Joyce Cenali
Region: California
Social: @joycewill4u
Joyce Cenali is a Cannabis executive who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. As chief operating officer of Sonoma Hills Farm, Cenali’s background includes both production and compliance.
“Relative to the farm back in the day, I was tagging Metrc onto the plants, I was putting plants in the ground,” Cenali says. “I’ve cloned off many a mother, but now we’ve been able to build a team that does a lot of that.”
Today, Cenali coordinates with nurseries to procure Cannabis genetics and, after the flowers are grown and cured, works with the farm’s production team on quality control and locating sales channels for both collaborative and blind bulk releases. As co-founder of the Cannabis Media Council (CMC), Cenali is invested in creating and promoting collaborative media campaigns to reach new Cannabis customers.
“I want to see as much choice and as much consumer diversity as possible in terms of how products are going to flow to the consumer,” Cenali says. “I like to say that I want the plant to receive the first Super Bowl commercial and not some singular company just because they can pay the bill.”
The CMC’s “I’m High Right Now” campaign is currently running on Meta platforms, which are notorious for censoring Cannabis content, and has appeared in print in Vanity Fair. Cenali says she volunteers her time with the organization to build a Cannabis industry that includes small businesses alongside multi-state operators (MSO). “[MSOs] are going to exist and we appreciate their leadership and their ability to have lobbyists and whatnot, but we would just encourage those MSOs also think collectively and not singularly about who should have a chance to advertise and seek new consumers,” Cenali says. “It should be ‘all of the above’ as opposed to ‘some of the few.’” –Ellen Holland
Shanetha Marable-Lewis
Region: Maryland
Web: hveteransinitiative22.com
Army combat veteran Shanetha Marable-Lewis is a tireless advocate for veterans’ access to Cannabis and alternative therapies, driven by a personal mission to save lives. Having lost her mother to addiction and fentanyl poisoning, and over 40 friends and family members to substance abuse, she is deeply passionate about serving veterans and patients suffering from PTSD and addiction.
Her work extends to bridging the gap between federal Cannabis access and veterans, addressing the current limitations of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Marable-Lewis aims to integrate Cannabis into the federal health care system, ensuring safe and affordable access for those who served. Her expertise led to her appointment by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore to the state’s Psychedelics Task Force as a researcher.
As executive director of Veterans Initiative 22 and an alumna of the University of Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics Graduate Program, she brings a unique perspective.
As chair of the Committee on Regulations and Governance for the Psychedelics Task Force, she is responsible for drafting a legislative report in Maryland on access models for DMT, mescaline and psilocybin. She also served as an expert witness for Veterans Initiative 22 in the DEA’s proposed national rescheduling of Cannabis. She hopes to pursue a doctorate in neuropsychopharmacology, focusing on Cannabis and natural psychedelic substances, believing these therapies hold the key to saving lives. –Wyatt Early
Sean Beeman of Genesis Pharms
Region: Oregon
Social: @genesis_pharms
For over two decades, Sean Beeman was more than just a name in Oregon’s medical Cannabis community: he was a lifeline for countless folks looking to find healing and hope. As the founder of Oregon’s Genesis Pharms, Beeman poured his heart into providing plant-based medicine that truly impacted many individuals’ lives. His journey into Cannabis cultivation and extraction was driven by his health struggles with hepatitis C. Fueled by a mission to bring relief to others, Beeman rarely allowed personal challenges (like a fire that wiped out the family home and farm) or patient obstacles (like financial shortfalls) to stand in the way of providing care for those pushing through everything from cancer to Crohn’s and everything in between.
Beeman’s approach to Cannabis wasn’t about growing plants; it was about growing trust and a sense of hope. His no-till, pesticide-free farming practices reflected his respect for the earth and the people he served. His products, from RSO to capsules and suppositories, were carefully crafted to improve quality of life. But what truly set him apart was his genuine care for the people who relied on his work.
The Oregon community (and beyond) was saddened to hear of Sean’s passing in early 2025. But his legacy of kindness, generosity and meaningful medicine will continue to inspire for years to come. –Terpodactyl Media
Josh Alb
Region: Northeast
Socials: @cannademix | @thealbchemist
Josh Alb, founder of Cannademix, describes the core of his work as “education as activism.” He explains, “When I started in Cannabis my job was to educate dispensary staff, doctors and consumers about the medical benefits of cannabinoids.” Dismantling myths of the industry and how cannabinoid medications work led to deeper conversations and connections that reveal the plant’s broader potential for healing and social change.
Cannademix, which has hosted everything from expungement clinics to job fairs, aims to inform both the community and legislators, bridging gaps that helped create legal markets in New Jersey and New York. Pushing for criminal justice reform and equity, Cannademix addresses the systemic harm caused by decades of prohibition. “The War on Drugs is a war on people,” Alb says, calling it a class war rooted in colonialism.
He urges voters to support lawmakers who back home grow and reminds people that Cannabis consumers could swing elections. “We as a Cannabis community have an immense amount of voting power,” he says, adding that nearly 10% of the state’s population consume Cannabis. “As a community, our voice matters much more than people think, which is why events like Unity at American Dream are so important in showing the world our power.”
Through Cannademix, he mentors the next generation of students, professionals and policymakers beyond what chemistry and cannabinoid science can teach in textbooks: community. “Society does everything to strip people of that sense of connection,” Alb says. “Our industry is made up of undocumented people, and they contribute so much more than people think. In Cannabis, the only thing that makes you successful is having a strong community.” –ADHDDEAD
