For the first time in the Olympics 125-year modern history, elite athletes including Megan Rapinoe are being open about their use of cannabis products to prepare them for the world’s biggest stage in sports.
For the first time in the Olympics 125-year modern history, elite athletes are being open about their use of cannabis products to prepare them for the world’s biggest stage in sports. Leading the charge is Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team star Megan Rapinoe, who incorporates CBD into her training routine using products from Mendi, a company founded by her sister Rachael Rapinoe and Brett Schwager. Mendi’s founders started the company to create a brand of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products that provide athletes with natural wellness solutions to help them recover better and perform at their best. And while Mendi has assembled a team of top athletes as brand ambassadors, the company hopes to tap into a market of consumers looking for a more natural approach to health and wellness. “We really believe there is a movement and a flood of people wanting healthier alternative medications. They don’t want what we typically have been prescribed in this country, whether it’s over-the-counter meds, prescription opiates, sleeping pills, or various tools to help with stress and anxiety,” Rachael Rapinoe says in a Zoom interview. “So, we want to give people the healthiest option to stay on top of their game longer, specifically positioned with athletes.” Besides Megan Rapinoe, Mendi’s team of athlete ambassadors heading to the Summer Olympics kicking off in Tokyo this week includes hurdler Devon Allen, softball outfielder Hayley McCleney and WNBA champion and four-time Olympic gold medalist Sue Bird, who is engaged to be married to Megan and will serve as a flagbearer at Friday’s Olympic opening ceremony. But while the athletes have been using CBD leading up to the competition, they will not be able to bring with them to Japan the gummies and topical sticks they’ve been relying on for relief from the stress and strain of competing. Given the regulatory environment that makes taking products made from cannabis (including hemp) across international borders risky and Japan’s strict anti-cannabis laws, it’s safer to leave their CBD regimen at home. It’s a point Rachael makes clear during our conversation. “Although cannabis is on the world stage for the first time ever, we’re not saying that it’s there in Tokyo,” she stresses.
