Ricky Williams’ transformation from NFL superstar to cannabis advocate and the founder of Highsman stands as one of the most inspiring evolutions in modern sports and wellness. Once celebrated for his record-breaking performances on the field, Williams now uses his platform to promote mental health, recovery, and mindful living through cannabis.
During his years as an NFL running back, Williams endured intense pressure, public scrutiny, and the physical demands of professional football. Those challenges ultimately led him to discover the therapeutic power of cannabis for pain relief, emotional balance, and mental clarity. His journey didn’t just redefine his own life—it helped spark a national conversation about cannabis use in sports and athlete wellness.
In this article, explore the path that took Ricky Williams from NFL legend to cannabis entrepreneur—and how he continues to challenge stigma, inspire openness, and reshape the way athletes and everyday people view the cannabis plant.
Before Ricky Williams became the cannabis advocate and entrepreneur he is today, he was a standout NFL running back. He’s a Heisman Trophy-winning running back known for his exceptional athletic talent. But it was the intense physical and mental demands of professional football that first opened his eyes to the healing potential of cannabis.
Williams was born on May 21, 1977, in San Diego, California. After his parents divorced, he helped raise his younger sisters with his twin sister, Cassie.
He attended Patrick Henry High School, where he stood out for his athletic abilities in both football and baseball. In 1995, the Philadelphia Phillies drafted him to play minor league baseball, which he did while attending college. Although he showed promise on the baseball field, Williams realized his true passion—and future—was in football, prompting him to commit to the University of Texas program.
From 1995 to 1998, Williams dominated college football at the University of Texas. He broke 21 NCAA and 46 school records and rushed for 2,124 yards in his senior season. His achievements earned him the prestigious Heisman Trophy, and the university later retired his #34 jersey in his honor.
The New Orleans Saints selected Williams with the fifth overall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. The team traded its entire draft class to acquire him, setting enormous expectations. Williams struggled with intense media pressure and often faced criticism for his introverted nature and for wearing his helmet during interviews.
After a trade to the Miami Dolphins in 2002, Williams reached his peak performance. He led the NFL in rushing with 1,853 yards and earned first-team All-Pro honors. Yet his career also faced setbacks from injuries, including a broken ankle, as well as constant public scrutiny.
It was Williams’ senior year at the University of Texas, during a period marked by personal challenges and mounting pressure on the field, that he first discovered cannabis. At a friend’s suggestion, he tried it for the first time and felt his anxiety and self-doubt begin to ease.
Instead of dwelling on what he couldn’t control, he found himself thinking more clearly and focusing on what he could do next. The experience shifted his mindset, helping him gain perspective and balance in his career and personal life during one of the most demanding chapters.
Williams’ journey took another turn during his NFL career due to multiple suspensions for violating the league’s substance abuse policy with cannabis. At this point, he now openly used cannabis to manage his anxiety and mental health—at a time when the league maintained a strict zero-tolerance policy.
The controversy and inner conflict led him to temporarily retire abruptly in 2004 and miss another season in 2006. He later returned to the Dolphins and finished his career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2011, surpassing 10,000 career rushing yards.
Williams grew up believing that smoking marijuana and athletic excellence could never coexist. The “Just Say No” culture of the 1980s and 1990s shaped his early views, reinforcing the stigma surrounding cannabis. That perspective shifted once he experienced how marijuana helped him redirect his energy, focus his mind, and stay grounded.
This moment became a turning point—revealing the gap between society’s negative perception of cannabis and the positive impact it had on his mental and physical well-being. The realization sparked a new mindset that would later fuel his public advocacy and reshape his definition of success, health, and balance.
After retiring from the NFL in 2004 at the height of his career, Williams became one of the first professional athletes to openly connect cannabis with mental health and holistic wellness. What some viewed as him “throwing away” his career actually ignited an overdue conversation about cannabis, stigma, and athlete well-being.
Williams now uses his platform to challenge outdated thinking. He credits cannabis with helping him manage pain from years of play without relying on addictive opioids or harsh anti-inflammatories. He also uses it to ease social anxiety—a struggle he faced long before mental health became part of the sports dialogue.
He pushes back on the idea that cannabis should always serve a medical purpose, emphasizing that using it simply because it feels good is valid. For Williams, cannabis is part of a broader practice rooted in yoga, astrology, mindfulness, and self-discovery.
His approach is authentic because it comes from lived experience, not celebrity trend-chasing. Beyond personal use, he advocates for federal cannabis reform, writes educational pieces, and participates in public discussions on wellness and recovery.
Unlike many who enter the cannabis industry after legalization, Williams is an unapologetic voice from the start. His honesty and commitment to changing perceptions continue to set him apart—both through his advocacy and his brand dedicated to helping others live well, perform fully, and use cannabis mindfully.
In October 2021, Ricky Williams launched Highsman, a cannabis lifestyle and wellness brand built at the intersection of sport, self-care, and cannabis culture. He positions Highsman not just as another celebrity cannabis venture but as an authentic extension of his journey—a brand meant to “spark greatness” in others as it did in him.
