Allen Iverson Gets A Strain After His Name
IVERSON '01 is an F1 Durban x Gushers x Runtz cross. Photo source: Viola @ Instagram
The NBA icon has a multi-year partnership with Black-owned cannabis producer and retailer Viola. The brand has just dropped a new cannabis strain carrying the basketball star's name. Dubbed IVERSON '01, the strain sold out during its launch last weekend in Michigan. The NBA star hosted a meet and greet with customers at five different dispensaries in Detroit metro area for the occasion.
Detroit and Michigan residents queued before stores Friday and Saturday to greet the NBA icon and grab a stash of their own IVERSON '01. For now, the strain is exclusive only to Michigan, and it hopefully will be distributed to other states and locations, too.
At Viola, Iverson is a business partner with another basketball legend, Al Harrington, who actually launched this very brand himself back in 2011. The company has released numerous premium flower and extract products ever since.
Last year, the company released a strain dubbed '96, a name that gives homage to the year Iverson was drafted. That's actually the first strain Iverson can call his own.
The new strain, IVERSON '01, is an indica-dominant hybrid, a cross between F1 Durban, Gushers, and Runtz. It's available as a pre-rolled and packaged flower.
Iverson was scheduled to appear at several dispensaries where the new flower was made available, including at Bazonzoes, 3Fifteen, Herbology, River Rouge, Skymint, and Liv.
"I am excited to continue the partnership with my brother Al and bring our newest strain to Detroit," said Iverson. "Everything I do is for the fans, and this is no different."
"We're excited to launch IVERSON in the Michigan market with 70+ valued partners. Although we would've loved to visit every location, with scheduling we had to narrow it down to a handful. We look forward to everyone trying '01 and meeting Chuck and I at the in-stores," said Viola CEO Harrington in a press release statement ahead of the new strain launch.
Harrington was inspired to open a cannabis company after his grandmother, who had suffered from glaucoma and found relief in cannabis. Harrington himself persuaded his grandmother to try out cannabis, and following the positive experience, he went on to establish the brand. The name Viola honors the name of his grandmother.
Viola is present in five U.S. states and Canada.
S
Stephen Andrews
