Cannabis Dispensary Josephine & Billie's Officially Opens Its Doors As a First-of-Its-Kind Retail & Educational Experience for Women of Color in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cannabis brand and retail concept Josephine & Billie's today announced the official opening of its inaugural Los Angeles location. The first of its kind in the United States and officially opening to the public on Friday, October 29th, Josephine and Billie's will offer a unique 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. "Most stores are designed and built by white people, with one perspective. 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," commented Andersen.

The dispensary offers a wide range of high quality 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. Unlike most cannabis retail stores, Josephine and Billie's was designed around the experience of the products' terpene profile - customers can expect to find products based on simple effects such as "relief" or "focus ", allowing shoppers to explore, connect and find herbal options based on the desired experience.

"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." shared Beatty. "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".

Josephine & Billie's received the first official investment from The Parent Company's social equity corporate venture fund, which seeks to discover and develop the industry's future entrepreneurs of color, offering the capital and mentorship necessary to build generational wealth as part of a more equitable and diverse cannabis industry. The Parent Company manages the fund in partnership with an advisory committee led by The Parent Company Chief Visionary Officer, Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, and Chief Social Equity Officer, Desiree Perez.

"The Parent Company is committed to leveraging our financial, social, and cultural capital to create a more inclusive cannabis community," said Troy Datcher, CEO of The Parent Company. "Josephine & Billie's unique and necessary mission to develop a welcoming and educational retail experience, particularly for Women of Color, exemplifies why Whitney and Ebony are the exact types of entrepreneurs that we want to stand up and stand behind with our social equity fund as we focus on shaping this industry's future and uplifting all communities."

Josephine & Billie's is located at 1535 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. and is open from 4-8pm on Friday, October 29th, and 11am - 7pm daily following the grand opening.  For more information, please visit josephineandbillies.com and follow us on Instagram at @josephineandbillies.

About Josephine & Billie's:
Women founded and led, Josephine and Billie's is the first dispensary in the nation to focus on women of color. Our cannabis teapad – the first of its kind in the U.S. – is a modern-day callback to the Jazz age, from the pearls and feathers of Josephine Baker to the poetry of Billie Holiday. It's a trip back to the 'tea pads' in Black communities of the 20s and 30s where people listen to music and enjoy cannabis while feeling connected, relaxed, valued and safe. Josephine and Billie's carries product lines that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve with intention and include Black and Brown owned brands, and price points for everyone from the dabbler to connoisseur. In our space, there's no question not worth asking. Our M.O. is we got you, sis. The company is led by CEO, Whitney Beatty & COO, Ebony Andersen. 

About The Parent Company:
Formed in January 2021, The Parent Company is a leading vertically integrated California cannabis company. The company's three manufacturing facilities guarantee unparalleled access to high-quality, low-cost cannabis, while its vast wholesale distribution network of more than 450 California dispensaries, an unrivaled direct-to-consumer omnichannel platform, now expanded to six consumer delivery hubs and eleven omni-channel retail locations, currently service just over 80% of the largest legal cannabis market in the country.  The Company's curated product portfolio includes eight of the most valuable and scalable brands in cannabis, including Monogram by Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, Caliva, Deli, Fun Uncle, and Mirayo, which sets the tone for The Parent Company's industry leadership in California and beyond.

In addition to its vast manufacturing infrastructure, consumer reach and cultural influence, The Parent Company is committed to using its resources and status to play a significant role in molding a more equitable cannabis industry.  Its social equity ventures initiative, established by Chief Visionary Officer Shawn "JAY-Z" Carter, was created to break down the systematic barriers Black and other minority entrepreneurs face as they endeavor to secure meaningful participation, growth and leadership in the multibillion-dollar legal cannabis industry.

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SOURCE Josephine & Billie’s