Boof du Jour Presents: The Worst of 4/20 Awards 2026

The Invitations No One Wanted to Receive

No one admits how nervous they were when the invites went out.

They’ll joke about it now. Post about it. Laugh it off in Slack threads and group chats. But when those envelopes first landed, no return address, no branding, just a matte black card that read “You’ve been nominated. Attendance strongly recommended.”, people checked the categories twice.

Some checked with legal.

Others checked their last three product launches.

A few, the smarter ones, just booked a flight and accepted their fate.

Because whether anyone says it out loud or not, everyone in cannabis knows exactly where they stand. The industry just doesn’t usually hold a mirror up long enough to make it uncomfortable.

Boof decided to change that.

The Venue: A Licensing Mistake Brought to Life

The venue was exactly what you’d expect if someone tried to host an awards show inside a licensing mistake.

Tucked just off Times Square in New York City, the building used to be a retail space. Then a CBD store. Then nothing. Now it was back from the dead for one night only, still half-gutted, still carrying the faint smell of drywall dust and regret. Someone had hung a step-and-repeat banner across one wall, slightly wrinkled, like they gave up halfway through trying to make it look legitimate.

“BOOF DU JOUR: WORST OF 4/20 AWARDS.”

Underneath, in smaller text: If you’re here, you earned it.

The Green Carpet: Smiles, Lies, and Mild Panic

By the time the Green Carpet opened, the tone had already been set. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t trying to be. The turf was uneven, a little damp in spots, and flanked by folding stanchions that looked like they were borrowed from a failed dispensary grand opening.

And still, people showed up like it mattered.

A mid-level executive from Curaleaf stepped onto the carpet trying to project confidence, answering questions about “continued growth” while very clearly calculating how many categories his company might be called for. A few feet behind him, a Jeeter team arrived like they were late to Coachella, phones out, filming everything, documenting their own entrance to an event specifically designed to make fun of them.

No one told them to stop.

No one needed to.

That was part of the joke.

Inside the Room: Everyone Knows Why They’re Here

Inside, the room filled quickly. Not in the polished, coordinated way you see at industry conferences, but in waves. Operators, brand reps, budtenders, consultants, people who swore they were “just there to observe.” You could spot the regulators almost immediately. They stood differently. Talked less. Looked like they were trying to figure out if this was something they were supposed to shut down or quietly learn from.

The bar was doing steady business, pouring canned cocktails and something labeled “nano-enhanced punch” that had the consistency of a science experiment and the effect of a bad decision. By the time the lights dimmed, most of the room had already committed to the night.

No one really knew what was going to happen.

They just knew it wasn’t going to be comfortable.

Pre-Show Entertainment: The Distillate Deathmatch

Before the awards even kicked off, we unveiled our most ambitious ethical violation yet:a kiddie pool filled to the brim with warm, suspiciously amber distillate.

It shimmered under the stage lights like a Costco-sized vat of vape-cart regret — the perfect arena for brands to pay actual money to sponsor their brand ambassadors and make them “compete” in front of a live audience of their peers and haters.

Was it degrading? Absolutely.

Was it wildly unsafe? Without question.

Did every brand ask about the “tiered pricing” before pretending to be morally conflicted? Oh, you bet your solventless rosin they did.

Brand reps circled the pool like Roman nobles at a gladiator pit, placing bets, shouting encouragement, and pretending they weren’t deeply enjoying the spectacle of two barely-paid ambassadors slip-fighting in 30 gallons of what was probably once intended for carts.

Winners received a towel, a $25 DoorDash card, and a promise that “this will look great on socials.”Losers got a free exfoliation treatment courtesy of the mystery terpenes floating at the bottom.

Honestly?

It was the most honest thing the cannabis industry has ever done.

Opening Remarks: The Industry, Unfiltered

The host didn’t bother with theatrics.

No intro video. No music cue. Just a single spotlight and a mic that crackled like it had something to say.

“Welcome to the Second Annual Boof du Jour Worst of 4/20 Awards,” they said, looking out over a room full of people who suddenly seemed very aware of where they were sitting.

“Tonight, we recognize the companies, products, and people who made this industry what it is today…”

A pause.

“…which is to say, confusing, overhyped, and somehow still underdelivering.”

That got a reaction. Not polite applause. Not forced laughter. Something more honest.

Because for the first time all year, no one was pretending.

First Blood: When the Awards Started Hurting

The first award landed like a warning shot.

Worst Indoor Grow.

There was no buildup. No attempt to soften it. The nominees flashed across the screen, and you could feel entire sections of the room subtly shift, like people trying not to make eye contact with their own table.

“And the winner is… Curaleaf.”

The reaction wasn’t explosive. It was knowing. A ripple of laughter, a few groans, someone near the back muttering “of course it is” like they’d been waiting for confirmation more than surprise.

