Colorado Companies Dominate Cannabis Business Awards

Industry executives and advocates from across the country came to the birthplace of retail cannabis to see who'd be recognized for their influence, and Colorado was well represented. Twelve of the business that went home with trophies are based in Colorado, while a handful of individual winners are from here, too.

By Thomas Mitchell

December 8, 2017

Image: The Cannabis Business Awards are held annually in Denver to honor industry and advocacy achievements.

The Cannabis Business Awards are held annually in Denver to honor industry and advocacy achievements. Cannabis Business Awards

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The seventh annual national Cannabis Business Awards were announced Thursday, December 7, at a ceremony at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Hosted by Clover Leaf University founder Chloe Villano, the awards have seen a rise in prominence that parallels legal pot's increased relevance across the United States.

Industry executives and advocates from across the country came to the birthplace of retail cannabis to see who'd be recognized, and Colorado was well-represented. Twelve of the businesses that took trophies are based in this state, while a handful of individual winners live here, too.

Denver's own Wanda James won a lifetime achievement award for her extensive work in the industry and for advocating for legal cannabis opportunities for women and minorities, while Aurora's Gladys Solis won Budtender of the Year for her work at Diego Pellicer. But the biggest winner might've been Alex Bortell, a twelve-year-old girl from Larkspur, Colorado, who won Most Influential Individual. Bortell, a medical marijuana refugee and published author, is currently suing United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions over the federal scheduling of cannabis.

Find a full list of winners below:

click to enlarge

Wanda James is the owner of Simply Pure dispensary in Denver.

Cannabis Business Awards

Most Influential Individual
Alexis Bortell

Hope Award
American Medical Refugee Foundation

Cannabis Executive of the Year
Neil Demers

Industry Organization of the Year
Athletes for Care

Most Valuable Brand
Mary’s Medicinals

Activist of the Year
Nurse Heather

Advocate of the Year
Eugene Monroe

Political Industry Representative of the Year
Vicente Sederberg

Nonprofit of the Year
NORML

Cannabis Business of the Year
The Clinic

Best Medical Center
Kind Love

Best Retail Center
Diego Pellicer

Most Innovative Product
AeroInhaler

Budtender of the Year
Gladys Solis

Manager of the Year
Nick Jack

Best Flower in a Dispensary
Mandarin Cookies

Best Edibles
Coda Signature

Best Extract
Harmony Extracts

Best Infused Product
Evolab's Angel Salve

Best Hemp Product
Nature's Root

Publication of the Year
Sensi Magazine

Most Influential Media Source
Leafly

Educational Achievement of the Year
Dr. Uma Dhanabalan

Cultivation Achievement Award
Green Dot Labs

Cannabis Woman of the Year
Nichole West

Lifetime Achievement Award
Wanda James

Best CBD Product
Haleigh’s Hope

2017 Honorary Awards
Mickey Martin
Dr. William Eidelman

2017 MVPs
Jair Velleman
Ted Daniels
Josh Crosney
Ashley Smither
Shawn Honaker

Thomas Mitchell has been the news editor of Westword since February 2024. He's been with the publication since 2017 and was formerly its cannabis editor. He’s earned numerous awards and accolades for his work, including placing second for the Marijuana Enterprise Reporting Award from the Colorado Society of Professional Journalists in 2018; being named a Top Cannabis Journalist by Leafbuyer in 2020; and placing first for the College Sports Writing Award from the Arizona Press Club in 2014. His prior work experience includes Arizona Republic, Inman News and Fox Sports.

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