When NFL fans think about players and cannabis use, the former Miami Dolphins quarterback takes a back seat Ricky Williams Perhaps Super Bowl champion Chris Long comes to mind.
Williams and Long I spoke We talked at length about the use of cannabis for several reasons, including pain management compared to other painkillers that have been introduced in the past.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey is also a member of a group of former NFL stars who advocate for the use of cannabis as a tool for physical and mental recovery. Billy is the Community Outreach Coordinator for Trulieve, the world's largest cannabis retailer.
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Champ Bailey has partnered with Trulieve. (Truelife)
Former Washington Redskins W Denver Broncos Standot told Fox News Digital in a recent interview that he partnered with Trulieve to help the company obtain a license in Georgia. Since its completion, Bailey has been tasked with educating the public about marijuana and breaking the stigmas around it.
Bailey played in the NFL from 1999 to 2013. He was a 12-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro selection and was named to the Hall of Fame All-2000s Team. He said he started using cannabis to help him early in his career.
“But fortunately I stayed away from it until I was mature enough to participate in it. I wasn't exposed to it until my second and third years in Washington. I've always had some exposure to it.” “It's from a social standpoint, but I was never involved in it, just because of where I grew up,” he explained.
“But once I saw professionals, like me, doing it, I felt more willing to try. For one thing, I didn’t want to go down the path of alcoholism or addiction to any drugs. So, I made a point to… let’s crawl before I walk.” I did this several times, and it worked for me, and it calmed my mind and body In the NFLIt is one of the most difficult sports to practice. For me, it was just: “How can I get back to the top level and stay at the top of my game?” Well, this helped me do that.
Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) warms up before the start of the game against the Cleveland Browns at Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado, September 20, 2009. (Ron Chenoy/USA Today Sports)
“Luckily for me, I found something that worked for me, and now it's: ‘How can I educate people about what he did for me so that they can look at it as a positive use for themselves?'” But, of course, everyone has to go their own way, I recommend it to men all the time Talk to your doctor about this.
“I've talked to my friends about it. So, it's one of those things. Let's stop being ashamed to talk about it and maybe go down this path. The only way you're going to learn is to be open and honest about your usage or your interests in usage. That's kind of been my journey.” What, this journey continues.”
Bailey explained to Fox News Digital that his mission was to break the stigma of indulging in drugs that were illegal in most states before 2012. Washington and Colorado were the first two states to legalize recreational marijuana use, and California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis. In 1996.
Billy said he uses himself as an example.
“I'm a good example. I really use my story to make people understand,” he told Fox News Digital. “But then, it also encourages others to tell their story. I'm not the only guy who played football or basketball or any professional sport and used cannabis. A lot of guys do it more than you think. But for some reason, athletes make this rule, and we have to We all have to walk that fine line and look clean.
“Well, cannabis is part of our regiment for a lot of us. So, using these stories helps break down those stigmas. I think about the adults I grew up with. I couldn't have had these conversations with them 10 years ago because they all saw it as a gateway drug, and I say, “Well, if that's the case, why didn't I use that portal to do something else that would hurt me and many of my men who did the same thing?” 'These are the ways you break those stigmas that you have to use your stories.'
Dealing with teammates in an NFL locker room is a little different, but it's less difficult to show.
An NFL team is made up of players from different backgrounds, religions, beliefs, and viewpoints. If someone smoked marijuana, which was mostly illegal and against NFL rules when Bailey was playing, the player would be subject to side-eye.
Former professional football player Champ Bailey talks to a fan during a pregame event at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, September 10, 2023. (Brent Skeen/USA Today Sports)
“I've played for a long time, so I've been able to see a wide range of different personalities and different beliefs and where people come from. There's no more diverse environment than being in an NFL locker room. Guys would find out some of us were smoking, and they would be blown away.” So they really see, “Oh, this really works for them,” because they're able to stay in touch with what we're doing, “Oh, how do we act when we do this?” Well, now we're at work, does that actually help me? On access to work and performance At the high level that I do.”
“So, that's how we were able to break that down in the locker room. But it takes strong leadership and really standing up for what you believe in because, again, it was illegal, it was against the rules to do that. I would like to have not My best effort would ever be to encourage anyone to do it (at the time). It was more, “This is what works for me, if you're curious, talk to someone about it, especially your doctor, and then go from there.” For me and for many people Others, there is no other way to do it.
Getting around the rules was another.
Ricky Williams was one of the best running backs in the NFL early in his career. He lost games and even a season due to failed marijuana tests.
Bailey suggested that NFL players who were using the drug at the time knew when to take the tests and stopped using marijuana before they were tested.
“They were very strict back then, but I can't say somehow they wanted to catch you. Like, we knew when the exams were coming, so we always stopped at a certain time, which… even then, I realized that was To the detriment of my recovery because the times we had to quit were in the off-season when they were having these annual tests.
“It's one of those times where you work harder than you do during the season because you're training to get back in shape, and those are the times you really want to,” he said. “I can just remember the guys were always talking about what we should quit and when. Some guys would take the test earlier than others, so guys would go back to it while others would keep waiting. It was a topic of conversation to figure out how to navigate that, but we all stuck together.” Together – those who were using – we made sure we all got through it.
Champ Bailey before a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, October 6, 2024. (Ron Chenoy/Imagine Images)
“Some worked, some worked. We've all had our experiences with the league's drug program. But, for better or worse, it was a waste of time. When you look back, I think the league realized that they wasted a lot of resources on something that could actually benefit us.” “Things have changed over time, and I'm proud to say that they gave me the courage to speak out more because they started to change the page on what it means to use cannabis.”
Bailey said he saw how marijuana use helped firsthand.
He remembers that his colleague had a drinking problem when he turned him to marijuana.
“He knew I was exhausted, so he wanted to know what was best,” he said. “And as soon as he started doing it, he said, 'Man, I've been missing out.' This became his vice, so to speak, because he now realized that this actually contributed to this success.
“He ended up playing double-digit years in the league, great career. So, I don't have any regrets there. I was happy enough that I was in a position to show him that there was a better way. And there's a lot of stories, guys. I have Information on other interactions he's had, I just want to encourage players to be open and reveal more of these stories because it helps.”
Bailey said it would encourage more people to learn about the benefits of cannabis.
“This is not what was taught 20 to 30 years ago,” he told Fox News Digital. “I think people have turned a corner. We just have to keep telling our stories. If you're a user, talk about it and educate people about why you use it and how it benefits you. The more stories we can tell those people the better off we'll be.”
Washington Redskins running back Ladell Betts (46) passes Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) in the third quarter at FedEx Field in Landover, Md., November 15, 2009. (Jeff Burke/USA Today Sports)
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“I think that's why my vision meshes so well with Trulieve because they believe in the same thing. It's not just about promoting their brand. It's more about 'how do we get people to know what cannabis can do for you, and really,' I see it as a benefit to the community.” And not something negative?”
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