Five cannabis businesses have been featured on Inc. Magazine’s list of the 250 best-led companies on the planet. The exciting announcement indicates growing acceptance of cannabis as an economic booster.

Ranking in 74th place was Chicago-based Cresco Labs, which surpassed Massachusetts-based Curaleaf Holdings (139th), Arizona-based 4Front Ventures (193rd), Colorado-based Charlotte’s Web (207th) and New York-based Ayr Wellness (244th.)

Inc. Magazine announced its inaugural ranking of leading companies after analyzing more than 1.5 million data points from 10,000 midsize companies, all of which had an annual revenue ranging from $50 million to $2 billion last year. Additionally, the business-media brand featured companies with an overall valuation of $50 million-$10 billion.

How were the top-ranking cannabis companies chosen for Inc.’s top 250 best-led list?

According to Inc. Magazine, this marks the first occasion on which it has praised private and public companies. In order to decide which companies deserved a mention on the list, analysts from the vibrant media company evaluated the following four areas:

1. Talent
2. Team leadership
3. Value creation and performance 
4. Market visibility and consumer/customer engagement.

About the ranking companies

• Cresco Labs – Recognized as one of the largest vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis operators (MSO) in the United States, Cresco Labs is committed to becoming the most prominent name in the global industry. Cresco strives to accomplish this goal by merging its broad geographic footprint with North America’s best distribution platforms.

• Curaleaf Holdings – This American cannabis company sells its shares on the Canadian stock exchange. Curaleaf prides itself on producing and distributing cannabis products across North America, where it operates 111 dispensaries and serves 350,000 registered patients in 23 states. The company boasts 30 cannabis processing sites and 25 cultivation sites.

• 4Front Ventures – A vertically-integrated cannabis MSO with a national presence, 4Front is involved in both the medical and adult-use cannabis sectors. Examples of the states in which patients are served by 4Front’s products include California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan and Washington.

• Charlotte’s Web – Globally renowned for producing an acclaimed brand of high-CBD, low-THC products derived from industrial hemp, Charlotte’s Web is a cannabis company that operates from its corporate offices in Boulder and Denver, Colorado. All of the company’s branded products – of which are marketed as dietary supplements and cosmetics under U.S. federal law – are created using hemp that has been grown on farms spread across Colorado, Oregon and Kentucky. 
• Ayr Wellness – This ever-expanding vertically-integrated cannabis MSO is setting its sights on high-growth markets. Company officials believe that the legal cannabis industry plays a crucial role in strengthening local communities and supporting restorative justice initiatives. Ayr Wellness conducts day-to-day operations with the help of its professional team of budtenders, cultivators, manufacturers and patient consultants.

You can view a full list of Inc. Magazine’s 250 best-led companies by clicking here.