A trio of former basketball stars are well into their second careers as cannabis entrepreneurs, something the ex-athletes hope will also improve society.
At a Bezinga conference this week, Isaiah Thomas, Al Harrington and John Salley explained how their new roles are not just about making money, but inextricably linked to combating social inequality. The three former players are each at varying stages in developing their own cannabis brands.
On Monday, they talked about their plans as pioneers in the nascent industry, and in some cases, it’s also a family affair. Thomas’ son Joshua serves as CMO for their CBD-focused partnership, Vesl Oils; and Salley’s daughter Tyla parlayed her college tuition fund as seed capital for her lifestyle brand, Deuces22.
“We're trailblazing,” Harrington said. “”The industry is just getting started — it's been around now 10 years — but now we just started cooking.”
Salley, swore off cannabis during his NBA career, while Thomas still swears off THC. Yet both are newcomers to the space, and they credit Harrington with teaching them the ropes.
“Every time Al makes a move, we make a move right behind Al,” John Salley said of Deuces22.