Award Host: Jenny West

Jenny West hosts the Afternoon Show on the Zone @91-3 in Victoria. She coordinates the station’s Band of the Month program, which connects local musicians to the Canadian radio industry. She is the recipient of Canada’s 2023 Allan Waters Young Broadcaster of the Year Award and is known for her community work in sexual health through podcasts and activism. Outside of radio, she competes as an amateur boxer and teaches others to use their mental and physical strength through boxing fitness.

Hall of Fame: Kevin Jodrey

Kevin Jodrey is a leading authority in the cannabis industry, specializing in cultivation, breeding, and genetics. With over 30 years of experience, he is based in California, USA, and has made significant contributions as an educator, advocate, and entrepreneur. He founded the Wonderland nursery, the first direct-to-consumer cannabis nursery in the US, which later merged with Cookies to establish the One Log House Cookies research and development facility in Humboldt County, California. Kevin conducts workshops and training programs on cannabis cultivation techniques and genetics, with his coursework featured in numerous universities. He co-founded the Ganjier program, training students worldwide in cannabis service and assessment. Additionally, he has been actively involved in various entrepreneurial ventures in the global cannabis community, advocating for sustainable and responsible cultivation practices. In summary, Kevin Jodrey is a respected figure in the cannabis world for his expertise, educational efforts, and dedication to sustainable practices.

Cannabis Pioneer: Wanda James

Wanda James is one of the most widely respected leaders in cannabis today. As a Black woman, a veteran, a former Fortune 100 executive, and now and now an elected official. she has spent the past decade working to remove the stigma of the plant and shedding light on the racial inequities of the cannabis industry.

Wanda is the founder and CEO of Simply Pure Dispensary in Denver. Along with her husband Scott Durrah, they became the first African Americans, legally licensed in America, to own a dispensary, a cultivation facility, and edible company.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Ted Smith

Ted Smith, founder of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club (VCBC), has been a prominent medical cannabis advocate in British Columbia for nearly 30 years. He established Canada’s oldest compassion club in 1996, which is now, sadly, the last remaining medical cannabis storefront in the country. Ted’s activism and patient advocacy have been crucial in securing access to medical cannabis and influencing federal legalization in Canada. He is a respected author, editor, and publisher on cannabis-related topics and has played a significant role in numerous cannabis activism events. The VCBC, with over 8,500 members, faced several raids and legal challenges, which Ted skillfully defended, resulting in landmark victories. Currently, Ted is leading the non-profit society’s efforts to obtain a temporary exemption from Health Canada under the Cannabis Act, aiming to provide essential high-dosage edibles for patients and create integrated palliative care facilities in the future.