Whitney Beatty

BEATTY’S LONG journey from social equity applicant to owner and operator of one of the coolest-themed dispensaries in the Southland was marked by roadblocks. Her initial investors went out of business, and she was left with an empty storefront for nearly a year. The single mother of one, whose other job was creating cool cannabis humidors (one of them was featured in The Times’ 2020 gift guide), was struggling to stay afloat while navigating the process.

In October 2021, thanks to new investors (including the Parent Co.’s Jay-Z- and Desiree Perez-led social equity ventures fund, which chose the dispensary as its first investment) and the efforts of a kindred spirit (Chief Operating Officer Ebony Andersen), Josephine & Billie’s in Exposition Park opened its doors. Named after Josephine Baker and Billie Holiday, it was envisioned to cater specifically to the needs of women of color and focus on the health and wellness aspects of cannabis, facts Beatty says made raising the necessary capital particularly challenging.

“I was yelling at every investor because they were telling me the same thing about [appealing to the] general cannabis consumer, [appealing to] white male cannabis consumers. I was like, ‘Black women are trendsetters! Black women have spent money on health and beauty for years! Black women spend $1.5 trillion annually. We spend money. Women control household spending. How are you telling me we don’t matter?’ ”

Even before opening the 1,500-square-foot space, Beatty and Andersen were making plans to expand into the 3,000square-foot laundromat next door, in which, in addition to more retail space and a delivery service hub, they hope to include a consumption lounge. After that, there are plans to expand the store concept into other states.