A Chance to Prove Cannabis Deserves Real Partners.

Before we talk about the Emjay Awards, let’s talk about what this actually means to us.

Paragon Payroll didn’t enter cannabis because it was convenient. We entered because the people who were supposed to serve you didn’t. When Paychex and the big-box payroll companies dropped cannabis operators en masse, we were there to catch those left scrambling. When predatory providers used this industry as a short-term cash grab—only to vanish when things got tough—we stayed, and we kept showing up. Sometimes in emergencies, sometimes overnight, always with urgency and care.

We’ve walked the halls of Congress lobbying for cannabis businesses to be seen and respected. We’ve taken home recognition like this year’s PBC Conference award, not as a trophy to admire but as a reminder of the responsibility we carry. Our leadership team has flown across the country, sat in long rooms in Chicago, joined boards, and built coalitions—not because it was easy, but because we know the stakes.

We’ve built resources like the Paragonian Learning Center, our Partner Ecosystem, and even Canna U, the first LMS track designed just for cannabis HR and compliance—not because it looks good on a brochure, but because you told us what you needed. We interview our clients to learn where you are now, what you’ve been able to accomplish, and where you still need support—because we care to know, and because holding space for your growth matters.

And when tragedy strikes—when clients walk through our doors carrying burdens, losses, or heartbreak—our employees mourn right along with them. That’s the weight of this work. That’s the reality we step into every day.

We call ourselves out when we need to grow stronger, better, faster, more efficient. We’re committed to breaking stereotypes, amplifying tribal sovereign and legacy operators, and making sure every business we serve has the dignity, tools, and recognition they deserve.

So when we say that this Emjay nomination means something—it’s not about us wanting applause. It’s about reflecting the sweat, the grief, the resilience, and the relentless hope of an industry we’re proud to serve. It’s about waking up every single day wanting to make this industry better, and knowing we can’t do it alone.

Awards in cannabis come and go. Glass trophies gather dust. Press releases get buried. But the Emjays? That’s different. That’s not just another pat on the back—it’s the international stage for cannabis legitimacy.

And now, Paragon Payroll has been nominated.

But let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t about us. It’s about everything this industry has been through, everything you’ve been through, and the fact that we’re still here, still fighting, still building, still refusing to let outsiders define us.

The Meaning of This Nomination for Us

Most service providers don’t even want to touch cannabis. They’ll smile at your money until the regulators glare at them, then they slam the door in your face. Or worse—they let you in, bleed you with a so-called “cannabis premium,” then cut and run when it’s no longer convenient.

So for a payroll and HCM partner to be standing in this arena? For Paragon Payroll to be in the Emjays, not hiding in the shadows, not hedging our bets, but stepping onto an international stage and saying “Yes, we’re here, we’re cannabis committed, and we’re not going anywhere”? That matters.

This nomination is a statement: the cannabis industry deserves real partners. Not opportunists. Not pretenders. Not providers who see you as a risk.

Why This Vote Matters

Every single vote is more than a click—it’s a shot across the bow of every company that’s tried to make cannabis feel “less than.”

Voting for Paragon Payroll is saying:

• We won’t pay the cannabis tax.

• We won’t settle for vendors who treat us like second-class businesses.

• We won’t keep pretending this industry is temporary.

Each daily vote is a small rebellion. A disruption. A collective middle finger to the systems that have stacked the deck against cannabis operators from the jump.

This isn’t a popularity contest—it’s a chance to remind the industry who it really belongs to: the growers, the budtenders, the owners, the trimmers, the transporters, the scientists, the HR teams, the accountants, the advocates, the entire backbone of this plant.

We’ve had clients call us in tears after being dropped overnight by their payroll provider. One cultivator told us, “I thought I’d lose my staff before payday. Paragon saved us.” That’s why this nomination matters. Every vote is a chance to make sure stories like that don’t keep repeating.

The Reverence Behind This Moment

Cannabis has always been about reverence. Reverence for the plant. Reverence for the people who risked their freedom before legalization. Reverence for the fight it took to drag this industry out of the shadows.

So when we say this nomination matters, it’s not because we want to hang a plaque on the wall—it’s because it’s proof that payroll, compliance, and HR don’t have to be shackles. They can be keys. They can unlock potential instead of chaining it down.

That’s reverence. That’s what we’re standing on stage for.

Disruption in Action

Here’s the truth no one likes to say out loud: the Emjays are as much about politics as they are about recognition. Big names, loud brands, flash, money—it’s all there. But disruption doesn’t come from the loudest voice. It comes from the most relentless.

And if there’s one thing we’ve proven, it’s that Paragon Payroll is relentless in its commitment to this industry. We don’t care if it costs us clients who don’t believe in cannabis—we’re not watering down our stance. We don’t care if it makes us less “corporate friendly”—we’re not hedging.

We’re here to represent, and we’re asking you to stand with us.

Your Role in This Movement

This is where you come in.

• Vote here: Cast your vote for Paragon Payroll

• Register once, then vote daily with just your email.

• Share it. Text it. Post it. Talk about it. Every vote is fuel for disruption.

The Emjay Awards aren’t just about recognition—they’re about rewriting the narrative of who belongs in cannabis. And when we win, we win together.

A Thank You From Us to You

No matter what happens, this nomination already belongs to all of you—our clients, partners, advocates, and friends.

Thank you for trusting us when others walked away.
Thank you for holding us accountable when we needed to grow.
Thank you for letting us stand with you in both victories and losses.
And thank you for believing in an industry that’s still fighting for its rightful place.

We don’t take this lightly. Whether we bring home the Emjay or not, we wake up every day because of you—and for you.

This isn’t just an award. It’s a reckoning. Let’s bring it home.