{"id":98320,"date":"2025-08-26T13:03:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T13:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/98320\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T13:03:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T13:03:07","slug":"post-nfl-cannabis-helped-me-trump-should-reclassify-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/98320\/","title":{"rendered":"Post-NFL, cannabis helped me. Trump should reclassify it"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III isn\u2019t about politics \u2013 it\u2019s giving people safe, legal access to medicine that works.<\/p>\n

Ricky Williams
\n\u00a0|\u00a0 Opinion contributor<\/p>\n

\"play\"<\/p>\n

Michigan cannabis shops thrive as $100M marijuana tax helps communities<\/p>\n

Cannabis industry insiders praise the relatively lower pot tax in Michigan they see here versus in other states<\/p>\n

Fox – 2 Detroit<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump<\/a> said the federal government is \u201clooking at\u201d reclassifying cannabis<\/a>, but that it\u2019s still too “early\u201d to decide. He called it \u201ca very complicated subject<\/a>\u201d and noted that \u201csome people like it, some people hate it.<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n

I understand the hesitation. I also understand the stakes \u2013 because for me, cannabis isn\u2019t an abstract political issue. It\u2019s personal.<\/p>\n

When I left the NFL<\/a>, people questioned my choices. They didn\u2019t 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 \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

And I\u2019m not alone. Veterans, cancer patients, parents of sick children and everyday Americans are turning to cannabis<\/a> as a safer, plant-based alternative. They aren\u2019t looking to get high \u2013 they\u2019re looking to get well.<\/p>\n

Right now, federal law is standing in their way.<\/p>\n

What rescheduling cannabis would mean<\/p>\n

Rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III<\/a> isn\u2019t about politics \u2013 it\u2019s about freedom. It\u2019s about giving people safe, legal access to medicine that works. It\u2019s about empowering small businesses, creating good-paying jobs and aligning federal law with what\u2019s already happening in most states<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Beyond my personal experience, I\u2019ve also built my professional life around cannabis. I founded Highsman<\/a>, a lifestyle and cannabis brand that reflects the healing, wellness and community values I discovered through the plant. But like so many other entrepreneurs, I\u2019ve seen firsthand how outdated federal restrictions choke innovation, limit access to banking and keep businesses from reaching their full potential.<\/p>\n

Rescheduling would not only open the door for research and medical access, it would also give legitimate companies like mine the chance to compete fairly, create jobs and contribute to local economies without being penalized for operating in the open.<\/p>\n

This reform is smart, strategic and long overdue. Schedule III would take the shackles off legal cannabis businesses, making it easier for them to bank, hire and grow. It would open the door for medical research, so we can learn more about how cannabis can help conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain and sickle cell anemia<\/a> \u2013 illnesses that disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities. It would deliver real economic opportunity to entrepreneurs who have been shut out for too long.<\/p>\n

Opinion: Cannabis startups should have the same opportunities as other businesses<\/a><\/p>\n

Opponents claim that rescheduling is a backdoor to legalization or that it will unleash public health crises. This simply isn\u2019t true. Rescheduling to Schedule III doesn\u2019t legalize adult use nationwide<\/a> \u2013 it just brings cannabis policy in line with science, allowing doctors to prescribe, researchers to study and businesses to operate without being punished under outdated federal rules.<\/p>\n

Critics also argue cannabis is dangerous, but the data tells a different story: States with legal cannabis have seen drops in opioid overdoses<\/a>, fewer arrests for minor possession and billions of dollars<\/a> in tax revenue that fund schools, health care and public safety.<\/p>\n

Far from creating chaos, rescheduling is a measured, responsible reform that makes communities healthier and safer.<\/p>\n

Cannabis helped manage pain from my NFL career<\/p>\n

My journey with cannabis isn\u2019t just theory; it\u2019s deeply personal. As a former professional athlete, I faced chronic pain and mental health struggles that traditional medicine often didn’t fully address. Cannabis became my ally in regaining control over my body and mind. It helped me manage persistent injuries, reduce reliance on opioids and find clarity in my daily life.<\/p>\n

My experience has shown me firsthand that cannabis isn\u2019t about getting high \u2013 it’s about healing. This personal struggle fuels my passion for reform, because I believe everyone deserves access to safe, effective treatment that can truly make a difference.<\/p>\n

