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Privately owned Caliva, formed in San Jose in
2015, said on Tuesday that Jay-Z had entered a long-term
partnership in which he will focus on outreach and the creative
direction of the company.
The rapper, whose formal title with Caliva will be chief brand
strategist, will also further his social justice efforts by
increasing job training for former prisoners as well as
fostering quality and fairness in the development of the legal
marijuana industry, the company said in a statement.
"We want to create something amazing, have fun in the process,
do good and bring people along the way,” the rapper said in a
statement.
Jay-Z earlier this year helped to launch a criminal justice
group called the Reform Alliance with a goal of helping to get 1
million Americans out of jail and on probation or parole in the
next five years.
Jay-Z, 49, who is married to R&B artist Beyonce, was named by
Forbes magazine in June as the first hip-hop artist to become a
billionaire thanks to investments in clothing, champagne,
ride-hailing service Uber and his Roc Nation entertainment
company.
He is the latest celebrity to get into the marijuana business as
its legalization for recreational use has spread to 11 U.S.
states, including California.
Rapper Snoop Dogg has his own brand, Leafs by Snoop, and actress
Whoopi Goldberg in 2016 launched a line of medical marijuana
products aimed at providing relief from menstrual cramps.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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