Dynasty in Bloom: Jahkaya Pugh Harlem’s Next-Gen Cannabis Leadership

It’s a sunny spring morning in Harlem, but inside the walls of Dynasty Commodities, the air is electric. This isn’t just a dispensary opening—it’s a homecoming. For Jahkaya Pugh, 27, the launch of her business marks a seismic cultural moment: the rise of Harlem’s own next-gen cannabis leader, redefining equity, ownership, and representation in an industry that has too often excluded people who look like her.

“I’m not just opening a business,” Pugh says. “I’m opening doors.”

She’s not exaggerating. After nearly three years in licensing limbo, Jahkaya and her team—including co-founders Anthony Gonzalez, Rich Jospitre, and former NFL linebacker Jon Beason—received word on Valentine’s Day 2025 that their application had finally been approved. “It was surreal,” she recalls. “After everything we went through—delays, silence, emails that went unanswered—it almost didn’t feel real.”

Like many social equity applicants, Pugh’s journey to ownership was paved with financial and emotional sacrifice. "We were paying rent for a space we couldn’t use. Some people I know had to dip into their children’s college funds just to stay afloat, waiting for OCM to move." Despite the hurdles, she remains gracious. “It’s a new program. We’re working with them. But I hope they do better—for the next people coming up.”

Breaking Barriers and Building Legacies

Jahkaya is the youngest Afro-Latina woman to own a licensed dispensary in New York—a fact that fuels her mission with deeper purpose. “I carry not just my own dreams, but the hopes of my community. This industry criminalized us for decades. Now it’s our turn to lead it.”

Her background in social services shaped her approach. “Before this, I worked with families in crisis. Now, I’m still doing that work—but through cannabis. This is about healing, education, and equity.” She describes Dynasty Commodities as more than a retail space. It’s a movement: a community hub for empowerment, a platform to spotlight BIPOC and women-led brands, and eventually, a launchpad for local entrepreneurs.

Culture at the Core

The Harlem opening drew heavy hitters—Fat Joe, Jim Jones, Jadakiss, Remy Ma—and their presence wasn’t just for hype. “These people are cultural icons. They represent strength, authenticity, and community,” says Pugh. “They see what we’re building and they believe in it.”

Their support, she explains, goes beyond name recognition. “It shows our people that this is for them. We’re creating something that feels like home, not just a place to shop. And when they come inside, they find education, representation, and care.”

Carmelo Anthony’s brand STAYME70 launched its New York drop at Dynasty among a handful of curated retailers. The presence of upcoming women-led lines like Remy Ma’s Pussy Charms and (potentially) Coi Leray’s Pink Zushi reflects another intentional choice: putting women at the forefront.

“As a woman in this industry—especially the only woman on my license—it’s crucial that I use my platform to elevate other women. Our brands aren’t just products. They’re statements.”hyggfvb

The Personal is Political

Jahkaya’s connection to the plant runs deep. “I started at 18, but back then it was just recreational,” she says. “Now, it’s healing. I use it intentionally—mostly flower at night. I only do edibles or vapes once in a blue moon because I really like to be in control of my high, so I stick to flower normally, which allows me to do that.”

She emphasizes that every decision she makes—what she stocks, how she markets, who she partners with—is about alignment. “I want every dollar I spend or help others spend to go toward something that matters: Black-owned, woman-led, equity-driven, queer-inclusive.”

Even her name seems predestined. “I found out my birth name, Jahkaya, means ‘God’s weed.’ That confirmed it for me—I’m doing what I was meant to do.”

Harlem Roots, Global Vision

The mission for Dynasty goes far beyond Harlem. But it starts there—with community education, healing events, and local collaboration. For Mother’s Day, they partnered with neighborhood restaurants to host a street fair-style activation, complete with vendors and wellness outreach. Future plans include job training, workshops, and partnerships with institutions like Boulevard and Melba’s.

“We want people to understand that this isn’t just about getting high,” Pugh says. “Cannabis can be a tool for mental health, physical relief, creativity, and connection. It can build wealth. And it can rewrite the narrative for communities like ours.”

As for Dynasty’s next steps, Pugh says it best: “We’re not here just to take part. We’re here to take ownership. Harlem doesn’t need a seat at the table—we’re building the table.”

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