Budtender’s Ball and NJ Cannabis Awards Show Held

Cannademix held their 2^nd annual Budtender’s Ball and New Jersey cannabis awards show at a lavish party in North Bergen in North Jersey.

The Budtender’s Ball was the fourth cannabis awards show held in New Jersey in 2024.

“It’s about our workforce. It’s about our industry. (And) It’s about celebrating a legal market that a lot of you in this room worked very diligently with me to try and build,” Cannademix Founder Josh Alb explained about the event as he kicked off the show. “History is very important.”

Many cannabis leaders were honored. Many more were on the scene, including many brand teams, dispensary owners, advocates, entrepreneurs, and professionals.

Budtender’s Ball Award Winners

Cannademix Founder Josh Alb was the Master of Ceremonies for the awards ceremony.

He noted it was the five-year anniversary of Cannademix.

Commissioner Charles Barker of the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJ-CRC) was supposed to be awarded for his commitment to social equity. He has been an outspoken champion for social justice in the New Jersey cannabis market, whose unqualified replacement was announced in September.

Unfortunately, Alb said Barker was sick and could not accept the award in person.

The local grower Garden Greens, not to be confused with Garden Greenz dispensary of Jersey City, swept the show. They did well at other award shows earlier this year as well. Since they were the first licensed non-large Multi-State Operator (MSO) cultivator available at legal New Jersey adult-use cannabis dispensaries, it makes sense.

Online voting determined the winners.

Budtender of the Year

The following winners were announced at the ceremony available above to watch.

1. Connor Gregory – Hashery won
2. Kaylee Manzano – City Leaf
3. Katie Ferlisi – Pure Blossom
4. Richard Juliano – Tree House Co-Op

Best Flower of New Jersey

1. Fatso – Niche
2. Candy Fumes – Garden Greens-won
3. Cherry Slushee – Kind Tree with Nick D
4. Free Mac – Brighterside Farms

Dispensary of the Year

1. NJ Leaf
2. Hashery
3. Urb’n
4. Honey Grove-won

Cartridge/Disposable of the Year

1. Jungle Punch – Timeless
2. Mandarin Orange – Fernway
3. Heir Headz – Onyx-won
4. Hibiscus Widow – Airo

Concentrate of the Year

1. Pink Gushers – Lily Extracts
2. Rainbow Beltz – MPX
3. Riptide Rush – Full Tilt Labs
4. Grape Junky – Onyx-won

Rookie of the Year

1. Niche
2. Garden Greens-won
3. Hamilton Farms
4. Prolific Growhouse

Pre-Roll of the Year

1. Hamilton Farms – Lambs Bread
2. Garden Greens – Pete’s Farmstand-won
3. Clade 9 – J1
4. Dogwalkers – Showdog

 Edible of the Year

1. Grön – Tangelo
2. Butacake – PB&J Brownie-won
3. Nova Farms – Hashables
4. Wana – Strawberry Margarita 50:50

Hustler of the Year

1. Joe Lo Russo, Garden Greens-won
2. Big Dave, Honey Grove
3. Chris Broderick, Lifted
4. Tokesly, Hamilton Farms

Testing Facility of the Year

1. Trichome Analytical-won
2. Sriven Labs
3. US Cannalytics
4. Green Analytics

Reformer of the Year

1. The NJ Homegrow Coalition -won
2.  Minority Cannabis Academy
3. Chirali Patel, Blaze Responsibly
4. Hugh Giordano of the UFCW labor union for cannabis workers

Influencer of the Year

1. Tobias Eats
2. The Sativa Papi
3. Rita D
4. New Jersey Dispensary Reviews-won

Lawyer of the Year

1. Jessica Gonzalez, Rudick Law Group-won
2. Mollie Hartman Lustig, McLaughlin & Stern
3. Fruqan Mouzon, Fox Rothschild
4. Michael Hoffman, The Hoffman Center

Educator of the Year

1. Sarah Trent – Founder of Valley Wellness and NJ Canna Certified and Rutgers-won
2. Rob Mejia – Founder of Our Community Harvest and Professor at Stockton University
3. Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez – Co-Founder of The Other Side Dispensary and adjunct professor at Hudson County Community College
4. Dr. Alan Ao – Co-Founder of Vigor Dispensary and instructor with Minority Cannabis Academy

Accountant of the Year

1. Renata Serban – Highly Elevated CPA-won
2. Stacy Udell – HBK CPAs & Consultants
3. Todd Polyniak – Sax Accounting and Tax
4. Frank Lamb – Francis J Lamb CPA

Fun Budtender’s Ball Party

Cannademix commandeered 3 floors of an opulent banquet hall to host a cannabis party on the Hudson River overlooking New York City.

Weed was overflowing at the party with people at booths offering dabs and offering free joints on the third floor.

Dabs produce a different sort of smoke from regular weed flower because of their nature as a concentrate. So the smoke doesn’t linger the same way, and some venues allow people to do dabs inside.

Weed smoking was not allowed inside the building. So, people were smoking outside and enjoying themselves despite the cold. There was also a portion partially indoors where they could consume, where many were gathered.

Among the many booths and exhibits, the new grower, Niche Cannabis, was offering a special ice cream station.

Notably, Cannademix partnered with the Last Prisoner Project to allow attendees to write letters to those still locked up for the plant we all enjoy.

Amidst the bar and weed consumption, NJ Garden State of Mind held a Puff and Paint.

(Rui of Garden State of Mind will be on our Underground Legacy to Legal Forum panel next Saturday, January 11^th!)

The event was free for NJ cannabis industry workers with a state ID.