Last night was a historic moment. In its 60th year of existence, the Clio Awards recognized a new category: cannabis.
The Clios were established in 1959 as a way to honor and celebrate the creative and artistic prowess of the advertising and marketing industries. Since its first year, the Clio Awards have considered submissions from a variety of industries, including fashion, sports, beauty, music, and health. This was the first year that the institution accepted submissions from agencies and businesses in the cannabis space.
In order to uphold the legacy for greatness that the Clios had maintained for 60 years, they partnered with High Times, a long-established voice in the scene, to present the inaugural Clio Cannabis Awards. To those intimately acquainted with either (or both) the cannabis space or advertising industry, this seemed like the perfect match. The Clios and High Times are two brands with the reputation of being at the forefront of their respective fields; it stands to reason that the two should merge for the joint venture of honoring innovation and creativity in advertising and marketing within the nascent legal cannabis space.
The Clio Cannabis Awards were held the evening of November 20th at NeueHouse Hollywood, in Los Angeles, California. The event started with a discussion panel featuring cannabis business owners (and celebrities in their fields) Macy Grey, Ricky Williams, and B. Real, and moderated by High Times’ president and CEO, Kraig Fox. The program was then hosted by NBA legend John Salley, who presented the winners of the gold Clio trophies.
If you were unable to attend the event this year, here are the winners of the Clio Cannabis Awards:
The Gold Winners of the Clio Cannabis Awards
Advocacy
- For21 by Keystone Canna Remedies
- The New Normal by MedMen
Brand Design
- An Elevated Brand of Cannabis by Houseplant
- Elevating the Dispensary Shop-in-Shop by Dosist
Product Design
- Puffco Peak by Puffco
- Cannabutter by Sweet Grass
Film/ Video
- The New Normal by MedMen
- Weed Week Interstitials by VICELAND
- Drive High by Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
Social Good
- Drive High by Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
The Silver Winners of the Clio Cannabis Awards
Brand Design
- Your Loyal Cannabis Companion by Dogwalkers
- Pass The Bill by Leaf Forward
- Latitude by 48North Cannabis Corp
Social Good
- Last Prisoner Project by Last Prisoner Project
The Bronze Winners of the Clio Cannabis Awards
Advocacy
- PDX Cannabis Needs Economic Justice Now! by NuLeaf Project
- Weedmaps Museum of Weed by Weedmaps
Film/ Video
- Sunday Scaries by Sunday Scaries (CBD Edible Dummies Brand)
- Tokyo Smoke Terpene Worlds by Tokyo Smoke
Brand Design
- Superette Cannabis Retail by Superette
- Puffco
- Real People. Real Props. Surreal Packaging by Dreamland Chocolates
- Sustainability and Good Weed by 48North Cannabis Corp
Partnerships & Collaborations
- Katz + Dogg by Katz + Dogg
Social Good
- Weedmaps Museum of Weed by Weedmaps
Product Design
- Dialing in the Edibles Marketplace by Dosist
The Shortlist
Social Good
- Recycling Program by NAMASTE
- Barely High is Still Too High To Drive by the Government of Ontario
Print & Out of Home
- CÁÑAMO: La Revista de la Cultura del Cannabis by CÁÑAMO
- Saving Grace Financial by Up Cannabis
Digital/ Mobile
- Saving Grace Financial by Up Cannabis
- Capsule Collection by Tokyo Smoke
Brand Design
- Pantry Food Co. Brand Development by Pantry Food Co.
- Noetic Experience by 710 Labs