Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis is a new dispensary in downtown Seattle. It’s the first Black-owned dispensary in Washington, and Kemp hopes it will inspire others to enter the industry.
The former SuperSonics player partnered with industry veterans Matt Schoenlein and Ramsey Hamide to open the shop, part of the company Main Street Marijuana, which has three stores in Washington.
What to Expect
Six-time NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp is opening Seattle’s first Black-owned dispensary on October 30. He teamed up with Main Street Marijuana co-founders Matt Schoenlein and Ramsey Hamide to open this adult-use cannabis shop that will work to increase equitable participation in the industry.
According to KING 5, only 4% of marijuana retailers are owned by people of color in Washington state. Kemp plans to help other people of color and women gain the training they need to get their own business licenses in the legal marijuana industry.
He is partnering with the state’s Social Equity Task Force to promote diversity and increase equity in the cannabis industry. He said he wants to be a role model for other license recipients.
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Six-time NBA All-Star Shawn Kemp is bringing his athleticism and dazzling dunks to a new business venture: a weed dispensary. The former Seattle Supersonics player and his business partner will open the shop on October 30 – a move that will make it the first Black-owned cannabis establishment in Seattle.
In a statement, Kemp said he hopes to inspire people, especially people of color, to get involved in the legal cannabis industry. He also noted that Black people have disproportionately been arrested for marijuana possession in Washington state, and he wants to help close that gap.
Kemp is partnering with industry veterans Matt Schoenlein and Ramsey Hamide, who co-founded the number one cannabis retailer in the state since 2014 – Main Street Marijuana. The two will cut the ribbon on the opening day of Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis at 12:45 pm and the store will officially open to the public at 1 pm.
Hours
Shawn Kemp, the former six-time NBA All-Star for the Seattle Supersonics, is the owner of a new marijuana shop in downtown Seattle. It’s called Shawn Kemp’s Cannabis and will open Friday, Oct. 30 near Climate Pledge Arena and the Space Needle.
The store is open daily from 8 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. and offers online ordering, express-order kiosks, and curbside pickup. During that time, coronavirus precautions such as mask requirements and social distancing are enforced.
Kemp is partnering with industry veterans Matt Schoenlein and Ramsey Hamide, co-founders of Main Street Marijuana, which has been the top cannabis retailer in Washington since 2014. He’s also aiming to de-stigmatize recreational use and make the shop more welcoming to people from all cultures and backgrounds.
Parking
A few free parking spots on the sidewalk in front of the shop and a few more in the back, but you’ll probably need to circle around a bit due to the one-way streets.
It was a busy Friday afternoon in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood when NBA legend Shawn Kemp opened his new dispensary. It’s the latest venture from the “Reign Man” and is backed by cannabis industry veteran partners Matt Schoenlein and Ramsey Hamide of Main Street Marijuana.
Despite a few hiccups along the way, including a fumbled opening ceremony, Kemp’s store has already become a landmark in the city. Kemp is on a mission to make his dispensary a showcase for the Black community and put a positive spin on the marijuana industry in Washington state.
Security
The security team at Shawn kemp dispensary verifies the age and valid proof of identification of every customer before allowing them into the store. This is done to ensure the safety of both employees and customers.
The shop is open from 8 am to 11:45 pm daily. It offers express-order kiosks, online pre-ordering, and curbside pickup.
It also abides by coronavirus prevention measures such as social distancing and mask requirements.
The shop is owned by Kemp, a six-time NBA All-Star who played for the Seattle Supersonics in the 1990s. He is partnering with industry veterans Matt Schoenlein and Ramsey Hamide, co-founders of Main Street Marijuana, which has been the top retailer in Washington state since 2014.
