Greta Gaines and Ricky Williams, trailblazers in their respective fields, have both transitioned from celebrated sports careers to influential roles in cannabis reform, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.
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Their stories illustrate how cannabis has become a central element in their lives, both personally and professionally, as they advocate for its medical, therapeutic, and recreational benefits.
Greta Gaines: From Snowboarding Champion to Cannabis Advocate
Career Highlights: Gaines made history as the first women's world champion snowboarder and later became a TV personality and professional fly fisher. She is also a clinical herbalist and CEO of the Love + Hemp skin care brand.
Advocacy: A director for the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws (NORML), Gaines has long championed cannabis access for patients and consumers. Her work now focuses on using plant-based medicines, including cannabis, to treat terminal patients.
Personal Experience: Cannabis played a crucial role in managing her fears during high-stakes snowboarding and has since become a tool for mental health, relaxation, and connecting with nature. Fly fishing, her current passion, provides her with an outlet for Zen-like mindfulness enhanced by cannabis.
Ricky Williams: From NFL Star to Cannabis Lifestyle Leader
Athletic Legacy: A Heisman Trophy-winning running back, Williams led the NFL in rushing in 2002. His career, however, was punctuated by suspensions due to marijuana use, which he now views as a turning point in his life.
Brand Leadership: Williams founded Highsman, a cannabis lifestyle brand launched in 2021. He combines his advocacy with creating products and experiences centered on wellness and self-awareness.
Cannabis Advocacy: Williams lobbies for federal marijuana legalization and highlights its role in mental and spiritual well-being. He credits cannabis with helping him navigate life beyond football and fostering deeper connections with others.
Cannabis in Athletics and Beyond
Both Gaines and Williams will share their experiences at MJBizCon 2024 in Las Vegas, alongside other athlete-turned-entrepreneurs such as Al Harrington and Eugene Monroe. They will discuss:
Cannabis in sports: Benefits for recovery, mental health, and performance.
Entrepreneurship: Challenges and opportunities in the evolving cannabis market.
Advocacy: Efforts to reform marijuana laws and foster cannabis-friendly policies in professional sports.
Events at MJBizCon
Williams will lead a yoga session combining mindfulness, physical awareness, and cannabis on Dec. 5 at 9 a.m. PT.
Gaines and Williams will headline discussions on how athletes are shaping the cannabis industry through advocacy, branding, and education.
Both Gaines and Williams exemplify how cannabis can provide not only healing and personal growth but also opportunities for meaningful advocacy and entrepreneurship. Their stories inspire others to explore how the plant can enhance wellness, creativity, and connection.
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