From Cell Block to ConBud: The Coss Marte Story

Lower East Side Roots

Born and raised on Manhattan’s Lower East Side to a Dominican family, Coss Marte grew up surrounded by the grit and survivalism of New York’s underground economy. By thirteen, he was hustling to make ends meet; by nineteen, he was running a cocaine delivery network grossing more than $2 million a year—one of the largest independent street operations in the city.

From Kingpin to Cell Block

Federal agents dismantled the network, leading to Marte’s arrest and a seven-year prison sentence. He served roughly six years in federal custody, spending much of that time reflecting on the path that brought him there. The cell that once confined him would ultimately become his classroom for discipline, entrepreneurship, and transformation.

Health Wake-Up

While incarcerated, prison doctors warned him that his health was at critical risk. Facing the possibility of a heart attack before thirty, Marte began a rigorous bodyweight regimen in his cell. Within six months, he lost nearly seventy pounds and trained over twenty fellow inmates, who collectively lost close to one thousand pounds. What began as survival became a system—a method rooted in consistency and accountability.

ConBody Is Born

Released in 2013 with only forty dollars to his name, Marte launched ConBody, a prison-style fitness brand employing formerly incarcerated trainers. What started in a small studio evolved into a re-entry movement, providing justice-impacted individuals with employment, structure, and dignity. ConBody’s “no equipment, no excuses” philosophy resonated globally, earning coverage in major outlets and partnerships with fitness institutions.

Second Chances

Extending his mission beyond fitness, Marte co-founded Second Chance Studios, a nonprofit that trains formerly incarcerated people for careers in media and production. The initiative expanded his vision of re-entry—creating new avenues in creative industries and demonstrating how rehabilitation can meet innovation.

ConBud Opens

In 2023, Marte launched ConBud at 85 Delancey Street—the first licensed dispensary on the Lower East Side. Like ConBody, the shop prioritizes hiring individuals with justice system backgrounds, turning legalization into a vehicle for social equity. The dispensary bridges cannabis culture, community investment, and justice reform under one roof.

Delivery Comes Full Circle

ConBud now delivers legally across Manhattan and Brooklyn—the same streets where Marte once ran illicit routes. What was once contraband is now commerce; what was once risk is now redemption. The pivot from illegal enterprise to licensed delivery embodies New York’s evolving relationship with cannabis justice.

Voice of the Movement

Marte has become a sought-after speaker and author. His 2018 memoir ConBody details his transformation from inmate to entrepreneur. He has testified before lawmakers in Albany and Washington, advocating for re-entry programs and restorative policy. His story reframes incarceration as a starting point for purpose, not an endpoint for potential.

Policy Symbol

Coss Marte stands as a living example of New York’s CAURD (Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary) program—a policy pairing cannabis legalization with social equity hiring. His businesses prove that the same determination that once fueled survival can be redirected toward community building and systemic change.

Influence Today

From concrete yards to ConBody studios and ConBud counters, Marte has built a model of empowerment rooted in experience. His trajectory—hustler to health advocate to cannabis entrepreneur—shows how reinvention can rewrite a legacy. ConBud’s core message mirrors his life’s mission: second chances should come first.