{"id":10492,"date":"2021-10-26T20:58:55","date_gmt":"2021-10-26T20:58:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/?p=10492"},"modified":"2022-09-28T20:05:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-28T20:05:50","slug":"wanda-james","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/wanda-james\/","title":{"rendered":"Wanda James"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div ><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\"><img width=\"1200\" height=\"350\" title=\"Wanda_banner\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Wanda_banner-1200x350.png\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-10493\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Wanda_banner-200x58.png 200w, https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Wanda_banner-400x117.png 400w, https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Wanda_banner-600x175.png 600w, https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Wanda_banner-800x233.png 800w, https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Wanda_banner-1200x350.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1064px) 100vw, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/span><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-0{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-0 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-1 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;background-color:#efefef;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-1{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-1 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-1{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-2 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-2 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;width:100%;\"><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-2{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-2 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-2{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-3 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-3 fusion_builder_column_4_5 4_5 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As the first Black woman to own a legal US dispensary, Wanda James continues to make an impact in cannabis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">James and her husband founded <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/simplypure.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Simply Pure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in Denver, Colorado to put a Black face on cannabis. She says her desire has been to \u201cchange what the face of cannabis looks like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While cannabis has become a billion-dollar booming industry, less than 2% of cannabis business owners are Black. James affirms this has to do with crimes against the Black community: felony charges for non-violent drug crimes and possession, mass incarceration, police harassment, and forced slave labor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Black women business owners in cannabis are especially affected by these social inequities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Executive roles once held by women have since been overtaken by male-dominated businesses. When the industry began, \u201cmany women found solace in the medicinal side of cannabis and through it, started their own companies,\u201d James says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But once money became more prominent, white male-dominated CEOs and investors diluted the market and pushed out women business owners they felt were not qualified.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But this hasn\u2019t stopped James from persisting and persevering. And when it comes to cultivating more leadership roles for women, she explains, People have to \u201csee to be.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:80% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 2.4%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 2.4%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-3{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-3 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-4 fusion_builder_column_1_5 1_5 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div style=\"text-align:center;\"><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-2 hover-type-none\"><img width=\"125\" height=\"69\" title=\"Simply Pure Logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Simply-Pure-Logo.png\" alt class=\"img-responsive wp-image-10391\"\/><\/span><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\"><p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Wanda James <\/strong><br \/>\nFounder &amp; CEO<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/simplypure.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Simply Pure Dispensary\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:20% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 9.6%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 9.6%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-4{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-4 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-5 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-3\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Women need to see powerful female leadership, which hasn\u2019t been the case nearly as much as it should be. Witnessing women in executive roles makes the dream for others become a reality; it becomes attainable. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But, as James advises, women also have to take charge of their own \u201cPowHer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWomen need to be bold,\u201d she instructs. While boys are raised to be assertive to get what they want, girls are always taught politeness, which doesn\u2019t cut it in the world of business, cannabis included. Jame\u2019s advice to subvert that lesson: be effective. \u201cBeing effective in business is my goal&#8230;I\u2019m proud of that.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Her effectiveness has led to the creation and soon release of a new cannabis brand, Because. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A portion of the proceeds will help send Black and brown kids to law school. \u201cIf cannabis can send Black and brown kids to prison, it can send them to law school.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">She also hopes to expand the Simply Pure brand into other states across the US, especially if federal legalization finally passes. \u201cIt\u2019s the one issue Americans agree on,\u201d she says, referring to the legalization of cannabis in some form. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Leaders like James have paved the way for women to realize influential, executive roles in cannabis aren\u2019t just a dream, they\u2019re a reality. Despite the decline of women in these positions, James wants them to power through and continue toward their goals. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">James\u2019 advice?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>&#8220;Build your team and make sure you have a finance person! <\/b><b>Do this! Make it happen!&#8221;<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 1.92%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 1.92%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-5{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-5 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-3{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-4 fusion-flex-container nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row fusion-flex-align-items-flex-start\" style=\"max-width:1144px;margin-left: calc(-4% \/ 2 );margin-right: calc(-4% \/ 2 );\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-6 fusion_builder_column_1_5 1_5 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div ><style>.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1{border-color:#ffffff;border-radius:2px 2px 2px 2px;background:#9990b2;}.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1 .fusion-button-text,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1 i,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:hover .fusion-button-text,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:hover i,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:focus .fusion-button-text,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:focus i,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:active .fusion-button-text,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:active i{color:#ffffff;}.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:hover,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:active,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-1:focus{border-color:#ffffff;background:#9990b2;}<\/style><a class=\"fusion-button button-flat button-medium button-custom button-1 fusion-button-default-span fusion-button-default-type\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/shawn-denae-wagenseller\/\"><i class=\"fa-arrow-left fas button-icon-left\" 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!important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-7{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-7 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-8 fusion_builder_column_1_5 1_5 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-separator fusion-full-width-sep\" style=\"align-self: center;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;margin-top:5px;margin-bottom:5px;width:100%;\"><\/div><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-5\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithcorona.com\/blog\/13-women-defying-the-cannabis-industry-shutout\/\"><span style=\"color: #999999\"><strong>Back to Main Page<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:20% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 9.6%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 9.6%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-8{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-8 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-9 fusion_builder_column_1_5 1_5 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:20% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 9.6%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 9.6%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-9{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-9 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-10 fusion_builder_column_1_5 1_5 fusion-flex-column\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-justify-content-flex-start fusion-content-layout-column\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div style=\"text-align:center;\"><style>.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-2{border-color:#ffffff;border-radius:2px 2px 2px 2px;background:#9990b2;}.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-2 .fusion-button-text,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-2 i,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-2:hover .fusion-button-text,.fusion-body .fusion-button.button-2:hover i,.fusion-body 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center\"><strong>Jocelyn Sheltraw<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-10{width:20% !important;margin-top : 0px;margin-bottom : 20px;}.fusion-builder-column-10 > .fusion-column-wrapper {padding-top : 0px !important;padding-right : 0px !important;margin-right : 9.6%;padding-bottom : 0px !important;padding-left : 0px !important;margin-left : 9.6%;}@media only screen and (max-width:1064px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-10{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-10 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}@media only screen and (max-width:640px) {.fusion-body .fusion-builder-column-10{width:100% !important;order : 0;}.fusion-builder-column-10 > .fusion-column-wrapper {margin-right : 1.92%;margin-left : 1.92%;}}<\/style><\/div><\/div><style type=\"text\/css\">.fusion-body .fusion-flex-container.fusion-builder-row-4{ padding-top : 0px;margin-top : 0px;padding-right : 0px;padding-bottom : 0px;margin-bottom : 0px;padding-left : 0px;}<\/style><\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the first Black woman to own a legal US dispensary, Wanda James continues to make an impact in cannabis. James and her husband founded Simply Pure in Denver, Colorado to put a Black face on cannabis. 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