NFL Legend Champ Bailey Advocates for Cannabis Use as Physical and Mental Recovery Tool
Former NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer Champ Bailey has spoken out about using cannabis as a physical and mental recovery tool during his playing days. Bailey, who played in the NFL from 1999 to 2013, is now a community outreach liaison for Trulieve, the world’s largest cannabis retailer.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Bailey shared his personal story of using cannabis to help with pain management and recovery. He started using cannabis in his second or third year in the NFL, after seeing professionals like himself using it.
“I did it a few times, and it worked for me,” Bailey said. “And it calmed my mind, my body. If you’re familiar with anything in the NFL, it’s one of the toughest sports to play. For me, it was just, ‘How do I bounce back and stay at the highest level of my game?’ Well, this helped me do that.”
Bailey partnered with Trulieve to help the company secure a license in Georgia and has since been educating the public about marijuana and breaking the stigma around it. He believes that using his story and the stories of other athletes who have used cannabis can help to break down the barriers and stereotypes surrounding the drug.
“I’m a good example,” Bailey said. “I really just use my story to get people to understand. But then it’s also encouraging others to tell their story. I’m not the only guy that played football, basketball or any pro sport and use cannabis. A lot of guys do it more than you think.”
Bailey also recalled a teammate who was struggling with drinking issues and turned to marijuana as a alternative. The teammate ended up playing double-digit years in the league and credited cannabis with helping him to overcome his addiction.
“I was just happy enough that I was in a position to show him that there was a better way,” Bailey said. “And there’s a lot of stories guys have about other interactions they had. I just want to encourage guys to be open and reveal more of these stories because it helps.”
Bailey believes that more people need to learn about the benefits of cannabis and is encouraging others to share their stories. He also hopes that the league will continue to evolve and view cannabis as a positive tool for recovery and pain management.
“The league realized they wasted a lot of resources on something that could actually benefit us, and things have changed,” Bailey said. “Things have changed over time. And I’m proud to say that they give me the courage to really speak up more because they’re starting to turn the page on what it means to use cannabis.”