Curaleaf's CEO, Boris Jordan's walk to the stage felt longer than it should have. The acceptance speech started exactly how you’d expect, something about commitment, quality, ongoing improvements, but halfway through, the mic cut out just long enough to make the whole thing feel like it had been edited for clarity.

No one rushed to fix it.

No one asked them to continue.

That set the tone.

The Jeeter Moment: Leaning Into the Joke

By the time “Most Over-Hyped Product Release” came around, the room already knew.

“Anything Jeeter drops.”

The camera cut to their table. Phones already up, recording. Of course they were.

To their credit, they took it in stride. Smiled. Played along. Leaned into it in a way that almost made it respectable, if not entirely redeeming.

Almost.

The Disposable Incident: When the Room Broke

The night really broke open during the hardware segment.

Someone, no one ever quite confirmed who, decided it would be a good idea to demonstrate a 2g disposable live on stage. It started as a joke. A visual gag. Something to keep the energy moving between categories.

It didn’t work.

First pull, nothing.

Second pull, resistance. The kind you feel when the device is already plotting against you.

Third pull, burnt coil.

The room lost it.

Not in a chaotic, out-of-control way. In a deeply familiar way. The kind of laughter that comes from shared experience. Every budtender in the room had lived that moment. Every operator had dealt with the return.

From the back, someone shouted, “That’s still within spec!”

Even the host had to step away from the mic.

That wasn’t written.

That was the industry.

New York Takes the Stage

When “Worst Governing Department” came up, the tone shifted again.

“And the winner is… New York.”

No hesitation. No suspense.

The screen behind the stage started cycling through headlines, license delays, lawsuits, enforcement failures, proximity corrections. You didn’t need to explain it. Everyone in the room either knew someone affected or had quietly decided not to touch the state at all.

A few people from New York State Office of Cannabis Management were reportedly in attendance.

Acting Executive Director John Kagia accepted the award with a big grin on his face... Sorry, New York - you're fucked.

The Influencer Category: No One Laughs at First

The influencer category hit the room like a rogue dab hit.

Names were read. Real ones.

“And the winner is… Andrew DeAngelo.”

This time there wasn’t awkward silence, just the collective oh no as he actually stood up. Like, full body rise. Purposeful. Marching toward the stage with the confidence of a man accepting a humanitarian award instead of a public roast session.

Phones came out anyway. Messages flew. Side conversations ignited and died in the same breath.

He reached the mic. Smiling. Unironically. Ready.

The host blinked, unsure if this was bravery or a cry for help.

“Well… congratulations?”

And that was enough.

The Middle of the Night: A Slow Collapse

From there, the awards kept coming, and each one chipped away at whatever illusion was left.

Worst Company of the Year. Curaleaf.

Most Overpriced Mid. Cookies.

Worst at Paying Their Bills. Skymint.

Each announcement landed cleaner than the last. Less shock. More recognition.

At one point, someone near the back yelled, “DO LABS NEXT.”

They didn’t read nominees for that one.

They didn’t need to.

The Final Award: No One Escapes

The host came back out with one last envelope that hadn’t been announced.

“This one wasn’t on the program,” they said.

That got the room’s attention back.

“But after reviewing everything, the launches, the statements, the rebrands, the same mistakes dressed up as strategy, we felt like it needed to be said.”

They looked out over the room.

“The award for Most Consistent Disappointment…”

A pause.

“…goes to the entire industry.”

This time, there was no hesitation.

The entire room laughed.

Then applauded.

Because at that point, what else were you going to do.

After the Show: Nothing Changes

By the time people started filing out, the energy had shifted again. Not defeated. Not angry. Something closer to acceptance.

Outside, the Green Carpet was already being rolled up. Inside, a few trophies were left behind on tables, either forgotten or intentionally abandoned.

A group of executives stood near the exit, already talking about next quarter. A couple of influencers were editing clips on their phones, finding angles that made the night look like something else entirely.

Someone was still trying to hit that same disposable.

It still didn’t work.

Full List of Categories and Winners Below

❌ Worst Indoor Grow

For turning electricity into disappointment.

Nominees:

• Curaleaf

• Verano Holdings

• Parallel

Winner: → Curaleaf

Why They Won: Scale without soul. Mass-produced mids dressed up like premium and sold like they believe it.

❌ Most Over-Hyped Product Release

For drops treated like sneaker culture, delivered like gas station weed.

Nominees:

• Jeeter (every drop)

• Cookies collabs

• STIIIZY limited editions

Winner: → Anything Jeeter Drops

Why They Won: Marketing budget of Nike. Product consistency of a mystery bag.

❌ Worst Tasting Edible

For flavor profiles that feel like punishment.

Nominees:

• Gas station Delta-8 brands

• Off-brand hemp-derived gummies on TikTok

• “Nano-enhanced” anything that tastes like chemicals

Winner: → Anything with Delta-8

Why They Won: If battery acid had a brand voice.

