Carmelo Anthony Enters New York Cannabis Market: All About His Product Line And Creative Agency

Carmelo Anthony, 10-time NBA All-Star and 2025 first-ballot Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, has officially entered the cannabis industry in New York with the launch of STAYME7O Cannabis and Grand National, a cannabis-focused agency co-founded alongside Jesce Horton and Brandon Drew Jordan Pierce.

The rollout of STAYME7O products to select retailers across the state is set to begin in April 2025.

Anthony, who spent seven seasons playing for the New York Knicks, said the launch marks a personal milestone. "I'm excited to be launching the debut of STAYME7O in New York," he said. "New York is home, and bringing this project to life here feels incredibly personal and full circle. This isn’t just about cannabis—it’s about empowering our communities, uplifting underserved entrepreneurs, and creating meaningful opportunities that support and celebrate our culture."

STAYME7O (pronounced "Stay Melo") offers curated cannabis flower featuring unique genetics and responsibly cultivated by Oregon-based grower LOWD. The brand name nods to Anthony's iconic jersey number and his reputation for calm, poised leadership both on and off the court.

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The launch follows STAYME7O's initial debut in Oregon last year and is rooted in a broader commitment to social equity and community investment. A portion of brand proceeds will benefit NuProject, a nonprofit supporting diverse entrepreneurs through funding, financial coaching and networking resources, and the Last Prisoner Project, an advocacy group focused on cannabis criminal justice reform.

"It's essential we open doors and create meaningful opportunities for these communities," Anthony said, reaffirming his broader mission beyond product sales.

Cultural Brand With A Mission

STAYME7O is the flagship offering from Grand National, an agency built to serve the next generation of cannabis brands. Founded by Anthony, Horton and Pierce—known professionally as Beedy—the group brings together deep experience in cannabis entrepreneurship, creative marketing and brand-building.

"Launching STAYME7O in New York alongside Carmelo exemplifies the type of projects Grand National is committed to—we build brands that authentically represent the culture and bring value and excitement to the market," said Jesce Horton, a co-founder of the Minority Cannabis Business Association and veteran cannabis entrepreneur.

From its inception, Grand National positioned itself as more than a creative agency. It's a coalition of operators, artists and strategists focused on uplifting marginalized communities and reshaping the cannabis space through meaningful collaboration and equity-first models.

Anthony and his team have also emphasized forming partnerships with minority-owned dispensaries and retailers during the New York rollout, continuing the brand's focus on economic empowerment and cultural representation.

Merging Purpose And Product

Beyond its mission-driven foundation, STAYME7O is positioning itself in the premium category, offering genetics-focused flower cultivated with sustainability and integrity. The cultivation is led by LOWD, the Oregon brand known for its boutique quality and strong representation of Black ownership in cannabis.

With Grand National guiding strategy, marketing and expansion, STAYME7O is expected to enter additional markets in the near future. But for Anthony, it all begins with home.

"This is just the beginning," he said. "But starting here, in New York—where it all started for me—feels like the right first step."

Photo courtesy of STAYME7O