Hydrolife Magazine August/September 2017 [USA Edition]

enjoy
“I’d also like to bring it to
conservative states like Tennessee and
Texas, states that are less progressive,
where we can really help to move the
needle toward positive change.”
“The Santa Monica Police and the narcotics task force of Los
Angeles were both great to work with,” says McAlpine. “They
were all good people who treated us equally to anyone else.
I was very pleased to find how cool and accepting they were,
both before and after the event, and have nothing but good
things to say.”
Athletes and Patients Defending the Plant
Former NFL player Kyle Turley (New Orleans Saints, St. Louis
Rams, Kansas City Chiefs) took to the stage after the race to
share his own stories of healing. Turley was diagnosed with
early-onset Alzheimer’s at 34, with a black spot on his brain
from 10 years of constant concussions playing professional
football. After being consumed with prescription pain meds
and outbursts to his family, Turley switched from pharma to
cannabis.
His success in the transition inspired him to create his own
strain, Saint Jack, a hybrid from his favorite strain, Jack Herer,
named after an equally inspirational activist. After founding
Gridiron Foundation, in support of fellow athletes, Turley
also launched CBD oil company Neuro Armor, demonstrating
the plant’s neuroprotectant properties (as detailed in
US Patent No. 6630507 on CBD, the non-psychoactive
cannabinoids found in hemp and cannabis).
Another former NFL all-star, Reggie Williams (Jacksonville
Jaguars, Seattle Seahawks), shared his story of switching from
painkillers to cannabis after myriad surgeries turned his leg
into an unrecognizable mass of scars, left it several inches
shorter, and rendered him disabled for life. He, too, is now on
the cannabis wellness wagon as pitchman for Pure Ratios, a
CBD oil company that makes chewable tablets and oils.
Lastly, Eben Britton (Jacksonville Jaguars, Chicago Bears) took
the stage to address the crowd, sharing that he had never had a
good experience with prescription pain killers—and now uses
cannabis for both pain and emotional healing. Eben has openly
admitted to playing in the NFL while high, something Turley
confirmed takes place in the locker room regularly before
games, with Eben stating that some of his best games were
played while medicated.
Former NFL player Kyle Turley (right) and MC "Medicinal Mike" (left)
help pump up the crowd.
“It’s been amazing to have professional athletes now calling
me to get on board for the Games,” says McAlpine. “I’ve had
Hall of Fame athletes in multiple sports asking how they can
be part of this mission to educate on cannabis and sports.”
Changing Image of Cannabis
“I love having the 420 Games in LA,” says McAlpine. “Particularly
so that my kids can see and perceive cannabis as
something very positive for society, and not a street drug that
stoners use. My kids know, just like with alcohol or coffee, that
cannabis is not for kids, only for adults, unless of course the
child has doctor’s approval for a certain illness, like epilepsy
or cancer. I am proud to be teaching them from a positive
perspective, and not with scare tactics, like the ‘Just Say No’
campaign from the 1980s.”
Aside from medicated, healthy participants attending the
Games, McAlpine has been pleased to see so many highprofile
athletes come out to support cannabis and sports.
“There were so many athletes hiding their cannabis use,”
says McAlpine. “I think the Games have helped them come out
of the canna-closet in a way that works for them. We get emails
from people around the country thanking us and asking us to
come to their state. It’s been extremely rewarding.”
Power Plant Fitness
There is another cornerstone to McAlpine’s plan. Of McAlpine’s
many projects, his most ambitious project to date is a goal of
opening the first cannabis-friendly gym in Los Angeles.
Photo by Sharon Letts
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