In a sign of how much cannabis businesses have become a central and accepted part of the communities in which they operate, a Washington state retailer and a cannabis-based public relations firm in Denver were each honored with first-place awards from their local newspapers.
Cannabis 21, a retailer with two locations in Grays Harbor, Washington, was named best overall business by The Daily World in the newspaper’s annual Best of Twin Harbors Awards, the highest honor the paper awards.
According to the newspaper, “tens of thousands of votes” were received and tabulated to determine the award. Cannabis 21 was also named best marijuana business, an award the company has won every year since 2016.
“We’re super thankful and humbled to the community,” co-owner Adam Bakotich told The Daily World. “My mentality is to do good, be good and don’t take advantage of anyone to do it.”
In Denver, the communications firm Grasslands won first place in the extra-small business category of the Denver Business Journal’s Small Business Awards. Judging was based on financial performance, historical achievements, contributions to the industry and the local economy, potential to shape Metro-Denver’s business community and community impact.
“My colleagues and I at Grasslands are legit humbled by this tremendous honor, especially since this Small Business Award comes from a journalism institution that has exclusively covered business in Colorado since 1949,” said Grasslands founder and CEO Ricardo Baca.