Cookies, the leading lifestyle and cannabis brand in North America, is pleased to announce the launch of “Gary Payton,” a unique strain of cannabis named after the legendary Seattle SuperSonics and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame player, Gary Payton. The exclusive deal, which includes the licensing of Gary Payton’s name and image, is part of a joint venture with Powerzzz Genetics, creator of this particular strain.

“Kenny & J just finished a pheno hunt with some of our new favorite crosses.  We all sat down, as usual, and started to smoke through the new flower. The #20 stood out big time and naturally Kenny called it ‘That Gary Payton,’” says Berner, Cookies founder and CEO.  “Lots of people have been waiting on the Snowman and the Y, so the cross was instantly hyped. We spread the #20 out with our friends and everyone shared it on social media tagging ‘Gary Payton’. Oddly enough, Gary and I had mutual friends who set up a meeting in Oakland. The vibe was right and we both decided to change the game together. Think about it: this is like the Wheaties box for the weed game and we were the first to pop it off.  What makes it best is the bag behind it is so fire.”

“Cookies and Gary Payton both having roots in Seattle make this collaboration special,” says Gary Vaynerchuk, Partner at Green Street. “It’s a first for someone like Gary (Payton) with such an accomplished athletic career to have their own cannabis strain and this really shows how open he is to completely new business and branding opportunities. Marketing for a cannabis brand has so much regulation, and connecting a leading brand with someone who is culturally relevant is a smart move for them both.”

“Gary Payton” is now available at Cookies retail locations throughout California and Cookies retailers in Michigan will release “Gary Payton” in August.