Ex-NFL Stars Using Cannabis and CBD for Pain and Recovery

Ex-NFL star Calvin Johnson frequently used marijuana to ease pain
Calvin Johnson is thankful that medical cannabis helped keep him healthy during his legendary career with the Detroit Lions.
The former phenom wide receiver, and first overall pick (in the NFL draft) revealed in a recent Sports Illustrated interview that he smoked marijuana after every game to deal with a career full of injuries.

Avoiding prescription opioids

Johnson added that he decided to skirt around the league’s infamously strict marijuana policy in order to avoid using prescription opioids, which he says is readily available to players.

"When I got to the league, [there] was opioid abuse," Johnson told SI. "You really could go in the training room and get what you wanted. I can get Vicodin, I can get Oxy[contin]. It was too available. I used Percocet and stuff like that. And I did not like the way that made me feel. I had my preferred choice of medicine. Cannabis.”

From healing to starting new ventures

A growing number of athletes including former Super Bowl MVP Terrell Davis and NBA champion John Salley, have touted CBD and cannabis products for pain relief and anti-inflammation. Many of these athletes are also investing in, or founding CBD companies, including the aforementioned Davis, who partnered with a CBD beverage company, and former New England Patriot and Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski, who recently invested in CBD medic, a line of CBD topicals. Johnson and other Professional athletes argue they should have access to organic medicines ahead of opioids to help with managing nagging injuries and for recovery.

Managing a career

His choice seemed to pay off, as the legend known as Megatron missed only nine of the possible 144 regular-season games throughout his career.
Johnson’s stellar talents didn’t seem to suffer from using so much pot, as he was named as a first-team Pro Bowler three times while racking up 731 receptions for 11,619 yards and 83 touchdowns in 135 games.
He now owns a legal cannabis company, Primitive, with his former teammate Rob Sims as he waits for a potential call-up from the NFL Hall of Fame.

"I was a beast during that time; I was hands down the best receiver in the game," said Johnson. "I'm not gonna argue with you, but I know I was."