❌ Cannabis Influencer Who Should STFU

For posting through it when silence was free.

Nominees:

• Andrew DeAngelo

• Kris Krane

• J Christopher Stokes

Winner: → Andrew DeAngelo

Why They Won: Every panel needs a microphone. Not every microphone needs him.

❌ Worst Product of the Year

For something that should’ve died in a group chat.

Nominees:

• Tyson 2.0 x Ric Flair “Wooooo!” Disposable

• Celebrity-branded infused pre-roll packs

• Any 2g disposable that clogs on day one

Winner: → Tyson 2.0 x Ric Flair “Wooooo!” Disposable

Why They Won: Two legends. One device. Zero dignity.

❌ Worst Company of the Year

For sustained, multi-state disappointment.

Nominees:

• Curaleaf

• Verano

• Acreage Holdings

Winner: → Curaleaf

Why They Won: If “good enough” was a business model.

❌ Worst Executive of the Year

For discovering weed yesterday and evangelizing it today.

Nominees:

• “Microdosing is the future” LinkedIn execs

• Any MSO CEO who just found terpenes

• Conference panelists who say “cannabis is wellness now”

Winner: → Every executive preaching microdosing like it’s revolutionary

Why They Won: Congrats on reinventing taking less.

❌ Worst Governing Department (State)

For turning legalization into performance art.

Nominees:

• New York State Office of Cannabis Management

• California Department of Cannabis Control

• Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission

Winner: → New York

Why They Won: Licenses revoked. Then unreleased. Then reissued. Then corrected. Then litigated. Then tweeted.

❌ Worst Regulation Change of the Year

For fixing nothing while breaking everything.

Nominees:

• Michigan’s 24% wholesale tax

• California local tax stacking

• New York proximity corrections

Winner: → Michigan’s 24% Tax Increase

Why They Won: Margins weren’t dead enough.

❌ Company Who Probably Bribed the Most Politicians

Allegedly. Of course.

Nominees:

• Curaleaf

• Trulieve

• Pharma-backed cannabis lobby groups

Winner: → Curaleaf

Why They Won: They’re everywhere. Somehow always fine.

❌ Company Who Remediated the Most Concentrates

For turning problems into “product.”

Nominees:

• Cresco Labs

• Large-scale extraction houses

• White-label concentrate producers

Winner: → Cresco Labs

Why They Won: If it failed once, it can fail again in cartridge form.

❌ Company Who Renamed the Most Strains

For turning genetics into Mad Libs.

Nominees:

• Headchange 710

• Cookies

• White-label MSO brands

Winner: → Headchange 710

Why They Won: Same weed. New personality disorder.

❌ Worst Vaporizers of the Year

For hardware that hates you back.

Nominees:

• Ooze

• G Pen

• 2g no-name disposables

Winner: → 2g no-name disposables

Why They Won: Clogged. Burnt. Dead. In that order.

❌ Worst at Paying Their Bills

For making vendors chase ghosts.

Nominees:

• MedMen (legacy champion)

• Skymint

• Regional MSOs running on vibes

Winner: → Skymint

Why They Won: Accounts payable is apparently optional.

❌ Biggest Grifter of the Year

Nominees:

• Kim Rivers

• Cannabis consultants charging $50k decks

• NFT cannabis founders

Winner: → Kim Rivers

Why They Won: Every year is a masterclass.

❌ Worst Pre-Roll That Somehow Still Tested at 36% THC

Nominees:

• Jeeter infused pre-rolls

• Gas station hemp joints

• Budget MSO shake tubes

Winner: → Jeeter infused pre-rolls

Why They Won: Math is optional when vibes are strong.

❌ Most Fraudulent COA of the Year

For numbers that feel aspirational.

Nominees:

• “Boutique” testing labs with perfect results

• Labs that never fail anything

• Out-of-state testing partnerships

Winner: → Labs that never fail anything

Why They Won: Miracles, daily.

❌ Dry-as-the-Sahara Flower Award

Nominees:

• MSO bulk eighths

• Pre-packaged budget flower

• Warehouse-stored inventory

Winner: → MSO bulk eighths

Why They Won: Snap. Crackle. Not Pop.

❌ Most Offensive Packaging Award

Nominees:

• Neon slime fonts brands

• Weed leaf clip-art startups

• Chrome skull Mylar bags

Winner: → Chrome skull Mylar bags

Why They Won: Hot Topic died for this.

❌ The “I Can’t Believe They’re Still in Business” Award

Nominees:

• MedMen

• Eaze

• Random delivery startups

Winner: → MedMen

Why They Won: Pure willpower and unpaid invoices.

❌ Worst Rebrand After a Massive Scandal

Nominees:

• Parallel

• Skymint

• Assorted MSO “refreshes”

Winner: → Skymint

Why They Won: New colors. Same chaos.

