The 2016 Cannabist Awards took place Nov. 16 in Las Vegas.

2016 Cannabist Awards: Here’s who won big in our salute to industry leaders

The second-annual Cannabist Awards were presented Wednesday night at a special event in Las Vegas, celebrating the brightest and most progressive names in the marijuana industry.

MORE: Get a recap of the awards ceremony and photo gallery


2016 Cannabist Person of the Year

Presented by Papa & Barkley
Gavin Newsom, Lieutenant Governor of California

Gavin Newsom, California Lieutenant Governor
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has been named 2016 Cannabist Person of the Year. Newsom was an early supporter of the Proposition 64 campaign to legalize recreational marijuana. (Rich Pedroncelli, The Associated Press)

Hemp

Presented by Source Colorado
Hemp // CBD: Bluebird Botanicals
Hemp // Products: Dr. Bronner’s
Hemp // Lifestyle: Hemp History Week

Events

Presented by O.penVape
Events // Business: NCIA Cannabis Business Summit
Events // Consumer: The 420 Games
Events // Medical: United Patients Group

Medical Advancements

Presented by Leafbuyer
Medical Advancements // Research Breakthrough: Ashley C. Bradford & W. David Bradford
Medical Advancements // Researcher: Lester Grinspoon
Medical Advancements // Products: Mary’s Medicinals
Medical Advancement // Pets: Treatibles

Sustainability

Presented by Wana Brands
Sustainability // Recycling: Sun Grown Packaging
Sustainability // Responsible Pest Management: OG Analytical
Sustainability // Packaging: Restalk

420-Friendly

Presented by Good Chemistry
420-Friendly // Security: Blue Line Protection Group
420-Friendly // Legal: Vicente Sederberg LLC
420-Friendly // Finance/Tax: New Era CPAs, LLP
420-Friendly // Lawmaker: U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.

Education

Presented by New Frontier Data
Education // Industry: The Trichome Institute
Education // Public: Christopher Ingraham, The Washington Post
Education // Consumption: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Good to Know campaign
Education // Academic: Oaksterdam University
Education // Author: Dr. David Casarett, “Stoned: A Doctor’s Case for Medicinal Marijuana”

Marketing

Presented by Tokken
Marketing // Corporate Culture: O.penVape
Marketing // Agencies: The Rosen Group PR
Marketing // Customer Experience: The Novel Tree
Marketing // Retail Branding: Harborside Health Center
Marketing // Retail Packaging: Stillwater

To the winners, a Pineapple d'Or. (The Cannabist)
Award winners were lauded with a Pineapple d’Or. (The Cannabist)

Community

Presented by Emerald Fields
Community // Philanthropy: Bloom Farms
Community // Volunteerism: Bloom Farms
Community // Innovation: Denver Relief Consulting
Community // Activism: Marijuana Policy Project
Community // Protection: ACLU

Technology

Presented by DaVinci Vaporizers
Technology // Extraction: Evolab
Technology // Start-up: Grownetics
Technology // Incubator: Canopy Boulder
Technology // Vaporizer: Pax Era
Technology // App: Leafly
Technology // Lighting: Heliospectra LED
Technology // Irrigation: SmartBee Controllers
Technology // Nutrients: General Organics

FULL LIST OF FINALISTS

2016 Cannabist Awards in Las Vegas
Attendees of the 2016 Cannabist Awards mingle at the Chateau Night Club in the Paris Las Vegas casino hotel. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Cannabist)