The PuraPhy 20 is a ranked list of individuals who fit in different categories who—right now—wield significant influence in the world of hemp oil/CBD be it with consumers, businesses, governmental officials, regulatory agencies or others. PuraPhy believes that to hold genuine power is to have the ability to persuade and influence wide swaths of relevant stakeholders. PuraPhy 20’s categories will include celebrities, politicians, athletes, scientists, influencers and more.
The PuraPhy 20 list below ranks some of the biggest athletes on the planet based on just how influential they are in shaping public opinion about the use of hemp oil/CBD and how it impacts both the exploding industry as well as the sports and pop cultural zeitgeist in the US. From Evander Holyfield to Rob Gronkowski and from Megan Rapinoe to Alex Rodriguez, the roster of superstar jocks who use and love hemp oil/CBD is as eclectic as one might expect.
BY RICHARD PÉREZ-FERIA
**The PuraPhy 20 is meant to illustrate the individual’s public statements about hemp oil/CBD and in no way states or implies any medical benefits from such use.
1. EVANDER HOLYFIELD
“While I’m grateful for the successes that I’ve had in my boxing career, I have to admit that I put my body through a lot of challenges along the way. From the results I’ve seen, I know that our Real Deal CBD will help a lot of people,” Holyfield said.
From boxing icon to CBD business magnate, Evander Holyfield wants to knock you out.
2. MEGAN RAPINOE
Rapinoe has joined her twin sister, Rachael, co-founder at Mendi, a hemp oil/CBD brand that promote their hemp-derived products for athletes to help with their recovery. Megan serves as a sponsored Mendi athlete and its brand ambassador. Known as a disruptor for causes she believes in off the pitch, Rapinoe asked why she’s backing a company in an industry often ostracized by professional sport leagues.
“Mendi’s mission really stuck with me,” Rapinoe said. “The desire to serve the athletes and be our trusted brand, but also their commitment to a healthier lifestyle, and changing the status quo around pain management and sports.”
3. ALEX RODRIGUEZ
As an initial investor, along with Rob Gronkowski, in Ice Shaker, a company founded by Gronk’s brother, Chris Gronkowski, A-Rod whet his appetite for further exploration into the hemp oil/CBD industry. Rodriguez, joined by fellow financial partners Kate Hudson, Scooter Braun and Coca-Cola, is an investor in Dirty Lemon owner Iris Nova. Though Iris Nova has discontinued its popular CBD-infused bottled water, Rodriguez, Coca-Cola and others remain convinced that because of changes to US regulations that will assuredly legalize industrial hemp, CBD drinks and other CBD investments remain sound.
4. ROB GRONKOWSKI
Gronk is also co-owner, along with his brother Chris, of Ice Shaker, an innovative alternative to individual blenders.
5. MIKE TYSON
In case there remains any question about how Tyson feels about CBD, the boxing legend told Joey Diaz’s podcast, “Yeah, I think CBD is the miracle oil,” before detailing his favorite CBD tinctures, gummies and ointments. Photo by Glenn Francis
6. BUBBA WATSON
“I’ve personally felt the benefits of cbdMD’s products,” the two-time Green Jacket holder said. “cbdMD is the safest on the market and I’m proud to partner with them to help millions feel better.”
That’s pretty much a hole-in-one as far as endorsements go. Photo courtesy of Golf.com
7. DAVID WELLS
The longtime star hurler is more than a mere pitchman for the product—he’s an outright activist for the wide-ranging benefits of CBD use.
“Currently, if you’re a solider in Israel and you have a head injury in the battlefield, you get CBD on the battlefield,” Wells said. “If you have a heart attack or a stroke and you go to the emergency room in Jerusalem, you get CBD on the way up to the floor. Look, I’m three-and-a-half years painkiller-free. That’s pretty good.”
8. TERRELL DAVIS
“It’s a beautiful thing; it’s worked for me,” Davis said speaking of CBD. “It’s worked for a lot of players. In a few years, hopefully sooner rather than later, CBD will be something that players who are currently playing will be able to use as a measure of taking care of the pain management, the inflammation.”
9. JOHN ISNER
“I play a sport where taking a single point off can be the difference between winning and losing a match and Defy is a product specifically intended to put me in a position to perform on every single point,” Isner said. Photo by Edwin Martinez
10. TONY HAWK
“We’re excited to be a part of this movement that’s becoming more recognized as a healthy alternative to recovering from the aches and pains that we regularly incur in the action sports world,” Hawk said. Photo by Stig Nygaard
11. NATE DIAZ
There’s no denying two truths about Nate Diaz: 1) He’s as quotable and blunt as any professional athlete in the world; 2) he means what he says; i.e. his first words after reporters asked him what he was vaping after that notorious bout with McGregor: “CBD—it’s good for healing and storing information. You want to use this before and after the fight.” See what we mean?
12. RILEY COTE
Riley says his company supports balance and recovery for everybody and every body. Clever, no?
13. JAKE PLUMMER
14. RYAN VANDENBUSSCHE
“As athletes, we were given opiates by our team doctors,” VandenBussche said. “Looking back after years gone by, I’m surprised I’m still alive. I believe in all of the healing properties of this [hemp] plant so much that I went out and purchased a 64-acre farm and submitted an application to Health Canada back in 2013.”
15. GRETA GAINES
With partner Jodi Banks, Gaines says that Love + Hemp exemplifies a clear ethos: “We believe in the idea that well balanced skin is the key to a healthy glow and that Cannabidiol (CBD) has innate healing qualities for body and mind.”
16. DAVID AHRENS
Ahrens advocates for CBD use because of how much it has helped him. “I don’t need pain meds like I used to,” he said. “Every day there are TV commercials advertising the next best drug, and the second half of the commercial is all about possible side effects. Well, I’ve never heard of a side effect from CBD.”
17. LIZ CARMOUCHE
“There are still people who are living under a rock, which is the best way that I can phrase it,” Carmouche says of some’s reluctance to embrace CBD as a viable treatment option. “They really just don’t know about the difference between THC and CBD and they don’t know all the benefits. Look, I’m not the person who’s using THC recreationally, and that’s why I’m using CBD. That’s not what CBD is for. I’ll just try and speak out in that way and be a representative the best way I can.”
18. CHRIS CAMOZZI
“With CBD you get all the health benefits without the high,” Camozzi said. “CBD works off your brain’s own endocannabinoid system. I’ve got an injury list that makes Suge Knight’s rap sheet look short. I wanted to focus on recovering from my torn MCL, so I tried CBD oil. I healed my knee faster than my docs had ever seen. I was a believer. CBD and blood flow restriction therapy healed me in ways I have never before experienced.”
19. RICK UPCHURCH
A longtime cannabis user (testing wasn’t as frequent back in the day so he avoided the scrutiny that, say, Ricky Williams couldn’t), Upchurch is also—now this is interesting—the ex-fiancé of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice! He came to using CBD via vaping to cope with the pain and nausea of his chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with leukemia. For him, CBD isn’t just an alternative pain-reliever, it’s been instrumental in his recovery. When asked if CBD has been helpful to him, he’s unequivocal: “Without a doubt,” Upchurch said. “Otherwise, I’d be in bad shape, I really would.” Photo by Jeffrey Beall
20. CARSON PALMER
The former Bengals, Raiders and Cardinals offensive leader elaborated. “After playing for 15 years, it feels like there’s a headache in my knee 24 hours a day and Level Select was an instant game changer,” Palmer said. “My knee feels great now; it actually made me feel like I’m a better father because I’m more active and can keep up with my younger kids.”