On Dec. 05, 2024, the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas hosted the highly anticipated 2024 Emjays Cannabis Awards. This second annual celebration brought together cannabis industry professionals, advocates, and innovators for an evening dedicated to recognizing outstanding achievements across 26 categories.
The Emjays, produced by Farechild Events in collaboration with MJBizCon, provided a platform to honor the visionaries and pioneers shaping the global cannabis landscape. Public voting determined the nominees, and a panel of industry experts selected the winners, ensuring a fair and transparent process.
Cannabis & Tech Today editor-in-chief and CEO Charles Warner presented the award for Consumer Gear/Tech Product of the Year to Boveda, commending their innovative humidity control solutions for preserving cannabis quality.
The Winners’ Circle
This year’s winners showcased the diversity and talent within the cannabis space, from legacy operators to fresh faces in the industry. Below is a complete list of the 2024 Emjays winners:
- Business Service of the Year: Sapphire Risk Advisory Group
- Financial Services of the Year: Green Check Verified
- Business Software of the Year: KayaPush
- Law Firm of the Year: Vicente
- Retail Cannabis Brand of the Year: Zamnesia
- Retail Services of the Year: Temeka Group
- Retail Software/Tech Company of the Year: Cova
- PR Agency of the Year: Grasslands
- Marketing Agency of the Year: PufCreativ
- Cannabis Journalist of the Year: Javier Hasse, Benzinga
- Content Creator of the Year: Sara Payan, Planted With Sara
- Cultivation Technology (Hardware) of the Year: Fluence
- Testing Lab of the Year: SC Labs
- Cultivation Software of the Year: TSRgrow, GrowHub
- Packaging/Printing Company of the Year: Gold Leaf Print & Packaging
- Cultivation (Non-tech) Company of the Year: Royal Queen Seeds
- Cannabis-Infused Brand of the Year: Wyld
- Extraction/Concentrate Brand of the Year: The Clear
- Cannabis (Flower) Brand of the Year: American Weed Co.
- CBD/Hemp Brand of the Year: Chime & Chill
- Consumer Gear/Tech Product of the Year: Boveda
- Vaporizer Product of the Year: Venty by Storz & Bickel
- Advocacy Organization of the Year: Last Prisoner Project
- Best Packaging Design: Jeeter x Marley
- Best Marketing Campaign or Collaboration: DaySavers Stoner Dream Job
- Best Newcomer Brand: 55Plus
Celebrating Legacy and Newcomers
The awards highlighted the industry’s depth and diversity. Royal Queen Seeds, based in the Netherlands, won Cultivation Company of the Year for its dedication to the homegrown market. President Shai Ramsahai emphasized the potential of cannabis seeds, stating, “We are convinced that cannabis seeds are the future, so grow higher.”
The Clear, a legacy brand in concentrates, was named Extraction/Concentrate Brand of the Year. CEO Rich Battenberg Jr. reflected on the company’s roots, crediting early collaborations in Long Beach, California, for its success.
Newcomers also had their moment. American Weed Co. was awarded Cannabis (Flower) Brand of the Year, with CEO Ryan Brooks expressing gratitude to veterans, first responders, and Emerald Triangle pioneers who paved the way for the legal cannabis industry.
Finally, 55Plus, a CBD brand aimed at consumers age 55 and older, won the coveted Best Newcomer Brand Award. Cannabis & Tech Today offers a warm welcome to the brand on behalf of the cannabis community.
Advocacy and Innovation
The event also honored those advocating for justice and equity. The Last Prisoner Project received the Advocacy Organization of the Year award for its tireless work on cannabis criminal justice reform, a critical issue in an era of growing legalization.
On the technology front, Fluence was recognized for its cutting-edge cultivation lighting systems, and KayaPush took home the Business Software of the Year award, reflecting the growing importance of tech solutions in streamlining cannabis operations.
A Night to Remember
Hosted by Farechild Events co-founders David Tran and Jeffrey Boedges, the Emjays was as much a celebration as it was a call to action. Farechild CEO James Zachodni reflected on the event’s mission:
“We launched The Emjays to give back to this community by putting together an award show that highlights the movers and shakers in our industry. It’s a great collaboration, and we look forward to doing it for many more years to come.”
For Cannabis & Tech Today, the event reaffirmed the cannabis industry’s aims of fostering dialogue and showcasing the innovation driving the cannabis space. As the cannabis industry continues to grow, events like the Emjays serve as a vital reminder of the people and ideas that make this movement thrive.
