International Cannabis Executives To Watch In 2024

The global regulatory landscape has evolved significantly in the last year. According to Fortune Business Insights, “The global cannabis market size was valued at USD 43.72 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 57.18 billion in 2023 to USD 444.34 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 34.03% during the forecast period.” Such highly forecasted growth would make most expansion decisions a no-brainer for moving beyond the tightly regulated U.S. market. Below is a list of key players in the global cannabis sector, in no particular order.

Europe is seemingly front and center with significant potential for opportunities in operations and investment. Germany continues to delay its most recent policies, but the outlook is positive, and investors have taken note. Switzerland has become the most favorable destination for operations as the laws allow most products, and an adult-use program already exists. Not to be counted out, Latin America is producing some of the finest biomass and products serving the globe. But with hemp on the rise again for many operators that feel boxed in by legal THC restrictions, China seems like the biggest prize for those who can manage it.

Africa continues to produce biomass for many operations globally. The positive economic impact for many on the continent has been noticeable. The globe is ready for this plant to finally be free of its Draconian laws prohibiting the commodity from reaching its full potential, and this list includes some of the most influential movers and shakers to support the global rollout.

Suppose a company is looking abroad for expanded opportunities in manufacturing, worldwide distribution, freedom in import/export, and relaxed and full-service banking abilities. In that case, contacting one of the international operators on this list could be helpful. For this year’s list, Benzinga compiled people who will have some of the most considerable impact on the global cannabis industry in 2024.

The International Cannabis Executives to Watch

Dean Gainsley (UK) Commercial Director GROW

With over twenty years as a portfolio manager in the financial markets and ten years working in the financial division of one of the world's largest agricultural firms, Gainsley is an experienced angel investor in emerging industries and an advisor to early-stage companies. 

GROW (GROW Group PLC) is the UK's largest distributor of medical cannabis, with a growing presence in Germany and Australia. In 2019, GROW was the first company to bulk import medical cannabis into the UK.

GROW's UK business accounts for approximately 35% of the country's medical cannabis sales by volume and value (both wholesale and retail pharmacy). The UK market is currently mostly flower, but GROW also supplies oils, capsules, and vape cartridges.

Irwin D. Simon (US) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TILRAY, Inc. TLRY 

Irwin D. Simon is an executive with over 30 years of experience building industry-leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies ranging from organic and natural foods and dietary supplements to personal care and cannabis. 

Tilray Brands, Inc. TLRYTLRY is a global cannabis-lifestyle and CPG company operating in Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Latin America. A pioneer in cannabis research, cultivation, and distribution, Tilray’s production platform supports over 20 brands in over 20 countries, including comprehensive cannabis offerings, hemp-based foods, and alcoholic beverages.

While Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) who pay themselves more than $ 250k annually are seemingly not aligned with the team or shareholders, Simon is one of the top ten highest-paid CEOs in Canada, with a salary of over $15M. 

Jade Green (US) Founder Jade Green Consulting / CannaMLS

Jade Green Consulting is an elite professional advisory firm focused on international business initiatives. Founded and led by industry veteran Jade Green, her consultancy provides subject matter expertise and a select suite of services to help clients identify and achieve their global commercial interests in rapidly evolving sectors, from fintech to life sciences. Her platform, CannaMLS, is the leading turnkey solution for dispensaries across the U.S. for buying licenses and real estate. 

Cynthia Salarizadeh (US) Founder and CEO of the international communications firm Asha Media Group (AMG)

Asha Media Group currently has international clients across the supply chain operating throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. The MediaSphere PR & Marketing AI technology platform powers AMG. 

As a media maven, Salarizadeh knows everyone and is instrumental behind the scenes at many industry events as a mega-connector on multiple continents. She co-founded Argentina-based Spanish news and cultural publication El Planteo. Prior to that, Salarizadeh co-founded the cannabis finance news publication Green Market Report, which Crain's Communications acquired. As an entrepreneur, in addition to being a public relations executive, Salarizadeh founded the luxury cannabis-infused beverage brand House of Saka.

Dr. Chanda Macias (US/Germany/Canada) Chief Executive Officer of National Holistic Healthcare,

Chairwoman of the Board of Managers, and CEO of Women Grow

Dr. Chanda Macias, MBA, is the CEO of National Holistic Healthcare, a medical cannabis cultivator, processor, and dispenser in the United States that expanded to Germany as Deutschland Holistic GmbH. In a marketplace with developing regulatory laws, Dr. Macias continually focuses on delivering affordable medical cannabis healthcare options. 

Dr. Macias has spent over 15 years developing her knowledge of medical cannabis to have a positive impact on patients’ lives. She started her career in the flagship medical cannabis dispensary in Washington D.C., National Holistic™ Healing Center. 

As vice chair of the National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) Board, Dr. Maciacs is dedicated to furthering the organization’s mission to promote common-sense federal legislation, tax equity, and financial services reform.  

Additionally, as Chairwoman of the Board of Managers and CEO of Women Grow, she uses her platform to further the organization's mission to connect, educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of women leaders in the cannabis Industry. 

