Today we’d like to introduce you to Sakara Barnes.
Hi Sakara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in New York, Sakara recognized her entrepreneurial instinct at a young age. Mom made clothes and sold them at flea markets and garage sales, bringing her daughter along. Father was a retired hustler from Harlem and became a bookkeeper at LIJ hospital. Absorbing the family’s business acumen, she even started selling keychains, Halloween decorations, and D.I.Y. toys at school. “At nine-years-old, I knew I was going to be a mogul,” she smiles.
By the age of sixteen, she launched her own events collective, hosting parties, charity events,and concerts around New York. She spent a decade impacting the city’s nightlife before launching her clothing line Dymes Only. Major celebrities sported the brand, including Miley Cyrus, Angela Simmons and Ashanti to name a few.
In 2017, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in cannabis. Sakara launched Four Twenty in 2018. She took a chance with her last $3,000 ; applied for the license in Los Angeles and notably acquired a cultivation and distribution license. Seeking out partners and investors she was finally able to build and establish the company after 2 and a half years.
It took around 2 more years to build the facility and get up and running, as of 2023 Sakara manages and operates the now multi million dollar facility in Downtown, Los Angeles.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not smooth in anyway. God continues to open doors for me and keeps me in business, despite the never ending changes in compliance , regulations, renewal fees and taxes. The California market is extremely difficult to navigate based on over saturation of product, driving prices and quality down. Keeping a quality brand and to be able to provide it to patients for a reasonable price has been difficult.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Mother Exotic Flower?
We are a vertically integrated company and brand; holding licenses in California from cannabis Cultivation to Delivery.
I am the founder of the company and the CEO. Im known for my flower , the quality our branding and creating the vibe.
What sets us apart is that we are women owned , minority owned, self funded operation; we have used our grit and tenacity to remain in business and still are able to provide affrordable products to patients. We care about people we are not just a corporate company trying to sell product , we are intentional and we take care of our people. I am most proud to employ my family , my father works for me , my brother worked for me for 3 years and now has a career in cannabis. Being able to show my family a new skill that will last forever is important while we build memories and success.
I want people to know everything I said above. We are launching in Vegas, Maryland and have a collaboration strain called Trophy Smoke with Eric Bollinger out now; you can shop It at Dope Sugar on Melrose.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I hope it goes Federally legal. I hope the marketing and promotion restrictions lighten up. I know the amount of people consuming won’t change it may gradually increase over time. I believe the negative stigmas around the plant will be demolished and there will be a positive turn around for the plant and its medicine.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.motherexotics.com
- Instagram: motherexoticflower
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