Ricky Williams Starts New Cannabis Company

This week in San Diego cannabis news, former NFL player Ricky Williams launched a new cannabis brand, Real Wellness by Ricky Williams. The new line of products is a collaboration between Ricky and El Cajon based OutCo Labs, a licensed cannabis cultivator and manufacturer. I got a chance to sit down with Ricky at OutCo on Tuesday to talk about his new venture and what led up to it.

Ricky Williams was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 1999. After being traded to the Miami Dolphins, he created headlines in 2004 by announcing an early retirement. Ricky was leaving after only five years after testing positive for cannabis in drug tests several times and being suspended by the league. Ricky returned to the NFL in 2007 and retired permanently in 2012.

Ricky was originally hesitant to enter the cannabis industry, he told me. But when advisors told him that his past with cannabis was causing some investors to balk at working with Ricky in unrelated ventures, he decided it was time to get real with himself.

“This is who I am. This is who I’m going to be for the rest of my life. So, it’s time to just be myself,” Ricky said.

Real Wellness by Ricky Williams has six products available in Southern California dispensaries. Two of them are designed especially for athletes. A pain-relieving balm was developed from a recipe Ricky created himself while still playing. They will also soon be available online.

Photo by A.J. Herrington