34 April 10th–April 16th, 2025 | 2025 N E W T I M E S | 4 2 0 G U I D E “I couldn’t drive at night. I couldn’t go to the movies. Had to wear sunglasses all the time,” Turley recalls. His neuropathy, vertigo, and cognitive issues were so severe that he struggled spending times with his kids and engaging in normal everyday activities. Turley’s experience with opioids and the sever side effects, admits to the presence of suicidal thoughts. Then came cannabis, a literal lifesaver for Turley and his career. “Sativa strains helped me with light sensitivity. Specifically, the Jack Herer strain immediately addressed my vertigo, cognitive issues, arthritic pain, you name it,” Turley says. He credits cannabis with giving him his life back, and he doesn’t hold back in advocating for it. Turley doesn’t just dabble, he goes all in. His daily routine? Ten joints a day. Morning, afternoon, and evening smokes. A full regimen of topicals, Rick Simpson Oil, and CBD isolates. “High is a bonus,” he jokes, but for him, cannabis is the only true medicine. After years of battling pain, prescription meds, and the stigma surrounding cannabis, McMahon and Turley found themselves on the same mission to help other athletes break free from the cycle of harmful pharmaceuticals. Their shared experiences led them to Revenant, a cannabis brand founded by former NFL players and dedicated to bringing high-quality, athlete-focused products to the market. McMahon and Turley aren’t alone in this fight. They’ve teamed up with fellow ex-NFL player Eben Britton to push Revenant forward as a leader in sports recovery. Together, the trio is working to normalize cannabis in athletics, advocating for its benefits in pain management, mental clarity, and overall wellness. Whether it’s through premium flower, topicals, or tinctures, Revenant is proving that cannabis isn’t just for recreation, it’s a tool for recovery and performance. One of the biggest myths about cannabis in sports? That it makes you lazy or ruins athletic performance. Both McMahon and Turley call B.S. on that. “People think cannabis makes you lethargic and not want to work,” McMahon says. “For me, it was the total opposite.” Turley agrees. “It’s not about getting high, it’s about healing.” But the stigma still lingers, especially in sports. Some leagues, like the NBA and MLB, have eased up on cannabis use, but others, like the NFL and Olympics, still treat it like a banned substance. Players fear losing scholarships or contracts just for choosing a safer alternative to opioids. Both McMahon and Turley are fighting to change that narrative. They see cannabis as more than just a plant, it’s a neuroprotectant, a tool for healing, and a way to reclaim life after football. For any athletes hesitant about trying cannabis, Turley keeps it simple: “Educate yourself. Progress. Understand the science.” He’s passionate about the endocannabinoid system and how cannabis interacts with the body to promote recovery and mental well-being. This 4/20, as fans light up in celebration, McMahon and Turley hope more athletes consider lighting up for their health. Because if cannabis can help legends like them come back from the brink, imagine what it can do for the next generation of players.
