NFL Hall of Famer Champ Bailey Visits Macon Georgia Trulieve Location

On September 28, 2023, residents in Pooler, Georgia, were treated to a celebrity visit from NFL Hall of Famer Champ Bailey. Visiting the Trulieve Pooler Dispensary (located at 2003 Pooler Parkway, Georgia), patients and dispensary staff visited with Bailey as he shared information about various medical cannabis products.

Who is Champ Bailey?

Roland “Champ” Bailey Jr. was a legendary National Football League (NFL) cornerback. Champ Bailey played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was the first-round draft selection for the Washington Redskins in the 1999 NFL Draft.

Champ Bailey was born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, but grew up in Folkston, Georgia. He decided to retire at thirty-six, after 52 career interceptions, 12 Pro Bowl selections, and induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. Bailey stated that he wanted to pursue other career opportunities.

One of those new career opportunities has become advocacy for medical cannabis. The Hall of Famer Champ Bailey is now the Trulieve Georgia Chief Diversity Officer. And recently, Champ visited one of the new Trulieve dispensaries in Pooler, Georgia.

 

Collaborating For Cannabis Equity and Inclusion With Trulieve

In 2022, Champ Bailey began working as a DE+I Director for Trulieve Georgia. Last year, Trulieve hosted a Listening and Education Tour in Georgia, connecting with patients and community stakeholders.

The Trulieve Georgia Chief Diversity Officer and Champ Bailey moderated the Listening and Education Tour. Trulieve also decided to feature numerous industry experts, including Luther “Buddy” Duke (Adel Mayor), Adel-Cook County Chamber of Commerce President Heather Green, Cook County Judge Chase Daughtrey, and Morehouse School of Medicine Research Leader Dr. James Lillard.

Combining the star power of the NFL Hall of Famer and local community leaders has helped dispel some of the stigma associated with doctor-supervised medical marijuana use. And highlighted local support programs for diversity and inclusion in new and existing markets.

Advocating for Medical Cannabis for Professional Athletes

As the DE+I Director for Trulieve Georgia, Champ Bailey will help manage the successful implementation of diversity and inclusion programs throughout the state. His experience as a professional athlete inspired him to get involved as an advocate for medical cannabis.

In several interviews, Champ Bailey shared that he saw many teammates suffering from injuries and symptoms where medical cannabis would have provided pain relief. The National Football League still prohibits the use of medical cannabis.

However, in February 2022, the NFL granted $1M to researchers at the University of California San Diego and the University of Regina to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on athletes with short-term or chronic pain.

The ongoing study will also evaluate whether cannabinoids can provide neuroprotection from concussion for NFL players. The joint NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) also held two informational forums discussing the use of non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) in 20202.

Visiting the New Trulieve Dispensary in Macon

The medical cannabis industry is gaining momentum in Georgia even though the medical cannabis program is restricted to low-THC oil with 5% or less potency.

“From personal experience, I always knew that cannabis could be a good medicine,” Bailey said. “Through my connections through people I played ball with, even people I grew up with, as we’ve gotten older, I realized those aches and pains and chronic illnesses that they deal with, a lot of them have been susceptible to addiction.” (1)

 

Sources:

[1] NFL hall of famer, UGA legend Champ Bailey visits Macon to promote medical cannabis https://www.macon.com/news/business/article280362484.html

Hall of Fame image: “NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame” “y seng1011 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.