Why Athletes Are Choosing CBD Over Opioids
Written by: Aly K. Benson
AKB is a biracial indigenous media personality & digital strategy consultant in the Canadian cannabis industry based out of Abbotsford, BC. In March 2022, AKB refused opioids and received heath-care-approval for a custom, personalized cannabis recovery for their L4/L5 spinal surgery.
“I believe athletes should have the option to choose between painkillers and an organic product that's made from a plant.”
-Kevin Tansey, Co-Founder of ImpACTIVE CBD
Cannabis is gaining popularity as an opioid substitute for injured athletes because of how well it may reduce pain and inflammation. Additionally, it is typically seen as being less dangerous and addictive than opioids, which are frequently recommended for pain treatment. Athletes choose cannabis topicals and creams because they provide targeted pain treatment without the euphoric side effects of THC. These products are applied directly to the skin and absorbed via the dermal layers.
Numerous professional sports leagues and organizations have begun to accept the use of cannabis for pain relief, and some have even started to promote it. The increased understanding of the harmful effects of opioid usage and the mounting evidence of cannabis' ability to help with pain management have contributed to this change in perception of the drug. Cannabis topicals and lotions may also help athletes recover faster and with less inflammation. Cannabis is gaining popularity as a substitute for injured athletes because it is excellent in reducing pain and inflammation, as well as because of its generally accepted safety and lack of addictive qualities. Due to its focused pain treatment, cannabis topicals and lotions are other well-liked choices.
Read through a sit-down interview with AKB and Kevin Tansey - a professional hockey player and the Co-Founder of ImpACTIVE CBD. He is a firm believer in the product as a natural alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals recommended by doctors in professional sports.
A Conversation with Kevin Tansey
AKB:
Hi Kevin, thank you so much for joining me with White Ash Group to talk about your journey. Could you start by sharing how you became aware of the negative impact painkillers and opioids have on athletes?
Kevin:
My story is a tough one. Rewind back to when I was in college when I was 19 years old, I played at Clemson University in the D1 program in upstate New York. I had a good freshman year, and I was getting some interest from NHL teams. I had already attended The Maple Leafs camp the year prior and was working at a hockey school in the summer.
The night of my incident, my friends and I, who were all hockey players, were playing Call of Duty- a game I’m not very skilled in. Once the game ended, I grabbed my keys and headed to my car. My car was parked right outside the front door, so they were expecting me to come back quickly. I went outside, and after about 10 minutes they began wondering where I was at. They looked out the window and there was somebody laying on the pavement.
I had gotten jumped by one, or multiple people- I don't remember anything. The last thing I remember is putting on my shoes. When I was jumped,I was told I was hit with some kind of blunt object that ultimately cracked my skull, and caused a brain bleed. This resulted in a two-day coma, three broken ribs, and in the next three weeks my shoulder dislocated 17 times because it required so many readjustments during my recovery. I also lost my sense of smell… something that has never returned.
AKB:
Oh my gosh, that’s a horrible scenario for an upcoming athlete - or anyone for that matter.
Kevin:
Yeah, It was a pretty crazy moment. And quite honestly, I was inches away from dying. I was really touch-and-go for the first few days. And I was not myself for at least three weeks. It went from one day thinking I’d wake up, go to school, and head to practice…. to struggling to get out of a hospital bed.
I was very fortunate that I woke up one day, and seemed to be back to my regular self, albeit with a lot of pain. From then, I was bedridden and lost 70-75 pounds because I couldn’t move or do anything other than heal. This was when I was introduced to painkillers.
The fog I felt was insane but quickly began seeing doctors because my mind was so focused on getting back to playing hockey. With an injury to your brain and skull as severe as mine, a lot of doctors had different opinions on whether I should play or not. When I had my first doctor's appointment and they told me that I shouldn't return to play, I went into a pretty dark place. I didn't really know what to do. I didn't really have the mental capacity to deal with the emotions, and I remembered how painkillers helped me escape and block the pain triggering these emotions. So I started taking them somewhat fairly regularly in the next couple of summers and fairly often in the season when the opportunity presented itself. At the time I didn’t realize why I was doing this, but eventually, I began to think to myself ‘I can't sustain this kind of lifestyle’. With help from family and friends, I was able to rid the habit. I don't want to say it was a total addiction because it wasn't like I was waking up and taking them, but when I could get my hands on them and escape, I took them. I was overusing. I started to really focus on myself, and got off of them - I’m so thankful for that.
What was a real shocker was when I turned pro for hockey. That's when I saw that these pharmaceuticals that were prescribed to me, were also readily available in North America for other players. With my major shoulder surgery, it’s understandable to a point, but there were guys who took them just to assist them through a game.
This is when I realized the impact these ‘medications’ had on my sport, and how there weren’t any natural options - other than ice, and stimulant machines, but still, nothing like a natural, organic product.
You know, I've had teammates and friends who had it so much worse than I did. It's tough to see this kind of mentality in sports. People want to stay in the lineup and keep going whatever the cost. It’s a mindset to want to be back in the game and win, and sometimes we don't think twice about the impact.
