Can**bis Entrepreneur Carmelo Anthony Urges Adam Silver’s NBA to Legalize “Recovery Tools”

Carmelo Anthony is delving into one of his biggest post-NBA ventures yet. He’s got his own brand, he’s hands-on and even starring in a commercial for it. His next step is to ensure NBA players aren’t stigmatized for it. As of April 20, 2023, the StayMe7o (pronounced Stay Melo) is open for business. This is the first launch under the parent company, Grand National, in collaboration with the NBA legend.

Promoting the launch via Forbes, Anthony was positive about the league and the sports world’s growing acceptance towards ca*nabis use. “You can’t deny the science. You can’t deny the data,” he told Forbes touting w*ed as “recovery tools” backed by enough evidence-based research. “If you’re using data for everything else, I don’t see why you shouldn’t use data and science for ca*nabinoids, it’s very effective. It’s not harmful. Ca*nabis only enhances the way our bodies heal—recovery is better, mental health is better, your overall health is better.”

As of 2023, the NBA and its players’ union came to a collective agreement to remove m*rijuana from the league’s banned substances list. They also laid out rules allowing players to invest in and promote ca*nabis brands, barring certain exceptions. In 2021, the league also announced that it would no longer randomly test players for m*rijuana and would not penalize them for positive results for it. That, according to Melo, is a positive shift for sports and the industry.

“Ca*nabis industry and sports, I do believe you will start to see more collaborations and partnerships in the near future. It’s an industry you cannot avoid. You have to address it,” he said. He vouches for ca*nabis as an aid for recovery in that matter and uses the branding strategy behind StayMe7o to propagate it.

Carmelo Anthony goes all out for StayMe7o

Making an impact is Melo’s thing. Even in his business. Which is why he kicked off the launch of the brand with an ad starring him. In this commercial, Melo, in a pink hoodie, shorts, sneakers, and a cap, is holding a joint. It carried a simple but mic-drop caption. “Portland, I’m back.”

Anthony’s special brand will be on shelves, starting in Oregon. For the uninitiated, Melo played with the Portland Trailblazers from 2019 to 2021. He played with the Lakers next before retiring in 2022.

Before he retired, Melo previously invested in a ca*nabis company Leune in 2021 along with Rockets player, John Wall. His ex, La La Anthony, also helped grow the business. Hence, this isn’t a new field to him. He’s only growing it bigger. How it works out for him remains to be seen. But given the openness to it within the NBA now, he’s pretty confident about it.