The 2025 Budtenders Ball award show, recently held in North Bergen in Hudson County, highlighted progress made in the New Jersey cannabis market and its growth.
It was organized by Cannademix CEO Josh Alb, who explained the need to honor the great pioneering work being done in the industry and community at the 3rd annual ceremony.
The awards were designed by psychedelic artists Alex Gray and his wife Allyson. She said it was made by them at their Chapel of the Sacred Mirrors (COSM), an art church in the Hudson Valley in Upstate New York.
After they explained the award looks like a weed flower with a stash compartment, they threw some weed into the crowd.
Special Lifetime Achievement Award
First, longtime advocate and cannabis entrepreneur Leo Bridgewater was given a special lifetime achievement award. Alb noted he has been the people’s champion advocating for an equitable market in Jersey.
“Josh, look at what we did! Look at this,” he exclaimed. Bridgewater He gestured and noted the big crowd reflected the blooming industry. Bridgewater was happy with the progress made.
“New Jersey hit $3 billion in October, y’all!” he exclaimed about adult-use sales since the NJ market opened.
Bridgewater praised the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for giving out grants, the Cannabis Training Academy (CTA) for providing free education, and automatic record expungement for helping people with records.
“We need to start funding some of these politicians to start working like we need them to work,” he added.
“Y’all saw what Trump did. I didn’t see any of us in that meeting. So that’s telling me what kind of game he’s playing. So we gotta play the same way,” Bridgewater explained.
Educator of the Year
The first award contested was Educator of the Year.
“That’s how we started in education,” Alb explained.
He called up the 2024 winner educator and Valley Wellness dispensary CEO Sarah Trent to present the award.
- Eric Dawson of Higher Function-won
- Tauhid Chappell of the NJ Business Action Center’s Cannabis Training Academy (CTA)
- Alan Ao of the Minority Cannabis Academy (MCA)
- Rob Mejia of Stockton University
Reformer of the Year
“We started in education but education was really advocacy,” Alb noted.
He explained the need for justice for the fallout from the War on Drugs. However, the work of legalization isn’t done.
“One of the biggest things we need in this state still is homegrow. We’re one of the only legal markets that does not have homegrow,” Alb said.
Previous winner Andrea Raible of the NJ Home Grow Coalition came up to present the award and noted that all 4 nominees favor homegrow.
- Students for Sensible Drug Policy of Rowan University-won
- Hugh Giordano of the UFCW labor union
- Spencer Bellz of the NJ Canna Business Association (NJCBA)
- Kyle Page of EC Dank
Lawyer of the Year
Alb invited former winner Jessica F. Gonzalez to present the Lawyer of the Year award.
- Natalie Diaz-won
- Mollie Lustig
- Bill Caruso
- Chirali Patel
“…It’s about advocacy and also fighting for legitimacy. We came so far as a community and I really want to thank you for this award,” Diaz said.
Afterward, Alb thanked Diaz’s law firm Mandelbaum Barret for sponsoring the VIP section.
Brand Ambassador of the Year
- Christian “Toast” Vargas of Garden Greens-won
- Cisco Fresco Sun Extractions
- Miles Cordero Green Lightning
- Charlie Yoast- Urb’n and ButACake
Influencer of the Year
Alb invited Preston of NJ Dispensary Reviews who won in 2023 and 2024 to present the award.
- The Sativa Papi
- King Dutch
- Visine Queen-won
- NJGasquatch
“You deserve it more than anyone I know,” Preston said to Lisa “Visine Queen” Sanchez.
“Thank you for voting for me. It honestly means so much to me, especially after losing my Instagram page…,” Vise Queen said.
Hustler of the Year
Alb called up Joe LaRusso of Garden Greens to present the award.
- Nick Thompson of Onyx
- Sam Padro of Jersey Smooth-won
- Loud Lou of Garden Greens
- Big Dave Valese of HoneyGrove and HoneyStash
While accepting the award, Padro thanked God and his wife, who encouraged him to pursue the legal path, and Jersey Smooth.
Rookie of the Year
- Victory Farms/Stash House-won
- Sun Extractions
- Parks Grove
- Bass River Buds
Testing Facility of the Year
Alb noted the importance of labs to prevent weed contamination.
- Trichome Analytical-won
- Cannalytics
- Green Analytics
- Sriven Labs
“We’re all supportive of the industry and homegrow and the community,” Trichome Analytical CEO Kristen Gooede explained.
She encouraged people to visit the NJ Home Grow Coalition table and contact their state representatives to advance the cause.
Medical Product of the Year
“I feel like people forget about the medical community. This whole movement started because of our medical community, because of dying cancer patients, because of AIDS and HIV patients,” Alb noted.
- MCT Tincture from Breakwater-won
- Harmony Lotion from Avexia
- Transdermal patch from Rejuv
- Black Label Sativa RSO from MPX
Edible of the Year
- Good Time Rosin Gummies from Wyld-won
- Joybombs from Joybomb/Stash House
- Milk Chocolate Bars from Onyx
- Cereal Bars from Shnicks Snacks
Disposable of the Year
- 420 Live Resin Cartridges from Sun Extractions
- Baja Blast Distillate Disposable from Jersey Smooth-won
- Pie-Eyed Live Resin Cartridges from Breakwater
- Pineapple Express Distillate Disposables from Rove
“2026 is an incredibly exciting year. The community is evolving, and I just want to take this time to say … let’s get to know each other…,” Jersey Sooth CEO Aslan Zadeh said.
Pre-roll of the Year
- Fill It Super Hash Hole from Lily Extracts
- Trop Nana Hemp Wrapped Blunt from Panda Farms
- Sour Diesel Tangy Haze from Test Kitchen/Garden Greens-won
- Black Cherry Punch from Neptune’s Garden
Concentrate of the Year
- Apple Jelly Cold Cure Live Rosin from Onyx-won
- Super Boof Live Rosin Jam from EV and Harvest Works
- Super Lemon Mac Cold Cure Rosin from Full Tilt Labs
- 420 Live Resin Cartridges from Bless Your Cottons
Flower of the Year
- Moonbow from Neptune’s Garden
- Candied Garlic from Happy Farmer-won
- Yikes from Bass River Buds
- Blissful Wizard from Breakwater
Medical Dispensary of the Year
- Breakwater-won
- Valley Wellness
- Urb’n
- HoneyGrove
Dispensary of the Year
- HoneyStash
- Premo
- Hashery
- Indigo-won
Budtender of the Year
Alb called up last year’s winner Connor Gregory to present the last award.
“I want to thank each every one of you guys for supporting this, and more importantly for voting,” he said.
“We do have a voice when we organize and share that voice… You can take the time for real change…,” Alb argued.
- Megan Fox of Pure Blossom
- Chris Aviles of Molly Ann Farms
- Lilly Dempsey from Brotherly Buds-won
- Pat Hogan of HoneyStash
Alb noted the award came with a cash prize and a paid trip.
“I truly worked so hard for this… Thank you so much… This is truly a dream come true,” Dempsey said.
Alb’s assistants then gave him an honorary award of Community Catalyst.
“I remember the community before capitalism. I remember when this was still underground. And I remember when there weren’t businesses, and we were all coming together trying to figure out how to make things happen…” he explained. “After 11 years, I want to keep that going as we enter this new era of ours.”
