This is my biggest priority in life … I ’ ve seen who we have helped across the country and the lives that have been disrupted by cannabis .
NBA all-star Chris Webber is opening a multi-million-dollar cannabis facility in his hometown of Detroit .
With a focus on creating more jobs and better education for underprivileged people , the nine-acre Webber Wellness Conservatory wants to become the ‘ shining jewel ’ of cannabis .
The Hall of Famer said that creating opportunities for some of Detroit ’ s poorest and most disadvantaged was a huge priority .
And , with the help of business-partner and entrepreneur Lavetta Willis , he hopes that the initial $ 50 million project could eventually become a $ 175 million investment in Detroit ’ s economy .
Responding to the project , county commissioner Johnathan Kinloch said : “ This is an area that has been desperately needing investment and for folks to come and recognise the history and the attribute of this community .
“ Chris has always been Detroit … and he has always pushed Detroit wherever he was .”
Featuring a 60,000-square-foot cultivation centre , an 8,000-squarefoot dispensary and a private lounge , the conservatory is set to create up to 5,000 jobs .
And with a focus on local recruitment , including those who have been excluded from the industry , it will offer people from all walks of life a chance to enter the growing cannabis market .
Willis said : “ We don ’ t need to go outside of the community … right here in Detroit is where we ’ re going to select people .
“ Some people don ’ t want to be business owners , so we want to make sure that everybody gets a chance to participate in this amazing industry .”
In an effort to ‘ address the ills of the past ’, Webber and Willis teamed up with successful cannabis investor Jason Wild .
The trio launched the non-profit WebberWildWillis Foundation , which wants to use specialist expungement clinics to aid minority groups that have been negatively impacted by the war on drugs .
Webber and Wild have also created a $ 100 million fund that will support entrepreneurs of colour within the industry .
Webber said : “ This is my biggest priority in life … I ’ ve seen who we have helped across the country and the lives that have been disrupted by cannabis .
“ Hopefully , we can do a little bit of repairing … hopefully we can help the city .”
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