# Blake Marchand

> Blake Marchand is a San Diego entrepreneur, former real estate broker, and co-founder and CEO of March and Ash. He used his knowledge of property and zoning to secure a cannabis permit, opened the company’s first Mission Valley shop in 2018, and helped build an eight-location Southern California retailer distinguished by flower bars, locally tailored interiors, customer education, and community engagement.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at March and Ash
- **Organizations:** March and Ash
- **From:** El Cajon, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, San Diego State University
- **Known for:** Built March and Ash from a two-year Mission Valley permitting effort into an eight-location Southern California cannabis retailer by 2024., Developed a flower-bar retail format intended to support browsing and customer questions., Created a location-specific store design model with a shared forest-green exterior and locally tailored interiors.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2016** — Founded, owned, and operated a real estate brokerage serving San Diego County.
- **2016** — Began March and Ash and pursued a correctly zoned Mission Valley property and cannabis permit.
- **2018** — Opened March and Ash’s first retail store in Mission Valley in September after two years of permitting and construction.
- **2019** — March and Ash opened locations in Imperial Valley in August and Vista in November.
- **2021** — The company opened City Heights and two Chula Vista locations; Marchand participated in the Telegraph Canyon ribbon cutting.
- **2022** — March and Ash and CannaCraft announced an agreement to combine under Groundwork Holding while retaining their operating structures.
- **2024** — March and Ash operated eight Southern California locations and described plans to expand farther across California and eventually nationally.
- **2024** — Signed a City of Santee cannabis permit application for March and Ash Santee, Inc. in October.
- **2025** — A Santee city application identified Marchand as founder and CEO and detailed the company’s proposed local operation.

## Achievements

- Built March and Ash from a two-year Mission Valley permitting effort into an eight-location Southern California cannabis retailer by 2024.
- Developed a flower-bar retail format intended to support browsing and customer questions.
- Created a location-specific store design model with a shared forest-green exterior and locally tailored interiors.
- Helped lead March and Ash into a 2022 combination agreement with CannaCraft under Groundwork Holding.
- Established March and Ash partnerships with local animal shelters and rescue groups.
- Was named among SD Metro’s 2021 Men of Influence.

## Latest updates

- **2025-07** — A City of Santee application presented Marchand as founder and CEO of March and Ash and March and Ash Santee, Inc.
- **2024-10** — Marchand signed a cannabis permit application for a proposed March and Ash location at 8665 Argent Street in Santee.
- **2024-05** — March and Ash announced grand openings for a third Chula Vista store and a Palm Desert location.
- **2024-03** — Marchand discussed statewide and eventual national expansion while retaining locally tailored store design.

## Links

- Website: https://marchandash.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-marchand-6b054422
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/MarchandAshCan
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isXd_94021g
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blake_marchandash/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marchandash/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/blake-marchand
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-26