When NFL fans think of players and cannabis use, they probably think of former Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams or even Super Bowl champion Chris Long.
Williams and Long spoke at length about using cannabis for a variety of reasons, including to manage pain compared to other painkillers that have been advocated in the past.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey is also part of a group of former NFL stars who advocate the use of cannabis as a tool for physical and mental recovery. Bailey is a community liaison for Trulieve, the world’s largest cannabis retailer.
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Champ Bailey has partnered with Trulieve. (True believe)
The former Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos star player told PK Press Club Digital in a recent interview that he partnered with Trulieve to help the company obtain a license in Georgia. Since that was completed, Bailey has been responsible for educating the public about marijuana and breaking stigmas about 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-2000 team. He said he started using cannabis to help him early in his career.
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“But, fortunately for me, I stayed away until I was mature enough to really participate in it. And it wasn’t until my second, third year in Washington that I was exposed to it .I always had some exposure from a social point of view, but I never participated in it and it’s precisely because of where I grew up that I never thought that. it could be beneficial for my health,” he explained.
“But once I saw professionals, like me, doing it, I felt more inclined to try. On the one hand, I didn’t want to go down the path of alcoholism or a drug addiction. So I made it a point to… crawl before walking. I did it several times, and it worked for me. And it calmed my mind, my body, if you know anything. in the NFL, it is one of the most popular sports difficult to practice for me, it was just “How do I bounce back and stay at the top level of my game? Well, it helped me do that.
Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) warms up before the start of a 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 was beneficial to me, and it’s now more like, ‘How can I let people know what this has done for me so that they can potentially consider it as a positive use for them?’ But, of course, everyone must follow their own path. I recommend that men talk to their doctor.
“I’ve talked to mine about it. So, it’s one of those things. Let’s stop being shy about talking about it and potentially go down this path. The only way for you to learn is to be open and honest about your use or interest in using it. That’s kind of my journey and that journey continues.
Bailey told PK Press Club Digital that his mission was to break the stigma around using the drug, which was illegal in most states before 2012. Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational marijuana use, and California was the first state to legalize medical cannabis. in 1996.
Bailey said he was using himself as an example.
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“I’m a good example. I’m just using my story to make people understand,” he told PK Press Club Digital. “But it also encourages others to tell their stories. I’m not the only one who played football, basketball or any other professional sport and uses cannabis. A lot of guys do it more than you do think. But for some reason, athletes are put on this pedestal, and 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 these conversations with them there 10 years ago because they were all I see it as a gateway drug, and I’m like, “Well, if that’s the case, then why didn’t I use this gateway to do something something else that is harmful to me and to many my guys who did the same? ‘This is how you will break these stigmas.’
Facing teammates in an NFL locker room is a little different, but less difficult to show.
An NFL team is made up of players from different backgrounds, faiths, beliefs and points of view. If someone smokes marijuana, which was mostly illegal and against NFL rules when Bailey played, a player would get a side eye.
Former professional football player Champ Bailey speaks to a fan during a pregame event at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on September 10, 2023. (Brent Skeen/USA Today Sports)
“I’ve played for a long time, so I’ve seen a wide range of different personalities, different beliefs and where people come from. There’s no more diverse environment than being in a football locker room. The NFL guys would find out that some of us were smoking, and they were dismayed until they actually saw, “Oh, it really works for them” because they’re able to stay connected to it. what do we do? OK now that we are at. work, does it affect us? No, it actually helps me come to work and perform at the highest level,” he said.
“So that’s how we were able to break them down in the locker room. But it takes strong leadership and really standing up for what you believe in because, again, it was illegal, and it was against to the rules to do it. I never went out of my way to encourage anyone to do it (at the time). If you’re curious, talk to someone, especially your friend. doctor, then go from there. It works for me and several others. I’m just sharing my experiences. There’s no other way to do it.
Bending the rules was another matter.
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Ricky Williams was one of the best running backs in the NFL at the peak of his career. He lost games and even a season because of his failed drug tests for marijuana.
Bailey suggested that NFL players who were using drugs at the time knew when the testing took place and stopped using marijuana before being tested.
“They were very strict back then, but I wouldn’t say they were out to get you. Like, we knew when the tests were coming, so we always stopped at a certain point, which… even then , you I realize it was detrimental to my recovery because the times we had to stop were during the offseason when they had 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 when you really want it,” he declared. “I just remembered the guys were always talking about what we should stop and when. Some guys were getting tested earlier than others, so guys were getting back to it and others were still waiting. It was a topic of conversation about how to navigate this, but we all stuck together – those who were using – and made sure we could all get through it.
Champ Bailey before a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on October 6, 2024. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)
“Some succeeded, some did. We all had our experiences with the league’s anti-doping program. But, for better or worse, it was a waste of time. When you think back, I think the league realized they wasted a lot of resources on something that could actually benefit us, and things have changed over time and I’m proud to say they’re giving me the courage to really speak out more because ‘they’re starting to change the page on this. what does it mean to consume cannabis.
Bailey said he saw how using marijuana helped.
He remembers a teammate who had a drinking problem when he lit him up with marijuana.
“He knew I was using, so he wanted to find out what was best,” he said. “And once he started doing it, he was like, ‘Man, I’m missing something.’ And that became his vice, so to speak, because he now realized that it actually contributed to that success.
“He ended up playing double-digit years in the league, great career. So, no regrets there. I was just pretty happy to be able to show him there was a better way. And there’s a lot of stories guys. I talked about other interactions they’ve had. I just want to encourage guys to be open and reveal more of those stories because it helps.
Bailey said he would encourage more people to learn about the benefits of cannabis.
“This is not what was taught 20 or 30 years ago,” he told PK Press Club Digital. “I think people are crossing the line. We just need to keep telling our stories. If you’re a user, talk about it and tell people why you’re using it and how it benefits you. The more we can tell these people. stories, the better we would be.
Washington Redskins running back Ladell Betts (46) runs past Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey (24) in the third quarter at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, November 15, 2009. (Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports)
“I think that’s why my vision aligns so well with Trulieve’s, because they believe in the same thing. It’s not just about promoting their brand. It’s more about asking themselves How do you get people to understand what cannabis can do for you and, really, see it as a benefit to society and not a negative thing?
