The 2026 Flower Forward Award Nomination

Inhalation is an important route of administration for many medications, including several FDA-approved drugs. Inhalation provides rapid onset, avoids first-pass metabolism, reduces systemic side effects, and increases bioavailability. These characteristics can be especially important for patients seeking rapid relief from symptoms such as pain, nausea, or muscle spasms. Avoiding first-pass metabolism in the liver and kidneys can also be important for patients taking multiple medications, reducing opportunities for drug interactions. However, the method used to heat and inhale cannabis can introduce additional risks. Combustion produces unwanted byproducts, while manufactured vape products may contain additives or materials that raise separate inhalation safety concerns.

The Flower Forward Award celebrates innovations in whole flower vaporization devices and accessories that improve temperature control, heating performance, cleanability, usability, dose awareness, and consumer guidance. Vaporization offers an alternative to intentionally burning cannabis flower, but device design and performance are critical to its safety. Heating methods, materials, airflow, temperature consistency, maintenance, and instructions all influence what patients inhale and how reliably they can administer their medicine.

The 2026 nominees -STORZ & BICKEL, PAX, and Clean Torch- represent different approaches to improving whole flower inhalation technology. Their contributions include medically certified vaporization devices, advanced portable heating systems, and alternatives to conventional flame-based heating. The award recognizes that for patients who rely on whole flower inhalation, the device is part of their medicine. Advancing vaporization technology is therefore not simply a matter of consumer convenience, but an opportunity to improve the safety, reliability, and consistency of an important medical cannabis administration method.

Learn more about the Flower Forward Award and the nominees' role in Cannabis Safety.