He names the brand Highsman as a conscious play on Heisman, connecting his college football legacy with a new chapter in cannabis and wellness. That wordplay also signals intention: Highsman aims to elevate the narrative around cannabis, especially in athletic and performance contexts.
From the start, Highsman frames its mission around three pillars: sport, cannabis, and wellness. Williams seeks to dismantle stigma and position cannabis as a tool for recovery, mental clarity, and holistic growth.
The brand features a catalog that aligns with phases of a game: Pregame (sativa), Halftime (hybrid), and Postgame (indica). Each is designed to meet different needs, whether energy, balance, or relaxation.
Highsman also offers apparel and functional accessories, reinforcing the cannabis lifestyle aspect. Williams frames the brand as a platform for athletes and consumers to reclaim their relationship with cannabis: to explore, use, and discuss it openly.
Later, Highsman merges with hemp brand Frozen Fields and Abundant Labs in 2024, signaling a push into broader cannabinoid markets and infrastructure expansion.
Highsman’s curated lineup—Pregame, Halftime, and Postgame—reflects Ricky Williams’ lifelong connection between peak performance and mindful recovery. The names echo Williams’ football roots, turning everyday cannabis use into a “mental fitness” routine built around preparation, performance, and recovery. Each collection is tailored for a specific part of the day and mindset.
Pregame, for example, features energizing sativa strains that spark focus, creativity, and motivation—ideal for morning or pre-activity use. Halftime offers balanced hybrids designed for midday calm without slowing momentum, promoting clarity and presence between work or workouts. Postgame delivers soothing indicas that relax the body and quiet the mind, perfect for unwinding after a long day or training session.
Every strain earns its spot through rigorous selection and testing. Ricky Williams personally helps guide a process that starts with sourcing top-tier genetics from trusted cultivators. Each batch undergoes independent lab testing for potency, terpene profile, and purity before it’s approved. The result is cannabis curated with the precision of an athlete and the care of a wellness practitioner.
Unlike many celebrity cannabis brands, Highsman stands out for its athlete-driven purpose—not just branding—but a genuine commitment to merging sport, everyday life, and cannabis wellness.
READ: Daniel Williams’ Cannabis-Infused Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
H by Ricky Williams is the premium, hand-curated cannabis collection under the Highsman brand. While Highsman connects sport, cannabis, and wellness for a broad audience, H focuses on elite cannabis genetics and limited-edition strains personally selected by Williams himself. Like all of his cannabis curations, each strain undergoes rigorous testing for potency, terpene balance, and quality before earning its place in the lineup.
The H by Ricky Williams line embodies his belief that cannabis can support both performance and personal growth. It’s built on authenticity and uncompromising quality, reflecting his dedication to safe, responsible use.
Each product is carefully curated to uphold the same standards he applies to his own wellness routine. More than a premium label, H by Ricky Williams continues his mission to elevate wellness, challenge perceptions, and prove that cannabis belongs in a high-performance lifestyle.
Highsman grew from a cannabis line into an all-encompassing lifestyle brand. Ricky Williams’ cannabis brand, Highsman, is available in several states, including California, Massachusetts, Ohio, Florida, and Washington, with plans to expand as legalization spreads. Guided by Ricky Williams’ vision of cannabis as a tool for wellness and balance, the brand continues to scale thoughtfully.
Strategic collaborations—such as its partnership with Ball Family Farms—merge Highsman’s athlete-driven ethos with expert cultivators to deliver premium, consistent products.
Beyond cannabis, Highsman expands its identity through apparel and accessories that celebrate the connection between sport, cannabis, and culture—bringing the brand’s mindset to life both inside and beyond dispensaries.
So you already love smoking cannabis, but did you know that the type of paper you use can make or break the experience? Whether you’re rolling a quick joint or prepping for a smoke session with a blunt, the right paper makes all the difference. When you first start smoking joints or blunts, the…
Prior to the 2000s, artificial intelligence (AI) for many was either theoretical, fantastical, or a recurring bad guy in the Terminator movies. That changed after ChatGPT went live in November 2022. Now, AI has become an intrinsic part of everyday life, which is why you have at least one AI-powered app on your phone right…
Lyme Disease and its lingering effects can take a serious physical and mental toll on those who suffer from it. Lyme disease is the most commonly transmitted tick-borne disease in the U.S., and its infection rates continue to rise each year. Cannabis helps manage a wide range of related symptoms (e.g., joint pain, fatigue,…
Hair care can get expensive, especially with all of the special ingredients available in today’s market. One often overlooked ingredient for soft and smooth hair is cannabidiol (CBD). Although there is a range of CBD hair products on the market, you may be interested in saving some bucks and making your own. We’ll show you…
Being a devout Catholic in 2025 can be trying. You’re constantly navigating a world that questions faith, while battling self-doubt and fielding debates on morality, politics, and science. Some folks in your shoes ease the tension by relaxing with cannabis. Others use it for medical reasons, such as combating chronic pain or depression. If you’re…
Sign up for our newsletter
Learn the process in your state
All Rights Reserved Veriheal Inc. ©
Terms Privacy Policy Advertising Agreement Content Disclamer
Get your medical marijuana card today
Sign up in under 5 minutes
Start By Selecting Your State
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Puerto Rico
