Charlamagne tha God, co-host of the popular radio show The Breakfast Club, recently sat down for a conversation at the 2023 Hope Global Forum where he discussed the various business ventures he and his wife plan to launch in 2024.
Although not much of a cannabis consumer himself, Charlamagne believes legalized cannabis can empower those who have been affected by the War on Drugs, particularly those in minority communities, and previously questioned President Joe Biden about his promise to decriminalize cannabis during an interview on his radio show. His previous experience in the cannabis industry includes a role as an advisor to CitizenGrown, a company that provides automated cannabis grow boxes to households and was previously invested in by Raekwon.
“I’m really big on the benefits of cannabis, especially when it comes to anxiety and depression and things like that. I’m invested in knowing about the plant-based methods of dealing with those issues,” said Charlamagne.
Charlamagne partnered with Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon the Chef on his Hashstoria dispensary that is planned to open in Newark, New Jersey. Along with another business partner, civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers, the group received a Class V cannabis retail license from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. Poised to be the first cannabis consumption lounge in the state, Hashstoria expects to open the doors as a dispensary in early 2024 with plans to transition into a consumption lounge later on in the year. In September 2023, Raekwon gave his Instagram followers a first look at the location of the Hashstoria dispensary.
“We are excited to be working with the great city of Newark to safely and legally expand the cannabis industry in the city. The Hashstoria team is grateful to the Mayor’s office and to the City Council for their collaboration and we will continue to work closely with them as we take the next steps in this amazing endeavor,” said Sellers. “We are extremely proud to become members of this great community and will strive daily to have a positive impact and help bring cannabis opportunities to a community that spent decades as targets of the failed War on Drugs.”
The group is enlisting Rachael H. Grochowski of RHG Architecture + Design to help design the building, former home of engineering firm A.R. Meeker & Co and Stoutenburgh & Co. Newark Clothiers, that will be restored to house the cannabis dispensary. The Landmark and Historic Preservation Commission approved plans to renovate the historic building in February 2023.
“I’m thrilled to apply my expertise in crafting a space that not only mirrors our collective vision but also optimizes the potential of every element,” Grochowski said. “Design will play a pivotal role in shaping the comprehensive experience of our customers, from the very moment one enters. Our partnership with Hashstoria signifies an unwavering dedication to creating an environment that transcends conventional expectations, ushering the entire cannabis journey into a new realm of excellence.”
The radio host also revealed plans to open six Krystal Restaurants in the state of South Carolina through a friendship with rapper 2 Chainz, another famous and frequent cannabis user who once had a heated debate with Nancy Grace live on her show about cannabis legalization in 2015.
“2 Chainz became the creative director of Krystal [Restaurants], so I started paying attention to what they were doing,” said Charlamagne. “Then, I reached out to 2 Chainz, and he plugged me in with the right people. I talked to my team about it. My team was like, ‘This is a great opportunity.’ So me, and my wife decided to go ahead and pull the trigger on six of them [restaurants].”
