Former NBA star Lamar Odom is the latest in the growing list of celebrities who are venturing into the cannabis business industry. Odom claims that marijuana has helped him go through his intense crack cocaine addiction treatment and recovery.
Odom will be launching a cannabis company called Rich Soil Organics in California later this year, and it focuses on producing various cannabis-based products, including concentrates, extracts, flowers, and other THC and CBD infusions.
The 38-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers forward shared that while he was going through rehab for his substance abuse, he found certain marijuana strains helpful in the recovery process. That is why he decided to partner with Camp Green, which is a company that distributes organically grown and pesticide-free cannabis.
Odom believes that it is the perfect time to offer marijuana solutions to people who may be struggling with the same health issues as he did.
Odom’s near-fatal drug overdose
It can be recalled that in October 2015, news broke that reality star Khloe Kardashian’s ex-husband had overdosed and almost died. Odom was found unconscious in a legal brothel in Nevada, some 80 miles from Las Vegas, and was rushed to the nearest hospital.
Odom was put on life support after suffering from ischemic stroke and a loss of oxygen. Ischemic stroke, which is caused by a blood clot that prevents blood flow to the brain, is often associated with drug overdose. He also suffered from kidney failure.
It was reported that the 6-foot, 10-inch-tall basketball player was also using herbal Viagra, aside from alcohol and a cocktail of drugs found in his system. Among the drugs he was using was cocaine.
Recalling the traumatic incident, Kardashian said she was told Odom only had four hours left to live. However, three days after his OD-induced coma, Odom woke up and began breathing on his own again.
However, he did stay in the hospital for over two months, and spent the holidays there, before moving into a private rehabilitation and recovery center.
Opening up about his struggle with drugs, Odom said his addiction had led to the demise of his marriage. He even admitted that his excessive use of cocaine was the reason he and Kardashian struggled to get pregnant. They were in the middle of a divorce settlement when he overdosed.
Kardashian, who postponed the divorce filing during Odom’s hospitalization and recovery, re-filed in May 2016 after he reportedly fell back to his old habits. Despite his near-fatal overdose, Odom was again seen drinking and, on one occasion, was even escorted off an L.A.-New York flight after vomiting twice on the plane prior to take-off following a drinking spree.
Odom and Kardashian’s divorce was finalized in December 2016.
Rich Soil Organics
The cannabis company Rich Soil Organics got its name from Odom’s music and film production firm, Rich Soil Entertainment.
Odom will reportedly release his first batch of cannabis products by the end of 2018 in California. The state has legalized recreational cannabis and launched the sale of adult-use marijuana products in January this year.
Odom joins the ranks of other athletes who have built their own cannabis companies or joined the cannabis industry. CannabizDaily has reported earlier that former boxing champ Mike Tyson is investing in a 40-acre cannabis resort and cannabis cultivation school in California.
We have also reported about former NFL running back Ricky Williams launching his very own line of cannabis-based wellness products called Real Wellness. The former football star’s cannabis brand features his own formulations of essential oils and herbal extracts intended for various uses, like muscle repair and pain relief. His initial products include tonics, salves, and vapes.
Featured image is from Lamar Odom’s Twitter account.