Kenzi Riboulet-Zemouli (Barcelona), Co-Founder of The Cannabis Embassy 

For profit-entity, Regennabis used author Riboulet-Zemouli’s nonprofit IP as the origins and basis for its organization. Regennabis isn’t the first entity to be in Riboulet-Zemouli’s debt. As a researcher and author, he published educational books, including The Sustainable Cannabis Policy Toolkit and Cannabis & Sustainable Development: Paving the way for the next decade in cannabis and hemp policies, with a consortium of additional researchers. Both texts elucidate how cannabis and hemp apply to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and are available from the United Nations Library. 

Riboulet-Zemouli works thanklessly, often to his detriment, on numerous cannabis and hemp-related research papers to put forth the case of why global governments should legalize cannabis, and he works to prove that despite the typical interpretation, cannabis legalization is not in contradiction of the United Nations 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. While technically an academic rather than an entrepreneur, every cannabis executive worldwide owes evolving regulations to Riboulet-Zemouli’s tireless efforts and published research, which he often shares for free as he works to free global restrictions on the plant. As a co-founder of the Cannabis Embassy, he often monitors the activities (and refutes its findings when necessary) of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs. 

Wellington Clayton (Jamaica), CEO and Founder of Wabba’s Weed Adventure and Tours and The Blue Hole Mineral Spring

Wellington “Wabba” Clayton is world-renowned as a leading Jamaican Ganja cultivator who wins various cannabis cups galore, year after year. Wabba parlayed his talent and devotion to sun-grown cannabis cultivation into an off-the-beaten-path, renowned tourist hotspot, Wabba’s Weed Adventure and Tours, where visitors can explore guided ganja fields tours on foot or by ATV. Under his leadership, The Blue Hole, named after a magnesium-rich underground spring adjacent to his herb grow and resort, receives famous visitors worldwide. He is often a featured speaker at CanEx Jamaica. His origins are humble. He learned how to grow herb from his mother and further developed his skills as a trimmigrant in Humboldt, CA, many moons ago. Having worked his way from the ground up, Wabba advocates equity empowerment for cannabis farmers in Jamaica while running his trifecta of successful businesses that employ many members of his community. 

Maximillian Weinberg (Poland) Founder Can4Med

Maximillian Weinberg founded Can4Med as a cannabis-based pharmaceutical wholesaler for

Central / Eastern Europe. The company holds all the required licenses to trade narcotic medications within the European Union. Can4Med manages the market entry for cannabis companies from all over the world to Eastern European markets by purchasing and distributing pharmaceutical products. Can4Med also supports pharmaceutical manufacturers worldwide entering the Polish market. Prior to founding Can4Med, Weinberg was the Director of New Market Access at Aurora Cannabis and is a second-generation pharmaceutical executive. His mother, Christiane Weinberg, was head of pharmacy at St. Barbara Hospital, then established and operated osteoporosis prevention clinics before consulting for companies in the emerging cannabis market.

Nancy Whiteman (US/Switzerland), Wana Brands 

Nancy Whiteman is Co-founder and CEO of Wana Brands, a top international cannabis edibles brand available in more than 3,000 dispensaries across the United States and Canada. Whiteman has positioned Switzerland as the company’s global operations base. Switzerland is one of the most forward-thinking international markets regarding a cannabis rollout. 

In October 2021, Canopy Growth Corp. announced it had purchased the option to acquire Wana Brands at a valuation of $350 million. It is exercising the option by creating Canopy USA, a roll-up of its US assets. With proceeds from the deal, Nancy established The Wana Brands Foundation, which works to enhance the world by supporting various 501c3 nonprofit organizations.

Matt Darin (US), CEO of Curaleaf CURLF

As the former Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Grassroots Cannabis, Darin grew Grassroots into one of the largest privately-held multi-state operators (MSOs)in the United States, with 1,200 employees and more than 70 licenses to grow, process, and dispense cannabis in 12 states. Curaleaf acquired Grassroots in July 2020; Darin then served as President of Curaleaf’s Central Region, responsible for the company’s strategy and execution in eight states. 

Darin has grown Curaleaf's international footprint, and the business continues to succeed in Germany and the United Kingdom (UK). With a population of approximately 84 million, analysts predict that Germany will be a significant growth catalyst for Curaleaf in the coming year, assuming the proposed Pillar 1 expansion of the medical market is finalized and implemented. The UK market continues to perform strongly. Recently, Curaleaf set its sights on Poland, which has a population of 41 million. The company believes it is a burgeoning market and is working to position itself to have a significant presence there.

Lana Korneva (Germany) Co-Founder & CEO of Drapalin Pharmaceuticals GmbH 

Korneva is a dynamic executive with a solid background in economics and private banking. Korneva was instrumental in receiving the GmbH, obtaining necessary licenses, and establishing the company in the medical cannabis industry. Korneva has a reputation for strategic leadership and a keen understanding of pharmaceutical market dynamics. Under her leadership, Drapalin Pharmaceuticals has evolved into a multi-country operator with consistent revenues and positive growth. The company is based in Munich, Germany, but conducts its governmental import/export cultivation operations from South Africa to Argentina.

This article is from an external unpaid contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

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