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Franny Tacy
Chief Executive Officer at Franny's Farmacy
Franny Tacy is the founder, CEO, and visionary of Franny's Farmacy, a vertically integrated CBD business based in Asheville, North Carolina.12 She has gained recognition in the hemp industry for several notable achievements:
Professional Background
Franny became the first female hemp farmer in North Carolina in over 75 years when she started growing hemp in 2017.13 Prior to entering the cannabis industry, she worked in the pharmaceutical sector for over a decade.1 Her educational background includes:
- Bachelor's degree in Forestry from Northern Arizona University
- Master's degree in Education from Tennessee State University2
Franny's Farmacy
Under Franny's leadership, Franny's Farmacy has grown into a multi-faceted business:
- Manufactures over 80 proprietary CBD products
- Operates retail stores in 6 states
- Manages wholesale and e-commerce platforms
- Utilizes a network of farmers for hemp cultivation12
Industry Recognition
Franny has gained significant media attention and is considered an expert in the hemp industry:
- Featured on major networks including ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, and PBS
- Participated in over 50 podcasts and interviews
- Nicknamed "The Force" and "The Hippie in High Heels" for her energetic approach to education and advocacy1
Additional Contributions
- Published author, contributing to books like "The Art of Cooking with Cannabis" and "Courage in Cannabis"
- Participated in Hemp Research Trials with North Carolina State University
- Delivered a TEDx speech on hemp1
Franny Tacy's journey from a background in forestry and pharmaceuticals to becoming a pioneer in the hemp industry showcases her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to advancing the field of CBD and hemp products.
Highlights
https://lnkd.in/eHKD3NGB
This article is part of "Where Are They Now?"—an ongoing series in which Franchise Times managing editor Emilee Wentland catches up with emerging brands. The cannabis industry is highly regulated and laws differ from state to state, so getting into the hemp business comes with a handful of complexities other business owners might not have to face. With Franny’s Farmacy, franchisees have the benefit of the franchisor handling licensing. The company guides franchisees through the entire process.
“That is a huge benefit,” Founder and CEO Franny Tacy said. Franny’s has six locations, down from 10 reported in 2022 in its Item 20. When Franchise Times reported on the company last year, Franny’s Farmacy had just restructured to bring a few formerly separate companies and investors into one organization, Franny’s Operations.
Franny’s locations are located in Georgia and North Carolina.
Related: Challenges Mean Retail Cannabis Franchises Continue to Adapt
Franny’s also developed new products, from new edibles to an entire line of non-cannabis herbal products and even functional mushrooms. “These are really big things for the brand, so that we’re not being pigeonholed or struck with any legal changes that may come,” Tacy said. The cannabis industry is complex for multiple reasons, especially because of laws state to state. CBD is federally legal, as long as it has 0.3 percent THC or less. But states can determine whether full-strength marijuana is legal, and what it can be used for. Retail: While Complexities Remain, Legalization Progress Equals Optimism for Cannabis Franchises
More NoCo Hemp Expo® coming at you….