Opinion: America can’t lose ground on the opioids fight now<\/a><\/p>\n

And yes, it would make our country safer \u2013 because I believe rescheduling is one of the most effective tools we have to fight the illicit market that is thriving under the current system.<\/p>\n

Right now, Chinese criminal groups are laundering drug money for Mexican cartels<\/a> on an unprecedented scale. By 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration discovered that the same Chinese money brokers involved in fentanyl trafficking had expanded into illicit cannabis. They are growing, transporting and selling illegal marijuana across the United States.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t a loose network of small-time operators; it\u2019s a powerful hybrid criminal enterprise. Experts now describe the cartel-Chinese alliance as a \u201csuper cartel\u201d operating largely within our borders.<\/p>\n

Reclassifying marijuana is a step toward justice<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the reality: One way to fight the illicit cannabis market<\/a> is to strengthen the legal one. When consumers have safe, tested, affordable cannabis from licensed businesses, they have another choice than street dealers or black-market suppliers. And when those legal businesses can compete on a level playing field \u2013 without being punished by outdated federal tax rules \u2013 they can help drive criminal actors out of the market.<\/p>\n

Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III aligns perfectly with President Trump\u2019s promise to work to protect our borders, cut taxes and put Americans back to work. It strengthens the economy, can weaken the cartels and keeps the benefits of this industry in American hands \u2013 not in the pockets of foreign criminal networks.<\/p>\n

The president said he hopes the decision made \u201cwill be the right one<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t agree more. The right decision is to reschedule cannabis now \u2013 not months from now, not when it\u2019s less “complicated\u201d but now.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve waited long enough. Patients have waited long enough. Business owners have waited long enough. Every day we delay, people are criminalized for using a plant that can help them live better lives and criminal organizations grow richer and more powerful.<\/p>\n

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don’t have the app? Download it for free from your app store<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mr. President, this is your opportunity to show leadership \u2013 not just to the people who already support cannabis reform, but to the millions of Americans who want smart, commonsense policy that puts people over politics.<\/p>\n

Rescheduling cannabis is more than a policy change. It\u2019s a step toward justice. It\u2019s a chance to strengthen our economy, support our veterans and give families access to medicine that works. It\u2019s a move that says we\u2019re ready to leave outdated drug laws in the past and focus on building a future where healing and opportunity are within reach for everyone.<\/p>\n

The ball is in your hands, Mr. President. It\u2019s time to run with it.<\/p>\n

Ricky Williams, former NFL running back and 1998 Heisman Trophy winner<\/a>, is a longtime medical cannabis advocate and cofounder of Project Champion<\/a>, dedicated to elevating the legitimacy of cannabis as medicine.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III isn\u2019t about politics \u2013 it\u2019s giving people safe, legal access…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":98321,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[7968,1338,4526,32074,1203,3287,49,48,10742,57167,57166,6631,10665,10668,1329,3276,1376,7967,57168,26618,26620,2971,26614,3278,3295,44006,84,56,14288,1337,12372,10744,57170,2970,15051,1058,47,2349,32072,2034,514,927,24559,10232,10666,1333,2042,2100,714,26615,26619,46249,57169,66,1330,82,39,3277,1335,1328,24560,20519,406,1196],"class_list":["post-98320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-administration","tag-affiliate","tag-alternative","tag-alternative-u0026-natural-medicine","tag-and","tag-branch","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-cannabis","tag-cannabis-science","tag-cartels","tag-collection","tag-columnists","tag-columnists-opinions","tag-content","tag-donald","tag-donald-trump","tag-drug","tag-drug-cartels","tag-drug-enforcement-administration","tag-drug-laws-u0026-policy","tag-drugs","tag-enforcement","tag-executive","tag-executive-branch","tag-fentanyl","tag-health","tag-industry","tag-laws","tag-local","tag-local-affiliate-health-and-wellness","tag-marijuana","tag-marijuana-industry","tag-medical","tag-medical-marijuana","tag-medicine","tag-national","tag-national-sports","tag-natural","tag-neutral","tag-nfl","tag-opinion","tag-opinion-collection","tag-opinion-content","tag-opinions","tag-overall","tag-overall-neutral","tag-policy","tag-politics","tag-recreational","tag-recreational-drugs","tag-ricky","tag-ricky-williams","tag-science","tag-sharing","tag-sports","tag-top-stories","tag-trump","tag-u0026","tag-usat","tag-usat-content-sharing-opinion","tag-usat-content-sharing-sports","tag-wellness","tag-williams"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/98321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}