Today we’d like to introduce you to Alphonso Tucky Blunt Jr.
A child of Yahweh, Husband, Father, Hard Worker, Hustla, Alphonso (Tucky) Blunt Jr., is a true testament to walking your path. The Co-owner of both Proud Papas clothing and Blunts + Moore dispensary is a 5th generation Oakland native that has opened the 1st dispensary under Oakland’s Cannabis Equity Program.While growing up in Oakland, California during the war on drugs era, he managed to stay out of trouble and maintain a 4.0 gpa and a full-time job while in high school. He was also using and selling cannabis. Cannabis sales to him was another form of employment.
In 1999 while on an errand with his grandmother, she had him go to a dispensary, from that day forward his mission was to own one for himself, so he could sale cannabis legally. He worked at and was a vendor for multiple bay area dispensaries from 1999-2004. In 2003 he attempted to become an owner of a dispensary and was told blacks would never own in this business. In 2004 he was arrested for possession with the intent to sell and given ten years of felony probation with a four-way search clause. Still determined to learn more on the legal side, he attended and graduated from Oaksterdam University in 2008. In true path formation, had he not been arrested, he would not have qualified for the Equity program…
Now as the 1st person to open a dispensary under Oakland’s Equity program, he is finally continuing on that path of ownership. His goals and values are still spiritual and family-driven. He is looking to change the face of the cannabis industry, one location at a time. Blunts + Moore opened its doors on November 24th, 2018 to a huge crowd, great food, and lifted spirits. A native born son, selling cannabis legally in OAKLAND!!!
Featured On/In
Forbes, USA Today, Fox Soul, BBC News, Sway Calloway (Shade 45), Karen Hunter (XM Urban View), Comedy Central’s “Klepper Show”, Weedmaps, SF Chronicle, Leafly, Black Enterprise, Cannaclusive, Black Bay Area, Swedish Public TV, Dispensary hosted a roundtable discussion with Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with any business, there will be ups and downs. For me the biggest obstacle is getting info to others like me so they can begin to work in the industry. Capitol is a huge obstacle as well, meaning access to it. But overall for me and the positive person I am, ill say it could always be worse.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Blunts and Moore – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Blunts and Moore dispensary is the 1st social equity-owned cannabis dispensary in the world. I am the 1st ex-felon for cannabis sales to fully own a dispensary under Oakland equity program. The social equity program gives ownership opportunities in the cannabis space to those who were at one time arrested for cannabis offenses. What sets us apart is my deep community roots. Something that will be franchised. Lastly, my shop is in the same zip code (14 blocks away) from where I caught my felony cannabis case…
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
FRANCHISING… But I am also looking forward to continuing to speak to others about how to move in the space and work on bringing more people like me together to work in the space.
Contact Info:
- Address: 701 66th ave ste B
Oakland, CA. 94621 - Website: Bluntsandmoore.com
- Phone: 510-fire-420
- Instagram: @Tuckyblunt80 @bluntsandmoore @proudpapasclothing
- Twitter: @Blunttucky
- Other: YouTube blunts and moore
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