Chris Webber, NBA Hall of Famer and businessman, embarked on a new journey Tuesday, September 28, with Players Only Holdings, a $50 million state-of-the-art training and marijuana cultivation facility in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. Once finished, the new institution located on nine acres near the Detroit River will develop hundreds of jobs over the next few years.

Players Only, a Black-owned business focused on marijuana cultivation, brand partnerships, real estate development, and creative content development and management, was co-founded by Webber and fellow entrepreneur Lavetta Willis. The 180,000 square-foot facility, named the Webber Wellness Compound, will have a 60,000 square-foot marijuana production operation, an 8,000-square-foot marijuana dispensary, and a private indulgence lounge.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Webber declared a distribution partnership for Players Only branded merchandise with Gage Growth Cor., a leading Michigan-licensed marijuana operator headed by CEO Fabian Monaco. Webber said in a statement that, “this will be the shining jewel of Michigan. Everything great in Michigan starts in Detroit, and I am excited to collaborate with Gage to bring our premium line of Players Only products to this community.”

Webber concluded by saying, “Gage is the HOF of cannabis operations. With Fabian Monaco as a teammate, this relationship is a winner on every level.” It’s amazing to see how far the cannabis culture stretches from celebrities, to politics, to current and retired athletes.