Carmelo Anthony isn’t just coming back to New York—he’s bringing the kind of fire that can’t be measured in points or playoff stats. With the launch of his cannabis brand STAYME7O and creative agency Grand National, the NBA icon is making a full-court press into the heart of New York’s cannabis scene, and he’s doing it with vision, intention, and serious style.

STAYME7O (pronounced Stay Melo) officially lands in select New York retailers this April, marking a homecoming for Anthony, whose legacy is forever intertwined with the city. His seven-season run with the Knicks cemented him as a New York legend, but this latest chapter hits different. “New York is home,” he says. “And bringing this project to life here feels incredibly personal and full circle.”

But make no mistake—this isn’t just another celebrity cannabis brand. Built in collaboration with powerhouse industry veterans Jesce Horton (LOWD, Minority Cannabis Business Association) and creative director Brandon Drew Jordan Pierce aka Beedy, STAYME7O is part product, part platform. The flower is fire—grown by LOWD and curated with care—but the mission is what takes it next level: uplift communities, amplify underrepresented voices, and rewrite the rules of engagement in the legal cannabis game.

“STAYME7O is about more than cannabis,” Anthony says. “It’s about empowerment. It’s about giving people from underserved communities the opportunity to build wealth, to lead, and to be celebrated.”

That mindset echoes across Grand National, the agency Anthony co-founded with Horton and Pierce. More than just a launchpad for STAYME7O, the firm functions as a think tank and execution engine for brands that want to move culture—not just product. From plant science to film production, Grand National brings together elite-level strategy, creative, and deep industry knowledge to support cannabis operators navigating this unpredictable landscape.

For Horton, who’s spent the last decade at the frontlines of cannabis entrepreneurship and equity, this kind of collaboration is overdue. “Launching STAYME7O in New York alongside Carmelo exemplifies the type of projects Grand National is committed to,” he says. “We build brands that authentically represent the culture and bring value and excitement to the market.”

Authenticity isn’t just a buzzword here. A portion of STAYME7O’s proceeds directly supports NuProject, the nonprofit led by Jeanette Ward that provides funding, mentorship, and business infrastructure to BIPOC cannabis entrepreneurs. The brand also backs the Last Prisoner Project, working toward cannabis criminal justice reform and the release of those still incarcerated for nonviolent offenses.

In an industry often plagued by performative gestures, Anthony and his team are making real moves. They’re putting capital and credibility behind a vision that centers community healing and long-term change. “It’s essential we open doors and create meaningful opportunities for these communities,” Anthony says. “This is just the beginning.”

Following a successful rollout in Oregon last year, the East Coast debut of STAYME7O is the next step in what’s shaping up to be a generational play. Not just for Anthony, but for the wider network of innovators, creatives, and entrepreneurs he’s bringing with him.

The brand’s name is more than a play on Melo’s iconic jersey number—it’s a mindset. Stay Melo is about groundedness in the storm, focus in the noise, and legacy in every move. It’s about owning your lane and inviting others to ride with you.

In Melo’s case, the lane is wide open—and he’s taking the whole team with him.