Javier Hasse Wins International Journalist of the Year at London Cannabis Awards
Javier Hasse of High Times was named International Journalist of the Year at the 2026 Business of Cannabis Awards in London, highlighting the global impact of his cannabis coverage
Key Points
- 1Javier Hasse received the International Journalist of the Year award at the Business of Cannabis Awards 2026 in London
- 2The event attracted nearly 250 entries from eight countries, a record for the awards
- 3Special mentions in the journalist category went to Jodie Yettram and Aurélien Bernard
- 4Hasse leads High Times and co-founded El Planteo and IgniteIt, with previous recognition at the Emjays International Cannabis Awards
- 5The ceremony also introduced the Hannah Deacon Award for patient advocacy, presented to Carola Pérez
Javier Hasse, Editor-in-Chief of High Times, has been awarded the prestigious International Journalist of the Year title at the 2026 Business of Cannabis Awards in London. The ceremony, held at 83 Rivington after Cannabis Europa London, recognized Hasse’s significant contributions to global cannabis journalism amid a competitive field of nominees from eight countries
The judging panel commended Hasse’s work for its depth and impact on informed discourse around cannabis. The awards, hosted by Romana Testasecca, saw nearly 250 entries—the largest turnout in the event’s three-year history. Special mentions in the journalist category were given to Jodie Yettram for her coverage in Jersey and Aurélien Bernard for independent reporting on the European industry
Hasse’s leadership at High Times comes alongside his roles as CEO and co-founder of El Planteo—a Spanish-language cannabis and psychedelics media platform—and co-founder of IgniteIt. He has also contributed to Forbes since 2019 and authored two books, earning recognition at the 2024 Emjays International Cannabis Awards. In his acceptance, Hasse stated, “No award like this belongs to one person. It belongs to the editors, writers, colleagues, collaborators, photographers, sources, readers and teams that make the work possible day after day.”
The awards evening also featured the introduction of the Hannah Deacon Award, honoring patient advocacy and presented by MP Tonia Antoniazzi to Carola Pérez of Dos Emociones and We, The Patients. Other notable winners included Curaleaf Clinic UK, Bloomwell Group, VIST Labs, Village Farms International, Curaleaf International, Niklas Kouparanis, and Nicole Farah, highlighting a diverse and innovative field across the cannabis sector
OG Lab notes that Hasse’s recognition underscores the growing international stature of cannabis journalism and the increasing importance of cross-border coverage as the industry evolves. His work and the broader list of honorees reflect a global community focused on advocacy, reform, and responsible reporting in the rapidly changing cannabis landscape
