Coss Marte, who served seven years in prison for drug offenses, is now the CEO of Conbud, Manhattan’s first licensed recreational cannabis dispensary. Since opening in October 2023, Conbud generates monthly sales of about $800,000, with projections of $12 million in revenue for 2024. After his release in 2013, Marte founded a fitness business, Conbody, and later seized the opportunity to enter the cannabis market following New York’s legalization in 2021. He emphasizes hiring individuals with past convictions, fostering economic equity while navigating a competitive landscape against larger corporations. Marte’s journey reflects a significant personal and professional transformation.
