Sam and Joe Hachey of Tanana Herb Co. stand together at their Fairbanks, Alaska, cannabis business.

Wild Is Not Out of the Ordinary

When Sam and Joe Hachey secured one of Alaska’s first adult-use cultivation licenses in 2016, they had a bare warehouse, a tiny budget, and a refusal to slow down. Nine years later, Tanana Herb Company has transformed into a 48,000-square-foot powerhouse in Fairbanks. From navigating white-out blizzards to "playing chicken" with local moose, the Hachey brothers built their success the hard way: with their own hands and zero outside investors.
Illustrated woman in a production setting explaining a technical process to a male colleague beside industrial equipment.

In Cannabis, Competence Is Power — and Women Are Bringing Both

Women have always been part of the cannabis industry, but their influence is becoming harder to ignore as the business matures. From cultivation and compliance to operations and the executive suite, more women are stepping into pivotal roles and bringing leadership grounded in competence, collaboration, and long-term thinking. In a sector shaped by regulation, rapid change, and high stakes, those qualities are not soft skills. They are strategic advantages.
Four cannabis industry executives talk in an upscale networking setting, reflecting leadership, professionalism, and industry credibility.

Most Influential Executives of Cannabis Awards Goes National in 2026

As the cannabis industry faces regulatory delays, capital constraints, and renewed political resistance, the Most Influential Executives of Cannabis Awards is expanding nationwide in 2026. What began as a local recognition program now aims to spotlight the executives whose grit, leadership, and staying power are helping professionalize the industry and strengthen its legitimacy.

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