Recent Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Chris Webber has announced that he is opening a $175 million facility in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan called the Webber Wellness Compound. According to the Detroit Free Press, Webber and his business partners at Players Only Holdings plan to build "a marijuana operations and training facility, a cultivation facility, a dispensary and a cannabis consumption lounge." Phil Lewis of the Huffington Post adds that the facility will also feature "record expungement offices and a training program for minority students looking to enter the cannabis industry."
"This is my biggest priority in life," Webber told the Detroit Free Press.
"I've seen who (Willis) and I 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."
Webber's latest project will bring jobs and opportunities to a city that helped propel his career. Webber was born in Detroit in 1973 and attended Detroit Country Day in Beverly Hills, Michigan. While in high school, he won three state titles and was named National High School Player of the Year in 1991.
After graduating from Detroit Country Day, he joined Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson at the University of Michigan. Together, they formed what is known as the "Fab Five." Over the course of two seasons, Webber and his teammates reached two consecutive national championship games. Off the court, the group of five highly touted basketball stars revolutionized college basketball with their dress and style. After leaving the state of Michigan, Webber went on to play in the NBA for a decade.
Having left the NBA behind, Webber is now returning to where it all started.
"I need to be home to make sure I can do the larger projects," he explained.
It feels so good to come home and to be a part of all the great things again."
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