Meet Jeanine Hunter | Owner, CBD American Shaman of Smyrna and Meditation Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeanine Hunter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeanine, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always had a desire to be an entrepreneur, especially while working my corporate jobs. I had several side businesses ranging from gourmet brownies to handmade soaps and body butters.

I started out in Film/TV production over 2 decades ago in Washington, DC. When I began producing for television back in 2006, I started to experience numbness on the left side of my body that didn’t go away. This led to my Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and my main triggers were a result of increased levels of stress and a lack of rest.

After my diagnosis, I searched for alternative methods of relief and healing. With the passage of medical marijuana in DC, I obtained my own medical card. The dispensary I went to was ran by a family whose father had MS and they found the benefits of marijuana helped their father’s ailments. While speaking with them I was steered in the direction of certain CBD products that would be beneficial for my condition. That began my CBD journey.

I had been using a CBD tincture for a couple of years before moving to Georgia in 2019. I initially moved to open a beauty supply store, but I was noticing CBD products were a more important part of my life at this point. I didn’t realize CBD was legal in Georgia, but I quickly pivoted in January 2020 and began to research owning a CBD store. I stumbled upon CBD American Shaman and really enjoyed their products; specifically the extra strength water soluble and CBGo water soluble. Not only do their products have an innovative nanotechnology, but you can view lab reports on all their products. After visiting a store in northeast Georgia, I decided to sign-up as a franchisee.

Being a strong believer in the health and holistic benefits of CBD has helped individuals such as my 79-year-old father, my partner and most of all, me. I opened my doors to CBD American Shaman of Smyrna on November 27, 2020, and it is one of the best decisions I ever made. Not only am I an African American female entrepreneur, but I also get to help people get one step closer to physical and mental health rejuvenation.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career background and education is in Film/Television production. I have a Master’s in Film from Howard University, and I always loved the ability to merge my creative and business side in my career choices. I ended up spending a few decades working as a Writer/Producer, on the corporate side of creative television, but always had small side businesses that really utilized my creativity and business sense. Working a full-time corporate job and saving has provided me the opportunity to leave the corporate world and open my own brick-and-mortar, CBD American Shaman of Smyrna, in November 2020.

Like I stated before from another question, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2011. While in DC, I began using CBD to help provide relief from my symptoms. I’m such a believer in the health benefits from CBD and other natural supplement alternatives. When I moved to Georgia in 2019, I saw that CBD, Delta 8 and Delta 10 were legal and decided to open a store.

This journey has been anything, but a smooth ride. However, He will not place more on us than we can bear. There are quite a few hurdles I have had to overcome besides the obvious being a minority/African American female entrepreneur. I had to open my business bank account in another state. Also, certain commercial developments were not very welcoming to having a CBD store in their plaza. Not to mention, we live in era where social media is an excellent resource for advertising and generating revenue. Let’s just say I  am constantly providing evidence that I am not selling marijuana products because my ads are always being blocked.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m new to the metro Atlanta area. My dad’s side of the family is from East Point, GA so I would come often. With what I’ve experienced so far, I would take them to the East Point historical house where my grandmother and her siblings are represented for their historical contribution to the legacy of East Point. Then we would head down to the aquarium, grab food at the Slutty Vegan or the Atlanta Breakfast Club. We can then grab some drinks at Fat Tuesday in the battery or margaritas at Zuma. Later, we can catch an outdoor concert or find a comedy show before or after dinner at Rays on the River.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shoutout Jamar Brayboy, owner of One Calm Creative, LLC. He has supported me since the beginning and has never doubted or discouraged me in my passion to become an owner of a brick-and-mortar store. Without his moral, physical and financial support, I probably wouldn’t have been able to open as quickly as I did.

Website: cbdsmyrnaga.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbdofsmyrnaga/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanine-hunter-4711284

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CBDSmyrnaGA/?ref=pages_you_manage

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cbd-american-shaman-smyrna-smyrna