Curio Wellness has opened its first Far & Dotter dispensary in Mississippi as a part of its inclusive franchising model.

Based in Olive Branch, patients can explore Far & Dotter's selection of medicinal cannabis products. Each member of Far & Dotter Olive Branch's team is equipped to help patients meet their unique needs.

The dispensary will be owned and operated by Mississippi native Sederia Gray. An award-winning communications professional and entrepreneur, Gray previously worked at major companies including Google, FedEx and Boeing. Gray is the first Far & Dotter franchisee, backed by the Curio Investment Fund. Driven by community leadership and a shared commitment to wellness, Gray has returned to her home state to pursue entrepreneurial endeavors in the state's growing cannabis program.

"Alongside Curio, I am excited to open not only the first Far & Dotter franchise location in Mississippi but the first franchise location in the country,” Gray said. “Legal cannabis is projected to meet over 40% of our country's annual demand by 2025, yet Black industry entrepreneurs still account for less than 2% of the nation's businesses. Representation and ownership are critical to realizing the full potential of the cannabis economy over the next few years and the Far & Dotter franchise and fund helped make this a reality for me.”

Curio's inclusive franchise model enables economic empowerment for franchise owners. The independently-managed Curio Wellness Investment Fund, called The Fund, was founded with the goal of providing startup capital for business owners to open their own franchise locations. Created for women, minorities and disabled veterans, The Fund is supporting entrepreneurs such as Gray with the opportunity to enter and hold a stake in the industry, together growing the brand's mission of bringing products and holistic health services to patients across the country.

"We are thrilled to open the doors of our first Far & Dotter franchise in Mississippi," said Curio Wellness CEO Michael Bronfein. "It is our privilege to invest in the health and well-being of Mississippians through the expansion of access to high-quality medicines, remedies and targeted forms of support. This venture showcases the best of expanding and diversifying ownership opportunities within the cannabis industry. We are thrilled that the state of Mississippi allows us to further support our franchisee via the Curio Wellness Investment Fund. This type of state-based thought leadership creates real opportunity for generational wealth creation."

Curio Wellness operates two retail locations in Maryland and has announced its intent to open additional locations in New Jersey, Maryland and Missouri. The company is also expanding its cultivation and manufacturing operations in Missouri.