2026 Mississippi Budtender Awards

What's the Cultivator's Choice Award? 

This award celebrates a budtender who demonstrates a deep understanding of cannabis strains, terpene profiles, cannabinoids, and product effects.

What's the Patient's Choice Award? 

This award honors a budtender who creates a welcoming, compassionate, and informed experience for every patient. They excel in understanding medical conditions and tailoring cannabis recommendations to support various wellness journeys. 

What's the Trailblazer Award? 

This award recognizes a budtender who stays ahead of the curve, constantly exploring emerging cannabis trends, innovative consumption techniques, and fresh approaches to patient care.

What's the Heart of the Community Award? 

This award honors a budtender whose influence reaches far beyond the dispensary. Through charity work, local advocacy, and a commitment to improving access to medical cannabis, they embody a daily dedication to creating meaningful change in their community.

What's the Budtender of the Year Award? 

This is the highest "Patient Voting Choice" honor of the night. This award goes to the budtender who truly gets it. They know the products inside and out, they connect with patients on a real level, and they show up every day ready to make a difference. Whether it’s answering tough questions, offering spot-on recommendations, or simply making someone’s day better, they set the bar high for what it means to be a budtender.

What's the Vanguard Award? 

This award recognizes an individual (open to non-budtenders) who is actively shaping the future of cannabis in Mississippi. Through bold ideas, strategic leadership, and relentless advocacy, they break barriers, challenge norms, and create pathways for growth. The Vanguard Award honors someone whose work doesn’t just contribute to the industry—it transforms it.

What's the Dispensary Leadership Award? 

This award goes to the person who has everyone’s back — the leader who jumps in when it’s busy, makes sure the team feels supported, and creates a positive vibe for both patients and staff. They don’t just manage the dispensary — they build the culture.
(Can be a Budtender, Owner, or Store Manager)

What's the Peer Choice Award? 

This award goes to the teammate everyone can count on. They’ll cover a shift without complaint, step in to help a patient even when it’s not “their turn,” and keep the team running smoothly when things get hectic. They bring good energy, share knowledge, and make work better for everyone around them — the kind of Budtender every dispensary needs.

What's the Rising Star Award? 

This award highlights a new Budtender making a big impact in a short time. With less than six months in the industry, they’ve already shown strong product knowledge, professionalism, and genuine care for patients. They’re eager to learn, bring great energy to the team, and are quickly becoming a standout in their dispensary.

What's the Manager's Choice Award? 

This award is for the Budtender every manager wishes they could clone — the one who always shows up, stays calm under pressure, and handles every challenge like a pro. They’re not just good with patients; they’re good for the team. They train others, fill in gaps, and make sure the day runs right. When things get busy, this person is already two steps ahead.

What's the Budtender's Choice Patient Impact Award? 

This award honors a patient who truly stands out .Someone whose presence, attitude, or story has made an impact on their dispensary community or the industry as a whole. These are the patients who bring positivity, patience, kindness, and genuine appreciation into every visit, reminding Budtenders why their work matters.

The winner will receive special prizes and a free trip to the Mississippi Budtender Awards.

What's the Product of the Year Award? 

This award recognizes the cannabis product that truly stood out this year. The one Budtenders and patients consistently trusted, recommended and responded to.

Unlike other categories, Product of the Year is a write-in award. Voters will submit both the brand name and the specific product name they believe delivered the most impact across quality, consistency, and patient experience.