From the Corner to the Counter
How Coss Marte went from incarceration to legal cannabis—and what his story says about the new New York.
Not long ago, selling cannabis in New York City was a one-way ticket to handcuffs, court dates, and years behind bars. Today, that same plant fuels a billion-dollar legal industry, defined by state-issued licenses, complex tax codes, and glossy storefronts. Few stories capture this jarring contradiction more clearly than that of Coss Marte.
The Underground Blueprint
Before legalization, Marte was a high-level architect of NYC’s underground cannabis economy. At its peak, his operation reportedly moved enough product to generate over $1 million annually. He operated with the quiet efficiency that countless New Yorkers relied on for decades—moving product through neighborhoods at a constant, high-stakes risk.
In 2009, that risk became a reality. Marte was arrested and sentenced to a significant term in prison. However, what followed wasn’t just time served; it was a total professional and personal transformation.
Prison Changed the Path—Not the Hustle
While incarcerated, Marte didn’t just wait for his release. He lost over 70 pounds and began developing a unique body-weight workout system in his cell. This became the foundation for ConBody, a prison-inspired fitness brand that found massive success after his release.
But his history with cannabis remained an unfinished chapter.
When New York finally legalized adult-use marijuana and introduced its Social Equity framework, the state made a historic promise: those most harmed by the “War on Drugs” would be the first to build the legal industry. For Marte, this wasn’t just policy—it was a door finally being unlocked after a lifetime of being shut out.
Legal Plant, New Rules
Through New York’s CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) program, Marte qualified for a legal license not despite his past, but because of it.
The transition from selling on the street to operating ConBud, a fully licensed dispensary, is a profound full-circle moment. The plant is the same. The city is the same. But for the first time, the law is working in his favor. Marte has become a visible symbol of “cannabis justice”—a living example of what happens when policy finally aligns with the reality of our streets.
Why This Story Matters to New York
The rollout of New York’s legal market has been undeniably messy. Unlicensed shops still outnumber legal dispensaries, taxes remain a hurdle, and many equity license holders are fighting thin margins just to stay afloat.
However, Marte’s journey reminds us that legalization is about more than just tax revenue; it’s about repairing the harm of prohibition. It is an acknowledgment that entire communities were criminalized for the very same actions that are now celebrated as “entrepreneurship” on Fifth Avenue.
At NYC Weed News, we don’t pretend the system is perfect. But Marte’s story forces us to ask a necessary question: If this plant is a “social good” today, why did so many New Yorkers lose years of their lives to it yesterday?
The Bigger Picture
Coss Marte didn’t change his drive; the law simply caught up to his hustle.
His journey from a cell to a storefront captures the central contradiction of New York’s cannabis experiment. The culture didn’t change—the rules did. And that shift in who the law decides to protect is the most important story in New York right now.
Compliance & Editorial Note: NYC Weed News is an independent media platform dedicated to reporting on the culture, policy, and business of cannabis. We do not facilitate the sale of cannabis products. This coverage is for informational, historical, and cultural purposes only.
