Ex-NFL Star, Ryan Shazier, On How Replacing Painkillers For Medical Marijuana Led To A New Venture

The latest athlete to join the cannabis landscape as an entrepreneur is Ryan Shazier,  the former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker.

How come?

Like so many other pro athletes, Shaizer experienced the benefits of medical cannabis firsthand after suffering a career-ending spinal cord injury in 2017, writes CBS News. The injury was so serious that it nearly caused permanent damage to his ability to walk.

The pain was excruciating so naturally, he was prescribed opioids and painkillers. Shortly after, he began to look for a healthier and more natural alternative. In consultation with doctors, Shaizer decided to give medical marijuana a try, after which he says ” things really started looking up.”

He wanted to share his amazing experiences with others, and that’s why he opted to launch his own medical marijuana brand with Organic Remedies - a cannabis cultivation and research organization based in south-central Pennsylvania.

The Steel City Greats Ryan Shazier brand will initially introduce four premium strains of dry leaf flower, including Shazier #50, Shalieve, Walking Miracle, and Speed available in 3.5g. Going forward, additional manufactured products will be added to the product line, including vape cartridges, topicals and capsules.

“Organic Remedies is honored to partner with Ryan on launching this exciting brand to Pennsylvania patients,” said Organic Remedies president Eric Hauser. "Together, we are working to help more patients with serious illnesses live a better quality of life and experience the restorative healing of medical marijuana. Ryan's story is one of triumph. He is a true champion in so many ways, and we are delighted to help our patients achieve their victories throughout their personal wellness journey."

In 2020, Shazier founded the Ryan Shazier Fund for Spinal Rehabilitation to support others dealing with similar injuries. Shazier says a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Shazier brand products will be contributed to the fund.

Photo: Benzinga edit with images from David Schellhaas - Flickr (via Wikimedia Commons) and Everton Nobrega via Pexels