High There!
Is this thing on?? First and foremost, if you're reading this, go grab your weed - you deserve a joint. Now, many could argue that I've been MIA, but it's actually quite the opposite—I've been here, balancing life with a joint in my right hand and a two-year-old on my left hip. Life's been "life-ing," but let's catch up.
Allow me to reintroduce myself—I'm Charisse, a mother, altruist, corporate creative, cannabis enthusiast, and the woman behind Grams & Pearls. My superpower? Resilience. Since we last connected, I've evolved in ways I couldn't have imagined. Reflecting over the genesis of my dream has been a nostalgic, emotional and educational ride.
If you're new here, welcome! I founded Grams & Pearls in 2017, inspired by the progressive cannabis legislation in Michigan and the need for representation. Back then, I saw very few women who looked like me in this space. Social media and cannabis campaigns glorified white women smoking while black women, despite being significant consumers, were underrepresented and stigmatized. There were no communities for women of color promoting healthy and responsible cannabis use. I didn't want to get lost in the glitz and glamour of the faux- IG influencer or just be another over-sexualized pretty girl smoking weed; I felt a deeper calling to explore cannabis and its impact on my mental health.
Every great venture starts with a fundamental question... Why, in an industry growing as fast as cannabis, do black women still face stigma and lack representation? Grams & Pearls was the answer to that question, and was born from out of the need to amplify voices that have been marginalized in this industry. Our mission is to curate celebratory and exploratory cannabis experiences for black women, challenge the status quo, and advocate for equity and economic opportunity for black-owned cannabis businesses.
Representation matters. We started building community within the legacy market by supporting and attending weed events everywhere. Between private intimate seshes to large scale festivals and Cannabis Cups we were a little bit of everywhere. In November of 2019 we hosted our first legacy event, the first event of its kind, Smoke Signals, a peer-led, instructional workshop focusing on the history and art of rolling weed, and it opened doors we couldn’t have imagined.
Reintroducing myself in 2024 feels exciting because so much has changed. Black women are continuously disrupting the cannabis industry at an incredible rate. In Michigan and across the United States, we're seeing a surge in progressive black women business owners who are not only passionate about cannabis but are also using it as a tool for mental wellness and empowerment. I'm proud to see this industry evolving and black women getting their deserved seat at the table.
Men lie, women lie, numbers don't. A 2020 Brightfield Group survey showed that 25% of black women use cannabis regularly, with many citing mental wellness as a key reason. These women are not just consumers; they're also leaders. Take Hope Wiseman, at the age of 25, she made history as the youngest Black female cannabis dispensary owner in the United States by establishing Mary & Main, and Sheena Roberson, founder of Cannabis Noire (also fellow BCB alumni), who created and hosted the first exclusive cannabis conference for black women called "HIGHER". Their journeys are testaments to the resilience and ingenuity of black women in cannabis.
Grams & Pearls is part of this movement. We’re taking a unique approach to rewriting the narrative and shaping the future of the cannabis landscape for black women. With conscious cannabis consumption at the forefront of our minds, in 2021, we released our organic hemp rolling papers, designed for the sophisticated, intentional cannabis consumer. For the ladies who are lovers of aesthetics and who like to smoke in style, we launched our green-colored rolling papers to set the sesh off right. We also still create and produce our cannabis-positive apparel, jewelry, and accessories. We got so much love from our coveted "Baked & Busy" and "GRAMS ARE A GIRLS BEST FRIEND" merch. Check our site out here! We are thankful for our supporters who have patronized our business these past years.
We were never your run-of-the-mill canna brand; we're a movement redefining the relationship between black women and cannabis. We create safe, empowering spaces for black women to explore and celebrate cannabis without judgment. Every product we sell, every event we host, and every message we share reaffirms our commitment.
So, where have all the hippies gone?
Surprisingly, they're right here, in boardrooms, multi-level cultivation operations, on social media, and at the forefront of the cannabis industry, advocating for equity and equality.
I'm so grateful God is allowing me to use my gifts to operate authentically within the cannabis landscape. Our mantra has always been, "Carrying cannabis culture forward." As we grow, Grams & Pearls will always be a place where the spirit of the hippie movement thrives.
Until we meet again, hit the weed for me. 😊
Join the movement! Follow us on Instagram @gramsandpearls... Let’s continue to break barriers and redefine what it means to be a part of the cannabis community.
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