Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson recently revealed that he occasionally smoked marijuana before NFL games during his playing career, saying it helped him cope with physical pain and mental stress.

Johnson made the comments during an appearance on The St. Brown Podcast, hosted by current Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother Equanimeous St. Brown.

Calvin Johnson Says Marijuana Helped Him Late in His Career

The former Lions star said he smoked weed before games only a few times, mostly during the later stages of his career.

“I probably did it a handful of times throughout my career,” Johnson said.
“More times than not, I had a good game. I feel like I’ve never had a bad game — never.”

Johnson explained that the mental and physical demands of the NFL sometimes pushed him to look for ways to manage pain and pressure.

Lions Drug Testing and Careful Use

Johnson noted that the Detroit Lions and the NFL conducted periodic drug testing, but he was careful about when and how much he smoked.

“I was very particular about when and how much I did smoke,” he said.

From Avoiding Weed to Cannabis Entrepreneur

Johnson, who grew up in Georgia, said he was exposed to marijuana as early as junior high school but avoided it out of fear of his mother’s discipline.

He didn’t begin smoking until attending Georgia Tech, where he eventually experimented with cannabis.

Now 40, Johnson has transitioned into the cannabis industry. He is a co-founder of Primitive, a marijuana company with locations in Webberville, Michigan, and Boston.

Calvin Johnson on Cannabis and Health

During the podcast, Johnson also spoke about what he believes are the healing benefits of marijuana, saying it can help with recovery and overall wellness.