Iman Shumpert is the latest celeb to tap into the cannabis craze.
The professional basketball player, last seen on the Brooklyn Nets, is launching TSA Approved, a wellness-centric cannabis brand, in partnership with vertically integrated Glenmere Farms founded by molecular biologist Dr. Sha-Ron Pierre-Kovler, who has studied the endocanabinoid system and the benefits of THC. The lifestyle brand will be available throughout New York State starting in March with a sativa-dominant strain focused on creativity and an indica-dominant strain focused on relaxation, both around $50 for 3.5 grams.
According to the team, the cannabis market in New York is estimated to be worth $1 billion and within that, TSA Approved is aiming to reach $5 million in monthly sales. Additionally, Shumpert’s involvement is a multimillion-dollar deal, according to the team.
Pierre-Kovler is New York’s first biomedical researcher with a license to grow and distribute cannabis. Upon starting Glenmere Farms, she knew she wanted to create a consumer-facing brand with a known name at the center. Enter Shumpert.
“I just said, ‘Hey, I feel like I need a partner, someone that understands a consumer, someone that smokes all the time, that smoking [was] part of their daily regimen,’” said Pierre-Kovler. “It was part of Iman’s journey, and I was interested in that intersection between my curiosity about the plant and my knowledge on the potential to revolutionize health and wellness and someone that is actually utilizing every day…Iman was able to explain the role of the plant in his daily life.”
Iman Shumpert for TSA Approved.
TSA Approved Michael Ikenna Arinze
The name TSA Approved is a cheeky yet meaningful play on Shumpert’s own experience with the cannabis landscape, as he was arrested for carrying marijuana through the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in 2022.
“Having my trial at the airport, it was more about education for me, as well as a solution for medical because though I played in the league, I had a lot of injuries that I played with,” Shumpert said. “I still ended up having to do a lot of different surgeries, a lot of different rehabs. With surgeries, rehabs and trying to come back from injury, a lot of times, you have to explore the possibilities of medicine. In my experience, I don’t want to get strung out on prescriptive pills… so I looked to cannabis in those times.”
He continued: “I found a harmony in using cannabis as opposed to having to stay on a prescription.”
Having followed Shumpert’s experience, Pierre-Kovler knew he would be an ideal representative for this type of brand.
“From an advocacy perspective, it was something that stood out in the cannabis community, and we definitely want to help shed light on patient access and access to what they need for their day, just as if you are a diabetic and you might carry insulin with you on a plane,” she said, adding that she is hopeful federal legalization is on the horizon.
Shumpert added: “It’s turning trials into triumph…Instead of letting that moment define me negatively, we’re transforming it into a movement that acknowledges and celebrates the role of cannabis in our daily lives.”
In addition, Shumpert and Pierre-Kovler are working with sports injury advocate Bianca Stewart to create The Vet Evolution Program, which will develop wellness protocols and experiences for athletes during and after their careers.
As far as what the future holds for TSA Approved, Shumpert’s ultimate goal is for other professional athletes to embrace the brand.
“Within the next year, we aim to have players embrace our brand as their go-to for recovery and wellness. Our vision extends beyond just basketball — we hope to establish wellness touch points in various cities with professional sports teams, providing players across all major leagues with access to our specialized care,” he said — in 2023, the NBA removed marijuana from its banned substance list. “This approach allows us to serve the wider professional sports community, as cannabis-based recovery continues to gain significant traction among elite athletes.”