AKB:
That's one of the craziest athletic impact stories I've ever heard. And I'm so sorry, for the lack of better words, and I applaud you on the self-awareness that you were able to reflect on and step back. And I agree, it’s never a good scenario, especially when it’s also affecting others - I think you and I both have that perspective. It’s terrible not feeling like yourself. I think you have a lot of strength in being able to share your story and point of view, but also see how it hurts others too.
I'm the kind of person who's very much no chemicals and have been from an early age. I tore every ligament and tendon in the front of my shoulder playing volleyball growing up, which was my streamline into realizing painkillers aren’t a choice for me, and never will be. I was put on T3s when I was in grade 10, it took me a few days to realize I wasn’t comfortable with that ‘zombie mode.’ I hated that part of it, sure the pain was gone, but it felt like a part of myself was being stripped away.
I endured the pain for years before coming across cannabis after my shoulder was so horribly injured I had to quit my Varsity career. I got recommended creams from a friend, and all the prolotherapy, IMS treatments, and steroid injections were obsolete because topicals did more than they ever cool in relieving pain and eventually healing my shoulder. I was pushed to play for months with teammates and coaches saying, ‘you're fine,’ and they didn't believe it. Wanting players to have that kind of attitude, rather than listen to their body is unfathomably dangerous.
Even without using any kind of chemical substances or plant-based to rely on, pushing your body to a breaking point can also be very mentally draining, pushing someone to those negative options more so than before.
So for me, topicals were the game changer, and I still swear by them and use them whenever I can. Was there a certain product that was some kind of saving grace for you?
Kevin:
So cannabis, for me, has kind of always been in my family. My dad and my mom grew up in the 60s and my brother is a musician who didn’t hide the fact that he consumed. I think I smoked my first joint when I was probably 16. So I was always aware of the plant for the majority of my life, but it was in my first year playing Pro when I came across CBD from a teammate who was working with a cannabis company. He introduced me to CBD products, which at that point, was pretty new, and I was still smoking THC. After that, I started using CBD products almost daily - for training, anxiety, sleep, muscle pain, and for things as simple as a headache. I fell in love with it.
AKB:
Oh, absolutely. That’s why it’s so important for people like you and myself to speak out about the endless possibilities of application not just for relief but as safer options as well.
So you’re currently in Europe, is your company based overseas or operating in the USA?
Kevin:
We were working out of Ottawa, Canada to begin with and then we were eventually acquired by a larger firm. Now, we operate and sell out of the US, as well as Europe.
AKB:
That’s an amazing progression, congratulations! My last question for you is a hefty one. It’s obvious that when it comes down to athletic regulations, like Olympic athletes, you can’t consume and compete on the same day, but when you get into different sports, tears and divisions they aren’t so forgiving. What’s your opinion on the harsh regulations for realms like D1 that are still in place?
Kevin:
I think it’s fairly obvious with the field I’m working in, that I believe it should definitely be lifted. How can people argue that a natural plant is worse than painkillers with so much science coming out? I know guys who simply take Ambien for a bus ride, or get handed out painkillers in the locker room - and that’s super common for minor Pro leagues. It’s just a part of the sport no one talks about, but it’s allowed, no problem. And, no one tests for these kinds of things, which is crazy.
AKB:
I agree. One of the last prompts I have for you is if you had one thing to say about just the bias that people have about athletes transitioning into cannabis, and advocating it, what would that be?
Kevin:
I would say, live a week in our shoes before you make any kind of judgment. The number of body checks, fights, broken bones, stitches, and surgeries I’ve been through - to be honest that upwards of 60 stitches, 10 broken bones, and two surgeries - we want a natural way to feel better, but just need the information and options to do so. Whether that be smoking, rolling a salve on, or taking an infused bath. It's a natural plant, it helps, and I don't see why there is such a bad bias against it.
AKB:
Same here, especially when you go from pro athlete to pro stoner as I like to call it. It can rub some people the wrong way, but I don’t understand why. Especially when it comes in the form of a topical, they’re the best gateway to positive possibilities. It’s why I speak so highly of them, I’ve gotten a lot of people with biased opinions to change their opinion on stigma because they listened and learned from my experience of chronic pain to practically none at all. And I’m so glad to be speaking with someone with the same opinions and perspectives as me.
Kevin:
Yeah, the sports bias is possibly the worst. Obviously, inhaling is not ideal because of the lung capacity that everybody in sports needs. And that’s why we figured topicals were the best option. I agree with you that whenever I have pain, a topical product is the best way to get relief in a specific spot.
AKB:
Do you guys have any outreach programs or resources that can help athletes find hope through your company?
Kevin:
Absolutely, we have a blog that usually goes out monthly, along with informative social posts, and a lot of Q&A on our Instagram and website. In terms of current ambassadors, we have Kelly Whaley, who’s an up-and-coming golfer, Kolby Tullier, who is a trainer for dozens of PGA and NFL players, Dr. Troy Van Biezen, who is a physiotherapist and doctor who trains top athletes around the globe as well as the Dallas Stars. We also have Will Wilcox, a former PGA tour player who is not afraid to speak about his past struggle with addiction.
AKB:
That’s amazing. I appreciate you laying out those resources and partnerships! Thank you so much for sitting down with White Ash Group to share your experiences and hopefully enlighten others about the safer options that are out there.
Kevin:
No problem, this was fun to do, and I appreciate your team’s support.
Learn more about Kevin and ImpACTIVE on their website, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter.