Trailblazers: Royal Highness Consulting Brings a Sense of Belonging to the Cannabis Industry

This article is part of a regular series, Trailblazers, highlighting entrepreneurs entering the legal cannabis space.

“We see ourselves as being the glue that connects the illegal market to the legal market,” Shirelle Grant, co-owner of Royal Highness Consulting, said.

Grant and her co-founder, Moriah Hackney, created their business after realizing that no one was bridging the gap between the legal market, illicit market, and BIPOC communities. 

This woman and BIPOC-owned cannabis consulting outfit offers a range of services, from event planning to marketing to networking to Cannabis Control Board updates. They aim to make it easy for their clients to access the information and marketing tools they need to be successful.

“It’s so hard to get all the information in one place,” Grant said. For companies like their clients Green Queen Candies, they help out by gathering information for application submission, and helping to foster introductions to retailers. 

“Our goal is to make sure nobody’s left behind.”
— Shirelle Grant

Grant and Hackney are experts in facilitating connections. Earlier this year, they organized a networking event and party for clients Mr. Z Craft Cannabis, with the goal of bridging BIPOC community members to each other in the cannabis space.

As the legal market is opening up, the cannabis industry is moving beyond word of mouth, and Royal Highness Consulting supports businesses in making that change. They worked with Clean Cannabis Company on a launch party and continue to provide the company with marketing assistance via PR and social media. 

“Our goal is to make sure nobody’s left behind,” Grant said. “We envision a cannabis market where everybody is successful.”

Hackney said they provide a sense of belonging to other BIPOC members of the cannabis community. “I don’t feel like an outsider walking through the door if there is someone that looks like me,” she reflected.

Hackney added that they want people who aren’t comfortable in the legal market to “demand a seat at the table.”

Both Hackney and Grant want to see more people from minority communities rise in the industry. 

“I’m a strong believer when it comes down to the cannabis markets, the minorities were the ones that kept it going while it was illegal,” Grant said.

Hackney noted that people from minority communities thrive in the business, but also fear the repercussions of moving to the legal market. “A lot of people love it and are great at it, but they’re not comfortable,” she said. She hopes to make BIPOC businesses more comfortable moving to and working in the legal cannabis market.

Hackney added that they want people who aren’t comfortable in the legal market to “demand a seat at the table.”

“Because we built the table,” Grant said. 

Learn more about Royal Highness Consulting and give them a follow on Instagram.