❌ The “Budtender PTSD” Award

Nominees:

• Cheap 2g disposables

• Leaking cartridges

• Mold recall flower

Winner: → Cheap 2g disposables

Why They Won: “I swear it worked yesterday.”

❌ Most Overpriced Mid

Nominees:

• Cookies

• Doja

• Alien Labs

Winner: → Cookies

Why They Won: Brand equity carrying dead weight.

❌ Company Most Likely to Lay Off 80% Then Post About “Community”

Nominees:

• Curaleaf

• Verano

• Parallel

Winner: → Curaleaf

Why They Won: “Family” until payroll hits.

❌ Worst Celebrity Brand That Clearly Never Met a Puff

Nominees:

• Tyson 2.0

• Ric Flair cannabis

• Celebrity white-label lines

Winner: → Ric Flair cannabis

Why They Won: The only thing getting smoked is the consumer.

❌ Most Laughably Fake Terp Profile

Nominees:

• “Dragon Berry Gelato Blast” carts

• Gas station terp blends

• Botanical overload cartridges

Winner: → Dragon Berry Gelato Blast tier carts

Why They Won: Not even trying anymore.

❌ Worst “Limited Drop” That Was Just Old Inventory

Nominees:

• Cookies “drops”

• Jeeter re-labels

• MSO seasonal runs

Winner: → Cookies

Why They Won: Same weed. New deadline.

❌ Most Shameless Astroturf Campaign

Nominees:

• Influencer-heavy MSO launches

• “Community-first” paid campaigns

• Fake grassroots events

Winner: → Influencer-heavy MSO launches

Why They Won: Nothing says grassroots like a budget.

❌ Most Delusional Executive Take

Nominees:

• “Blockchain cannabis supply chain”

• “AI-driven terpene optimization”

• “Microdosing is the future”

Winner: → Blockchain cannabis takes

Why They Won: No one asked. Everyone suffered.

❌ The “Stop Naming Strains After Candy” Citation

Nominees:

• Cookies

• Backpack Boyz

• Every MSO ever

Winner: → Everyone

Why They Won: Hershey’s lawyers are warming up.

❌ Most Predatory Corporate M&A

Nominees:

• MSO distressed acquisitions

• License flips

• Asset stripping deals

Winner: → MSO distressed acquisitions

Why They Won: Buy low. Fire everyone. Rebrand.

❌ Worst State-Run Cannabis Website

Nominees:

• New York licensing portal

• California licensing systems

• Illinois application portals

Winner: → New York

Why They Won: Crashes harder than expectations.

❌ Most Useless Compliance Rule

Nominees:

• Overbuilt packaging rules

• Label redundancy requirements

• Arbitrary THC symbol placement

Winner: → Overbuilt packaging rules

Why They Won: Saving no one. Costing everyone.

❌ The Dust Bowl Award

Nominees:

• Pre-ground flower

• Budget shake bags

• Old inventory relabels

Winner: → Pre-ground flower

Why They Won: You could season food with it.

❌ Most Boofed Branding / Worst Logo

Nominees:

• Gradient weed startups

• Monoline leaf brands

• Flame clip-art companies

Winner: → Monoline leaf brands

Why They Won: Originality left the building.

❌ Most Consistent Disappointment (Brand)

Nominees:

• Curaleaf

• Verano

• Acreage

Winner: → Verano

Why They Won: Never terrible. Never good. Always there.

❌ Worst Social Equity Theater

Nominees:

• MSO “equity programs”

• State licensing optics

• Corporate grant announcements

Winner: → MSO equity programs

Why They Won: Diversity as a press release.

❌ The Lab Everyone Secretly Hates

Nominees:

• “Too consistent” labs

• Labs with zero fails

• Labs with disappearing samples

Winner: → Labs with zero fails

Why They Won: Science, apparently undefeated.

❌ Worst Rollout of a New Regulation

Nominees:

• New York proximity corrections

• California compliance updates

• Local zoning shifts

Winner: → New York

Why They Won: Fixing mistakes by making new ones.

❌ Most Overpriced Accessory

Nominees:

• $400 rolling trays

• Designer grinders

• Luxury stash boxes

Winner: → $400 rolling trays

Why They Won: For people who hate money.

❌ Most Annoying AI-Generated Marketing Copy

Nominees:

• MSO product descriptions

• Generic brand captions

• SEO-stuffed nonsense menus

Winner: → MSO product descriptions

Why They Won: Reads like a robot got high once.

❌ The “We Promise These Edibles Work” Award

Nominees:

• Budget gummy brands

• Inconsistent dosage edibles

• White-label edibles

Winner: → Budget gummy brands

Why They Won: 50mg? Maybe. Good luck.

If you weren’t invited, you probably did something right.

If you were, we’ll see you next year.