April 14th 2023.
Aja Allen, a black entrepreneur, is living her best life after deciding to open her own marijuana shop, Sixty Four & Hope, in Central Los Angeles. In her pursuit to create generational wealth for her family, Aja has replaced her job in retail fashion with the cannabis industry. After winning a social equity license with the help of investment company 4thMvmt, she opened up the shop and said, “When social equity was presented to me by 4thMvmt, I said, ‘Wow, this is such a great opportunity.’”
The shop's name alludes to the positive change that came from Proposition 64, which allowed for the legalization of cannabis, giving people a newfound sense of hope. Aja said, “It is a dream realized. It’s not about having a million dollars. For me, it’s about being a pillar in my community. That was a dream of mine.” Growing up in a tough neighborhood, Aja used cannabis to decompress and cope with the PTSD caused by witnessing violence.
Aja's advice to BIPOC entrepreneurs interested in the industry is to stay diligent. Despite a 2022 report showing that women in executive positions in the cannabis industry had decreased to 23.1%, Aja encourages people to keep fighting for their dreams. She said, “If this is your dream, do not give up. Continue to advocate for yourself, for the rest of us as a cannabis community.”
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