Cannabis can heal folks like me, an ex-NFL player – if the law changes
President Donald Trump said the federal government is “looking at” reclassifying cannabis, but that it’s still too "early” to decide. He called it “a very complicated subject” and noted that “some people like it, some people hate it.”
I understand the hesitation. I also understand the stakes – because for me, cannabis isn’t an abstract political issue. It’s personal.
When I left the NFL, people questioned my choices. They didn’t understand why I would walk away from the game I loved. But the truth is, my body was battered, my mind was heavy and I needed healing – physically, emotionally and spiritually. Cannabis was part of that journey. It helped me sleep, manage pain and find peace. It made me a better version of myself.
And I’m not alone. Veterans, cancer patients, parents of sick children and everyday Americans are turning to cannabis as a safer, plant-based alternative. They aren’t looking to get high – they’re looking to get well.
Right now, federal law is standing in their way.
Rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III isn’t about politics – it’s about freedom. It’s about giving people safe, legal access to medicine that works. It’s about empowering small businesses, creating good-paying jobs and aligning federal law with what’s already happening © USA TODAY
