Ex-NBA Player Shawn Kemp To Open Seattle’s First Black-Owned Cannabis Dispensary

Legendary Seattle Supersonics power forward and six-time NBA All-Star Shawn “Reign Man” Kemp has announced that he has entered the cannabis business.

 Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis opens later this month in Seattle.

The business is located at 3035 1st Ave. in the heart of the city near the Climate Pledge Arena and famed Space Needle. When it opens its doors on Friday, Oct. 30, it will become Seattle’s first Black-owned dispensary. Kemp’s former teammate, NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton, will join the celebration with a green ribbon-cutting ceremony slated to start at 12:45 p.m. Fifteen minutes later, the store will open to the public.

“I’m looking forward to welcoming Sonics fans on a regular basis, starting with opening day,” said Kemp in a statement.

The opening will feature the unveiling of an art piece on the building’s exterior from well-known local muralist Jeff Jacobson, who also goes by the moniker Weirdo. The 30-by-80-foot mural is rich in color and depicts Kemp playing basketball in his Sonics uniform.

Kemp, who is venturing into the fast-growing cannabis industry for the first time, is partnering with industry veterans Matt Schoenlein and Ramsey Hamide. Schoenlein and Hamide are two of the co-founders of Main Street Marijuana, the top cannabis retailer in Washington state since the company started in 2014. The brand’s three shops have surpassed $150 million in sales and have contributed more than $55 million in excise tax.

“My name is on this company and I have worked hard to bring Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis to fruition,” said Kemp. “I want to provide nothing short of the best selection, customer experience, and prices in Seattle. I have incredible partners in Matt Schoenlein and Ramsey Hamide to make sure we deliver on that promise to our customers, who are our top priority.

“I hope that Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis will be an inspiration for people to get involved with the legal cannabis industry, especially people of color.”

Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. and will offer express order kiosks, online ordering, and curbside pickup. Health and safety measures will include social distancing protocols and mask requirements per state mandates. More information is available by calling (206) 345-0009, at www.KempsCannabis.com, and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Seattle SuperSonics legend Shawn Kemp is officially opening up his cannabis shop next week. It will become Seattle’s first Black-owned dispensary.

The Reign Man will he joined by former teammate Gary Payton for the grand opening on Oct. 30 at 12:45pm.

Shop is at 3035 1st Ave pic.twitter.com/4l64lQxi0P

— Ben Arthur (@benyarthur) October 22, 2020