Ricky Williams has followed in the footsteps of other former athletes by launching his own cannabis product line. Williams is calling the brand Real Wellness, which features six products ranging from vape cartridges to tonics, and salves. The goods will contain “hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or a mix of both,” according to the company. In addition, they will include extracts like arnica, lavender, and turmeric.
For the former football star and Heisman trophy winner who became a trailblazer for athletes advocating for marijuana, Williams couldn’t be happier.
“It’s a dream come true for me to merge my passion for healing and my fascination with plant medicines with my entrepreneurial spirit. Cannabis has played an important part in my healing journey, and I feel a responsibility to share what I have learned in the process,” Williams told NBC San Diego.
Williams will serve as RW’s founder and brand leader. With Williams’ home state of California allowing legal marijuana sales this year, he considered the timing right for him to combine his passions of wellness and herbalism. To produce his line of goods, Williams will work with OutCo, a Southern California medical marijuana dispensary and consulting firm.
Beginning immediately, the products will be sold in marijuana shops in Los Angeles, San Deigo, and the Orange County area. Starting this spring, you can purchase Real Wellness online. Prices will range from around $35-$70.
Because of his passion for marijuana, Williams missed two NFL seasons while still in his prime.
“In 2004 I retired from the NFL and failed a drug test, and the story became ‘Ricky Williams deserts team and went to smoke pot.’ That’s part of the story, but there’s more to it,” he said. “When I left I started to train as a healer, I started to study and learn about herbs, so it dawned on me cannabis is an herb and these are other herbs, so I started playing with herbs and creating formulas to help myself and family and friends.”
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Williams believes his product will stand out in the cannabis spaces because he’s adding holistic and Eastern medicine into his product with the herbs.
“I’m being a pioneer in this space, adding medicinal herbs to treat specific medical issues that people are struggling with,” Williams said. “We’re taking medicinal herbs that have been used traditionally to treat headaches, insomnia and anxiety and combining them with cannabis to have powerful effect.”
