Carmelo Anthony & Skyworld Launch Hall of Flame Cannabis, Rooted in Authenticity and Equity
Anthony’s Transition to Cannabis with Purpose
NBA icon Carmelo Anthony has taken his legacy to new territory: the cannabis industry.
In a collaboration with Indigenous-owned cultivator Skyworld, Anthony has launched Hall of Flame, a meticulously developed cannabis line rooted in values of discipline, process, and equity.
Far from a celebrity vanity project, this partnership introduces a model for cannabis branding that centers authenticity, Indigenous leadership, and long-term community impact.
Anthony, a 10-time NBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist, has been deliberate in his post-basketball ventures.
With his STAYME7O brand, he has built more than a logo; he has framed a mindset. “STAYME7O is more than a brand,” Anthony said. “It is an intentional mindset and community dedicated to shifting perspectives.”
This outlook found a natural partner in Skyworld, a New York-based cultivator founded by Alex Anderson of the Tuscarora Nation and industry veteran Eric Steenstra.
The Foundation of a Values-Driven Collaboration
The partnership’s genesis wasn’t a marketing meeting but a moment of professional recognition. Jesce Horton, a respected cannabis entrepreneur, visited Skyworld during its early facility build-out.
He was struck not just by the architecture, but by the depth of Skyworld’s SOPs and data-tracking processes.
This wasn't a group looking to cut corners or sell hype. These were operators with the kind of rigorous standards that Anthony and his team were seeking.
Skyworld and STAYME7O share core values: a commitment to equity, a minority-first company structure, and a hands-on approach to product development.
Rather than license a name and step back, Anthony was deeply involved in shaping the product. From testing to sampling to providing feedback, he smoked what he planned to sell.
Developing Hall of Flame with Precision
Hall of Flame emerged from a methodical development process. Beginning with twelve candidate strains, Skyworld and Anthony's team examined lab data, terpene profiles, and user experience.
The standout was a Zero Gravity × Garlotti cross, noted for its THCV-leaning cannabinoid profile that delivers an uplifting, active high. The strain was dubbed “#7” in homage to Anthony’s iconic jersey number.
That detail reflects the intentionality of the launch. Even the product naming isn’t arbitrary; it aligns with Anthony’s identity and reinforces a sense of legacy and authenticity.
The initial release includes premium flower and infused pre-rolls, and it's being introduced first in the New York market. This measured rollout is strategic.
Rather than flood dispensaries nationwide, the partners are building slow and steady, ensuring quality and community resonance over flash and volume.
Setting a Higher Standard for Celebrity Cannabis
This contrasts sharply with most celebrity-driven cannabis lines, which often rely on licensing deals with little involvement beyond promotional appearances.
Many such ventures have floundered, lacking credibility with experienced consumers and dispensary buyers. Skyworld’s model aims higher.
Anderson put it plainly: “We really wanted to partner with someone who shared our discipline and care for the work.”
Indigenous Leadership and Representation
That work includes amplifying Indigenous visibility in cannabis.
As Anderson has pointed out, Indigenous people are too often referenced only in historical terms. “I want to be forward about showing that we exist in the modern world,” he said. Skyworld is a living example of that future-forward representation.
The company is part of a growing movement of Indigenous cannabis entrepreneurs advocating for greater access, equity, and ownership.
The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, which Skyworld supports, is one such effort to shift the narrative.
The collaboration also creates space for mentorship. Steenstra emphasized the importance of showing what’s possible: “I’m really hoping that Skyworld can play a role in inspiring people in the space to see what’s possible.”
Challenges in a Disjointed Market
Still, challenges loom. New York’s cannabis market is notoriously disjointed, with regulatory hurdles, uneven retail infrastructure, and licensing delays.
Success in this environment depends on more than good flower; it demands agility, consistency, and consumer education. The bet here is that the authenticity of Hall of Flame will resonate in a market increasingly weary of empty promises.
And there is momentum. Retailers have responded to the product line with early enthusiasm, and as the products hit shelves, consumer traction is beginning to build. The ultimate test will be sustaining that interest and scaling wisely. The partners have expressed openness to expanding beyond New York, but only when the process and partnerships align with their standards.
Lessons for Arizona’s Cannabis Industry
For Arizona, where cannabis culture is shaped as much by desert terroir as by regulatory friction, the Hall of Flame launch offers a point of comparison. The state has seen its share of celebrity-backed ventures and flash-in-the-pan brands, but few match the values-forward, data-driven approach that Skyworld and STAYME7O exemplify.
In a market like Arizona’s—where cultivation techniques, minority ownership, and equity initiatives remain front-of-mind for many—the success of this venture could hold instructive value.
CIGAWEEDS, in particular, shares a kindred ethos. Like Skyworld, it champions culture-first cannabis, placing a premium on process and representation.
As Arizona consumers become more discerning and socially conscious, ventures like Hall of Flame reinforce what thoughtful brand-building looks like. It’s not about celebrity alone. It’s about shared purpose, clear vision, and trust.
The Outlook for Hall of Flame and Beyond
That trust-first philosophy could prove to be the most durable part of this collaboration. Anthony has long been known for showing up when it matters—on the court, in his philanthropic work, and now in cannabis.
With Hall of Flame, he and Skyworld are doing more than selling flower. They're shifting the way we think about cannabis branding itself.
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