Greta Gaines and Ricky Williams: From Sports Legends to Cannabis Advocates and Entrepreneurs

After walking away from successful careers in sports, both Greta Gaines and Ricky Williams found new passions in the world of cannabis advocacy and entrepreneurship. While their journeys diverged, their shared experience of using cannabis to improve their lives ultimately led them to become leading voices in the marijuana reform movement. Now, each of them has launched their own cannabis brands, combining their unique backgrounds with their dedication to promoting the healing properties of the plant.

Greta Gaines: Champion Snowboarder to Cannabis Advocate

Greta Gaines made history as the first woman to win a world snowboarding championship. But after achieving success on the slopes, she turned her attention to a new challenge: cannabis reform. As an advocate for patient and consumer access to marijuana, Gaines became a director at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), where she championed policy changes that would allow greater access to cannabis for medical and recreational purposes.

In her shift from extreme sports to the world of cannabis, Gaines became a leading authority on cannabinoid law. A trained clinical herbalist and CEO of Love + Hemp, a skincare brand, Gaines uses her expertise to help terminal patients with plant-based medicines. Based in Tennessee, she is passionate about educating people on the healing properties of cannabis and its potential as a treatment for various health conditions.

For Gaines, cannabis is not just a plant but a cornerstone of her practice. She has dedicated herself to learning everything she can about its composition and medicinal uses. Over time, she shifted her focus to helping terminally ill patients, finding peace in using her knowledge of cannabis to help improve the quality of life for those running out of time.

Her passion for plant-based healing methods continues to grow, and she remains a tireless advocate for broader cannabis access. Gaines is also looking to expand her business ventures, which include the launch of skin care products made from hemp. By combining her expertise in herbal medicine with her entrepreneurial spirit, Gaines hopes to bring more people into the world of natural healing through cannabis.

Ricky Williams: From NFL Star to Cannabis Advocate

Ricky Williams, the Heisman Trophy-winning former NFL running back, embarked on a similarly transformative journey after retiring from professional football. Williams, known for his unique path in the NFL—including taking a year-long sabbatical after testing positive for marijuana—has since become a vocal advocate for cannabis legalization. In 2021, Williams launched his own cannabis brand, Highsman, a lifestyle brand focused on promoting wellness and the positive impact of cannabis.

Williams’ personal experience with cannabis is deeply intertwined with his professional career. After retiring for the first time from the NFL, Williams used cannabis as a way to connect with his body and mind. He began practicing yoga and studying astrology, becoming more attuned to his inner self. Williams credits cannabis with helping him find meaning beyond football and with improving his overall mental and spiritual health.

Beyond personal use, Williams is committed to pushing for broader cannabis reform on a national level. In April, he lobbied on Capitol Hill to urge lawmakers to ease federal marijuana restrictions, advocating for both medical and recreational cannabis access. His work has contributed to the broader conversation about marijuana’s potential benefits, not just as a recreational drug, but as a powerful tool for healing and recovery.

Athletes Leading the Way in Cannabis Advocacy

Both Gaines and Williams will be speaking at the upcoming MJBizCon, the largest cannabis industry conference in the world, which takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Alongside former basketball player Al Harrington and NFL lineman Eugene Monroe, the panel will highlight how athletes are reshaping the narrative surrounding cannabis use in sports. The discussion will focus on the growing role of cannabis in wellness and recovery, as more professional sports leagues begin to relax their policies regarding marijuana.

For athletes like Gaines and Williams, cannabis has proven to be not only a wellness tool but also a way to foster deeper connections with their bodies and minds. Williams, in particular, has become a champion of cannabis as a means of self-awareness and healing. His connection with the plant has gone beyond just personal use—he aims to help others discover how cannabis can enhance their lives, both physically and mentally.

As part of his advocacy efforts, Williams will also be leading a yoga session at the conference. His goal is to teach attendees how combining mindfulness practices like yoga with cannabis consumption can improve overall well-being. His personal experiences with the plant have shown him that cannabis can play a major role in managing pain, reducing stress, and increasing mindfulness.

The Intersection of Cannabis and Mental Health

Mental health is another area where both Gaines and Williams see a significant opportunity for cannabis to help people heal. Gaines has long been open about the role cannabis played in managing her anxiety and fears, especially during her time as a professional snowboarder. She would often self-medicate with cannabis to calm her nerves before taking on dangerous descents on the mountain. Over time, she discovered that cannabis helped her maintain focus and clarity, which was crucial when facing high-risk situations in extreme sports.

Similarly, Williams has discussed how cannabis has helped him manage the pressures and mental challenges that came with his professional career. His advocacy work is now focused not just on the medical benefits of cannabis, but also on how it can help people address mental health challenges like stress, anxiety, and depression.

A New Path: Cannabis and Personal Growth

In many ways, both athletes have found that cannabis has provided them with a sense of personal growth that their previous careers did not. For Gaines, the transition from extreme sports to cannabis advocacy has been a natural progression. Her background in high-performance sports gave her the mental fortitude to explore new avenues, while her passion for wellness and healing led her to cannabis as a tool for helping others.

For Williams, cannabis became a way to reconcile his inner self with the pressures of fame and sports. His journey of self-discovery led him to embrace yoga, astrology, and plant medicine, all of which helped him to reconnect with his true purpose.

As athletes, Gaines and Williams have used their platform to advocate for broader cannabis reform and to promote its potential for recovery, wellness, and mental health. By launching their own brands and speaking out about their personal journeys, they are reshaping the conversation about cannabis in the sports world, encouraging others to consider its many benefits.

The Future of Cannabis in Sports

Looking ahead, the future of cannabis in sports appears to be bright. As professional leagues become more open to allowing athletes to use cannabis for recovery and well-being, more former athletes like Gaines and Williams will likely step into the spotlight as advocates and entrepreneurs. With the push for federal legalization gaining momentum, the role of cannabis in the sports industry is bound to evolve, creating new opportunities for athletes, consumers, and entrepreneurs alike.

As the movement for cannabis reform continues to gain traction, figures like Greta Gaines and Ricky Williams are leading the charge, proving that sports careers don’t have to define someone’s legacy. Their advocacy for cannabis, wellness, and mental health is helping pave the way for a more inclusive and holistic approach to healing and personal growth.