As the first of its kind in the United States, Josephine and Billie’s will offer a unique speakeasy-style cannabis retail concept inspired by the Jazz Age, taking consumers back to the ‘tea pads’ that existed in Black communities in the 20s and 30s.
But, it forced me to do my homework and learn about the plant and really question why there is so much stigma around it.
From the Tea Pads of the early 20’s until today, People of Color have been relying on plant medicine — and we were largely demonized for it.
Communities of Color were disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs and many of us feel apprehension, and have little experience using cannabis because of that.
Beatty: That one suggestion from my doctor to explore cannabis as medicine sparked my research.
Our brand pays homage to the spirits of Billie Holiday and Josephine Baker – even though they were persecuted for their cannabis consumption, they used their art to fight against injustice, constantly pushed boundaries, and wrote their OWN rules — all while making sure to hold the door open for others who would come after.
Beatty: I also serve as Vice President of Supernova Women, a 501c3 that seeks to encourage Women of Color to become stakeholders in the space.
Not only does it allow us to have the capital necessary to open up our store and build the Josephine and Billie’s community, it also allows us to create opportunities for other Black and Brown cannabis cultivators and manufacturers along the supply chain.
Josephine and Billie’s provides a proof of concept for what some may argue is a radical model — WOC creating businesses that support and uplift WOC.