Last verified: March 2026

Where Hip-Hop Meets Legal Cannabis

The intersection of cannabis and hip-hop culture in New York has come full circle. For decades, cannabis was woven into the fabric of NYC hip-hop — from the Harlem legacy trade name-dropped by Biggie, Nas, and The LOX to the blunt-rolling rituals that defined an era. Now, that cultural energy is channeling into the legal market.

Celebrity Brands on NY Shelves

Carmelo Anthony — STAYME7O

NBA legend Carmelo Anthony launched his STAYME7O cannabis brand in New York in April 2025, with an in-person dispensary tour that included a celebrity appearance at Terp Bros in Astoria, Queens. The brand reflects Melo's connection to New York City, where he played nine seasons for the Knicks.

Method Man — TICAL

Method Man's TICAL brand (named after his 1994 debut album) brings Wu-Tang's Staten Island roots to the legal cannabis market. The brand sits on shelves alongside other premium products, leveraging decades of cultural credibility.

Wu-Tang Clan — Protect Ya Neck

The Wu-Tang Clan's Protect Ya Neck cannabis brand represents the collective's entry into legal cannabis. For a group that has been synonymous with New York hip-hop since the early 1990s, the brand carries genuine cultural weight.

Mike Tyson — Tyson 2.0

Mike Tyson's Tyson 2.0 brand is available at New York dispensaries, bringing the former heavyweight champion's name recognition to the state's cannabis shelves. Tyson 2.0 has expanded nationally and internationally.

Cookies — Culture House

Cookies, founded by rapper and entrepreneur Berner, has established its Culture House concept in Manhattan (Herald Square) and Brooklyn. The two-story Manhattan location is more than a dispensary — it's a cultural hub blending cannabis retail with streetwear, art exhibitions, and cultural programming. Cookies Culture House has become one of the most visited cannabis destinations in NYC.

The Cultural Significance

Celebrity cannabis brands in New York carry deeper significance than mere endorsement deals. Many of these figures come from communities that bore the heaviest burden of cannabis enforcement. The transition from criminalized culture to licensed commerce represents a profound shift — though critics note that major celebrity brands often operate outside the social equity framework that was supposed to prioritize impacted communities.

The best scenario is one where celebrity brands drive traffic to dispensaries that also carry products from social equity entrepreneurs and craft cultivators. In New York, many dispensaries stock both, creating a marketplace where Carmelo Anthony's STAYME7O sits alongside Silly Nice and other equity brands.