Cannabis brand and retail concept Josephine & Billie’s has opened its inaugural Los Angeles location, at 1535 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.
The first of its kind in the United States and officially opened as of Friday, October 29, Josephine and Billie’s offers a “speakeasy-style” cannabis retail concept inspired by “tea pads” that existed in Black communities in the 20s and 30s.
Founded and led by CEO Whitney Beatty and Business Partner and COO Ebony Andersen, Josephine & Billie’s was developed to “create a welcoming and educational retail experience for Women of Color and to fill a void for this demographic within the L.A. marketplace,” according to a press release.
“Most stores are designed and built by white people, with one perspective,” Andersen said. “And women of color rarely get the opportunity to feel comfortable in those spaces. But Josephine & Billie’s was designed and built by, and for, women of color with that in mind.”
The dispensary offers a wide range of cannabis products from brand partners including Monogram, Cann, Select, and Kiva Confections, with special emphasis on POC-owned, queer-owned and women-owned brands including Ball Family Farms, Leune, and California Rolls.
“Research shows that women are more anxious than men, and data shows that black women are facing the most anxiety — and yet we have not seen a dispensary focusing on this demographic,” Beatty said. “Josephine & Billie’s is committed to being an educational space and community where Women of Color, and allies, feel safe and welcomed to learn about the healing benefits of cannabis.”
