The shortlist for the Cannabiz Awards 2026 has been announced with almost 100 entries going forward to the final round of judging in 18 categories.
Breathe Life Sciences (BLS), ECS Botanics, Golden Days Cultivators, RAYS Wellness and SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals Australia will go head to head for the prestigious Company of the Year trophy while New Zealand is well represented in the Business Leader of the Year category, with Zoe Reece from Ora Pharm and Puro’s Sank Macfarlane battling it out with Macdarragh O’Neill (BLS), Adam Guskich and Todd McClellan (Medigrowth) and Dr Russell Kinghorn (The Australian Cannabis Group).
And in the three new categories, Leafio, Burleigh Heads Cannabis by Vitura and The Entourage Effect will contest Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year while Medibis, The Health Collective/OnTracka, Southern Cross University and Spring Sciences Australia are shortlisted for Best Use of Data. Give & Toke’s Paul O’Donoghue, Melanie Wentzel, Sally King (New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council) and Kristin Viccars and Dr Teresa Nicoletti (Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia) will all hope to be named Campaigner of the Year.
In the first round, the judges independently scrutinised each entry to determine whether they should go forward to the next stage.
In the second round, each jury of four will meet on a video call to discuss the shortlisted entries before casting their votes for the winners.
The awards ceremony will take place on August 11 at the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne during the week of the ACannabis conference. Tickets for the industry’s night of nights are on sale now and are likely to sell out so click here to avoid disappointment.
The trophies will be presented theatre style, with a catered cocktail reception followed by a dedicated awards show hosted by a special guest MC to be announced in the coming weeks.
A limited number of VIP tables are available to Cannabiz Awards sponsors on a first-come, first-served basis but hurry, there are only four left.
Email denise@cannabiz.com.au for more information.
As well as announcing the shortlist today, Cannabiz welcomes new sponsors Golden Logistics Australia and MCC Premium Label Solutions and thanks them – and all our partners – for their support.
The full shortlist is below:
Best Education/Engagement Initiative
AusCannaReviews and AusCannaPodcast
Duty of Care education series by Medical Cannabis Australia
PlantEd
Rua Bioscience
Spring Sciences Australia with the University of Queensland
Best Place to Work
Medigrowth
MedReleaf Australia
RAYS Wellness
Tasmanian Botanics
Best Use of Data
CANN-RELIEF by Southern Cross University
From Data to Decision Making – The Health Collective and OnTracka
Medibis with Southern Cross University
Spring Sciences Australia
Best Use of Technology
Alternaleaf
Chill Division
Greenease
GrowerIQ
HemPanel
MediStack by The Entourage Effect
Business Leader of the Year
Adam Guskich and Todd McClellan, Medigrowth
Dr Russell Kinghorn, The Australian Cannabis Group
Macdarragh ‘Mac’ O’Neill, Breathe Life Sciences
Sank Macfarlane, Puro New Zealand
Zoe Reece, Ora Pharm
Campaigner of the Year
Paul O’Donoghue, Give & Toke
Melanie Wentzel
Sally King, New Zealand Medicinal Cannabis Council
Kristin Viccars and Dr Teresa Nicoletti, Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia
Cannabiz Award for Industry Collaboration
Canview and Beacon Medical
Medical Cannabis Research Australia Cape to Cape for Cannabis 2026
NZ Grow Co. by Ora Pharm
Kristin Viccars and Dr Teresa Nicoletti, Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia
Cannabiz Award for Innovation
Altermedic
GrowerIQ
Hale Farm
HemPanel
MediStack by The Entourage Effect
Terra Botanix
Tilray
Clinic of the Year
Bosman Clinic
GreenEase
Green Life Clinics & Dispensaries
Horizon
MediCann Clinics
One Health Clinics Australia
Wildleaf Clinic
Company of the Year
Breathe Life Sciences
ECS Botanics
Golden Days Cultivators
RAYS Wellness
SOMAÍ Pharmaceuticals Australia
Cultivator of the Year
Australian Natural Therapeutics Group
ECS Botanics
Golden Days Cultivators
Hale Farm
Puro New Zealand
Tasmanian Botanics
Dispensary/Pharmacy of the Year
GreenEase
Green Life Clinics & Dispensaries
MediGreen Dispensary
RAYS Wellness
Wildleaf Dispensary
Hemp Product of the Year
HemPanel
Hemp Building Directory
Natural pet shampoo bar by The Hemp Collective
Manufacturer of the Year
Breathe Life Sciences
ECS Botanics
Tasmanian Botanics
The Australian Cannabis Group
Nurse of the Year
Deb Ranson
Joel Green
Sarah Hill
Prescribing Healthcare Practitioner of the Year
Dr Hermanus Bosman
Dr John Teh
Dr Priya Ayyar
Lisa Dick
Michelle Pitcaithly
Nomusa Napier
Start-Up/Launch of the Year
Analytical Laboratories & Testing Services Australia
Bosman Clinic
Golden Days Cultivators
Ouid
Terra Botanix
Chill Division
Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
Burleigh Heads Cannabis by Vitura Health
Leafio
The Entourage Effect
