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National awards recognize the people, products, programs, research, and public-service efforts turning cannabis safety concerns into practical solutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 7, 2026 — The public has until September 10 to submit nominations for the 2026 Cannabis Safety Awards, a national recognition program highlighting the people, organizations, programs, products, and innovations advancing cannabis safety and medical access.

Presented as part of Cannabis Safety Month, the awards are designed to recognize practical solutions to issues that often dominate public debates about cannabis—from product safety, dosing, storage, youth education, impaired driving, and consumer protection to medical access, professional education, research, journalism, and public policy.

Anyone may submit a nomination, and self-nominations are welcome. There is no fee to participate.

The awards reflect the central purpose of Cannabis Safety Month: recognizing community concerns, spotlighting solutions, and building what comes next.

Cannabis safety is built by people who investigate hard questions, create better tools, educate communities, protect consumers, conduct rigorous research, and turn public concerns into workable policy. The 2026 Cannabis Safety Awards will recognize the leaders and innovations helping cannabis move forward with greater trust, transparency, accountability, and responsibility.

RECOGNITION MATTERS

Cannabis safety debates are too often defined by fear, slogans, political rhetoric, or arguments over whether a concern should be acknowledged at all. The Cannabis Safety Awards shift the focus to the people and solutions doing practical work.

That includes better public education, safer storage, clearer labeling, stronger consumer protection, more precise dosing tools, professional training, responsible product design, independent research, investigative reporting, inclusive access programs, and public officials willing to develop evidence-informed policy.

Recognizing this work also sends an important message: cannabis safety and medical access do not have to compete. Thoughtful safety solutions can protect patients and the public while strengthening the credibility and long-term future of medical cannabis.

The future of medical cannabis will depend on more than laws permitting access. It will require trusted information, sound research, knowledgeable professionals, responsible products and businesses, effective public policies, and systems capable of protecting patients and the public. The individuals and initiatives recognized through these awards are helping build that infrastructure.

18 AWARD CATEGORIES

The 2026 Cannabis Safety Awards include 18 categories recognizing individuals, programs and initiatives, and products and innovations:

Awards for Individuals honor people whose leadership, advocacy, reporting, research, and public service are advancing cannabis safety and medical access.

Awards for Programs & Initiatives recognize campaigns, organizations, educational efforts, and collaborative programs turning cannabis safety concerns into practical solutions.

Awards for Products & Innovations celebrate products, technologies, tools, and design innovations that make cannabis use safer, clearer, more consistent, and more accountable.

Categories include recognition for investigative journalism, patient advocacy, elected-official leadership, cannabis safety research, community collaboration, public education, impaired-driving prevention, youth and family education, consumer protection, equitable access, professional education, safe storage, product preservation, THC safety education, sustainability, whole-flower vaporization, precision dosing, and testing, labeling, and product transparency.

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED?

Eligible nominees vary by category and may include individuals; patients and advocates; journalists; researchers; healthcare and public-health professionals; elected officials; nonprofit and community organizations; public agencies; educational institutions; campaigns and public-service programs; companies; products; technologies; tools; and services.

Self-nominations are welcome. There is no nomination fee, and nominators must provide a working email address.

WHO CAN NOMINATE?

Anyone may submit a nomination, including patients, consumers, healthcare professionals, advocates, educators, researchers, public officials, organizations, businesses, and members of the public.

HOW IT WORKS

September 10 — Nominations Close
The public may nominate eligible individuals, organizations, programs, products, and innovations through September 10.

September 14 — Finalists Announced
Approved finalists will be announced and featured during Cannabis Safety Month.

Public Voting & Independent Review
The public will help select the 2026 winners, with an independent review panel applying published award criteria.

September 30 — Winners Announced
The 2026 Cannabis Safety Award winners will be announced during the Cannabis Safety Month Closing Roundtable.

ABOUT CANNABIS SAFETY MONTH

Cannabis Safety Month is a national public education campaign focused on recognizing community concerns, spotlighting practical solutions, and building what comes next for cannabis safety and medical access. The campaign brings together patients, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, businesses, public officials, advocates, families, and other stakeholders to address cannabis safety issues through credible information, inclusion, and problem-solving.

Nominations close September 10, 2026.

Contact Steph Sherer for more information: [email protected]