OUR STORY began on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, in April of 2019. A group of accomplished Black women gathered to relax, rejuvenate, and share future goals.  Economic empowerment, health and wellness, and “giving back” to our communities were common themes discussed.  Before departing, one friend asked another to talk about a recent business investment.  Everyone leaned in as attorney Sherri Blount (pronounced “Blunt”), the
co-founder of a newly opened medical cannabis dispensary in Washington, DC, shared her experiences, as well as industry projections.

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The group was intrigued and a few vowed to learn more about the evolving industry. Several months and conference calls later, nine women emerged ready to pursue cannabis-related business ventures in multiple states. The group included two Blount sisters and two Moore sisters. “Blounts&Moore” was born.

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Motivated by an entrepreneurial spirit, the need for a health and wellness alternative, and a desire to serve the Black community, our new team turned ideas into action. We partnered with a multistate cannabis operator to learn every key aspect of the cannabis industry. We engaged a medical expert to teach us about the efficacy of the plant in treating ailments , especially those prevalent among Black Americans. We immersed ourselves in best practices for cultivation, manufacturing, and retail. We explored various investment opportunities, including CBD, hemp, and ancillary services. Most importantly, we studied the cannabis legalization trends and opportunities in all fifty states.

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By December 2019, with a solid business strategy, we committed to pursue vertically integrated opportunities (cultivation, manufacturing, and retail) in states with limited licenses.  We subsequently filed applications in Illinois, Virginia, and Arizona. We also committed to make intelligent passive investments. Our first investment was in a CBD business in July 2020 for $700K. In May 2021, we raised $6.8M in 14 days for our second passive investment.  In July and August 2021, we won licenses with our Illinois partners to become vertically integrated in Illinois -- including two craft grow licenses and six dispensary licenses (four in the Chicago/Naperville/Elgin area).  

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We are now focused on the last cannabis frontier in the United States – the Southeast. In March 2020, Virginia became the first southern state to legalize both medical and adult-use cannabis. We believe other southern states will soon follow, reflecting the positive change in public sentiment about cannabis and states' need for additional tax revenue. Unlike the past, we are not waiting to be invited to the cannabis business table after the prime seats have been taken. We are studying the legislative blueprints and working within local communities to build our own table – with plenty of seats.  We encourage others to do the same.