The cannabis industry has transformed dramatically over the last decade, and few people have witnessed that evolution as closely as NatureMed’s inventory procurement manager, Anhie Nguyen.
She’s been with the Tucson dispensary for 10 years — long enough to see medical legalization, recreational rollout, shifting compliance rules, and the slow fade of stigma. Through it all, she’s learned to adapt.
“You kind of have to roll with the punches,” Nguyen said. “Not only with keeping up with state compliance trends, but with the community and even in the store. How we operate now is not how we operated back then.”
She remembers those early days vividly.
“I feel like back then was like the Wild West,” she said. “We were learning and trying to make our way through. Now there are way more processes and procedures and SOPs [standard operating procedures]. It’s more organized, and there’s more structure.”
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A natural fit
Nguyen started as a budtender — a role that shaped her understanding of patients’ needs, fears and hopes. Before NatureMed, she worked at a medical card evaluation center, helping patients get certified.
Her job came about organically. One afternoon, while handing out brochures, a NatureMed manager interviewed her on the spot. She never left.
“This is the only dispensary I’ve ever worked at,” she said. “I love to be the source of help wherever I can be.”
Her customer‑service background — from LA Fitness to medical referrals — made the transition seamless. But curiosity kept her in the industry.
“Staying curious and open‑minded, asking questions, learning about new products and innovations, and staying on top of compliance are important,” she said. “That’s what keeps the passion burning.”
The gatekeeper of quality
Today, Nguyen oversees product procurement, vendor relationships and quality control — a job that sounds simple but is anything but.
“When I’m looking for product, I’m looking for consistency, great communication from the vendor, follow‑through, and making sure they’re able to support us as we onboard them,” she said. “Education is huge to us. We want to make sure our staff is being educated on whatever products we’re bringing in.”
Her approval process is meticulous. She samples every new item, gathers feedback from her budtender team, and cross‑checks lab results — harvest dates, manufacturing dates, compliance reports — before anything reaches the shelves.
“It’s part science, part instinct,” she said. “And part making sure we’re all on the same page.”
Brands that communicate well and invest in educating budtenders tend to earn long‑term placement. Those that don’t often return for a second chance after Nguyen’s feedback.
Community at the center
Nguyen’s connection to Tucson runs deep. Born and raised there, she’s watched the city’s cannabis demographic shift — especially among seniors seeking alternatives to traditional medication.
“Slowly but surely, it’s not becoming as taboo anymore,” she said. “If anything, it’s being seen as medicine and treated that way.”
She lights up when she talks about patient stories. One recent moment stands out: a woman celebrating her birthday brought the staff a party pack and a card thanking them for helping her stay alcohol‑free for 20 years.
“I was so happy we made a difference in her life,” Nguyen said. “The No. 1 thing is patient priorities. Our budtenders are absolutely the best.”
A new chapter in leadership
After a decade at NatureMed, Nguyen is experiencing a new kind of transition: her longtime inventory team — people she’s worked with for six years — has moved on to leadership roles of their own.
“It’s like the nest is being emptied,” she said with a laugh. “I’m so proud to see them doing their best and evolving.”
One former team member is now an inventory cultivation manager; another became a store manager elsewhere. Nguyen is rebuilding her team from scratch, retraining new hires, and shaping a fresh chapter.
“You don’t realize how attached you are to your old team,” she said. “But you’ve got to let them go and wait for the new people to come in.
“My mission is to be the source of all things cannabis. And to always provide good quality, consistent medicine.”
To doubters, she offers an invitation.
“Be open to it. Be curious about it. Question it. Look into it,” she said. “And then stop by NatureMed so we can help you.”
