, Bod Science
Lisa Nguyen, Astrid Dispensary
Matthew Cantelo, Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
Nan-Maree Schoerie, ECS Botanics
Best Industry Newcomer
Dr Nic Giummarra, Herbal Health Clinics
Olivia (Liv) Lackmann, Dr Shu Medical Services
Phoebe Macleod, Heyday Medical
Winston Macfarlane, Puro NZ
Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year
Dr James Stewart, Herbal Health Clinics
Dr Jim Connell, Heyday Medical
Dr John Teh, PlantMed
Dr Laurence Kemp, Medcan Group
Dr Mihindu Jayasuriya, Releaf Group
Dr Orit Holtzman, Leura Wellness
Patient Advocate of the Year
Dr Laurence Kemp, Medcan Group
Lucy Haslam, United in Compassion/Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association
Norhawa (Bee) Mohamed, Astrid Dispensary
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP
Award for Innovation
Althea soft-gel capsule range
Bod Science Medicabilis
CanView
Heyday Innovative Range
Novachem SyqeAir Inhaler
Riverlands
Standard Botanic
Whistler Technologies
Environmental, Social and Governance Award
Carbon Futures
ECS Botanics
Helius Therapeutics
Puro New Zealand
Award for Industry Advancement
Australian Industrial Hemp Alliance
Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association
Dr Marta Calvo Blanco
Emily Rigby
Fiona Patten
Nubu
Award for Industry Collaboration
Australian Medicinal Cannabis Association
Foliumed (with Althea)
Puro NZ and Helius
Standard Botanic
