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Blühen Botanicals Set

for Global Expansion Following

Significant Investment

from Cannabis Industry Leader

Blühen Botanicals, a Tennessee-based
hemp cannabidiol (CBD) company,
announced that international cannabis
business SOL Global Investments Corp.
is making a $30.6 million investment in
Blühen as part of its plan to diversify into
hemp-related businesses through
HeavenlyRx Holdings.
The investment gives the Knoxville-
headquartered company the financial
and organizational platform to pursue its
product rollout strategy across the
United States and around the world.
Market research firm Brightfield Group
predicts that the CBD industry will be
worth $22 billion by 2022. Joe Fox
“This investment from SOL Global,
one of the biggest players in the global uses of hemp CBD for pain, anxiety, and
cannabis and hemp ecosystem, gives us overall wellness have created a growing
the firepower to accelerate our growth demand for the hemp crop. “Our goal is
strategy, and take advantage of the signif- to produce the most premium and well-
icant opportunities we see right now in ness-focused hemp CBD products, from
the United States and around the world,” seed to consumer,” said Erich Maelzer,
said Joe Fox, Blühen Botanicals’ Co- Director of Horticulture/Co-Founder of
Founder and CEO. “The SOL Global Blühen. “Our products are based on sci-
team sees Blühen as a critical element in entific research performed in our dedi-
their aggressive CBD market expansion cated R&D facility and in the hemp fields
plans. Their investment in our vision of local farmers growing hemp using
provides us the confidence and capital to Blühen guidelines.”
empower our success and longevity.” The vertically-integrated company
“SOL Global’s investment enables us to employs farming advisors who work
exponentially scale our existing high- directly with hemp farmers to meet
throughput capabilities while maintain- Blühen’s premium standards. The com-
ing our commitment to providing the pany also employs expert entomologists,
highest quality, pharmaceutical grade plant pathologists, agronomists,
products on the market,” added Fox. chemists, and engineers on the 30-per-
“We have the largest network of expert son team. The investment from SOL
farmers in the state of Tennessee who are Global will enable Blühen to invest fur-
growing hemp organically, and now, ther in expanding its team and capabili-
we’re empowered to scale our existing ties over the coming months
facilities faster, expand our farming net- The next growth phase of the company
work wider, and implement the highest includes opening wellness-focused retail
international regulatory standards across locations throughout the country, begin-
the board.” ning with its 4,086 sq. ft. flagship store in
“This partnership will make Blühen its hometown of Knoxville, Tenn. The
the exclusive supplier of bulk extracts to retail store will be Blühen Botanicals’
HeavenlyRx,” said Brady Cobb, CEO of fifth operation in Knoxville. Blühen’s
SOL Global Investments. “CBD is the boutique wellness products will be avail-
primary cannabinoid available in North able for purchase in the Knoxville store
America, but there are more than 100 and on the company’s website on May
cannabinoids that will soon enter the 17. Blühen’s next retail location will be in
market. This partnership will allow Fort Lauderdale, FL later this year.
Blühen and HeavenlyRx to scale global- As part of Blühen’s strategy to build a
ly.” vertically-integrated supply chain, the
Blühen’s commitment to scalable and company has also entered into agree-
diverse distribution springs from early ments to purchase farmland in multiple
strategic partnerships across the hemp states in addition to its partnerships with
industry’s growing supply chain. The hemp farmers throughout the U.S.

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48 March 2019 cannabisnewsflorida.com Cannabis News Florida