Willis Marshall, a retired CFL/AFL championship football player and co-founder of DāO Detroit, is a big hemp advocate! With his new DāO Detroit hair care line, one of the staple ingredients featured is derived from cannabis, and as a former two-time MVP professional football player, Willis has a lot of views on the upcoming storm brewing between athletes and the leagues on the subject of legalized marijuana. PotStockNews.com spoke exclusively with Willis on all these topics and more…
1. What made you want to be a hemp advocate originally?
My journey to becoming a hemp advocate started when I was young. My Dad has always been into health and nutrition, so when I was born it was only natural (pun intended) that he teach me the same practices that dictate a healthy diet, and lifestyle. One of the most intriguing books I would read talked about the cannabis plant and the power of hemp. It was like reading the fairy tale "Jack and the Beanstalk", although this was a lot cooler. Needless to say, I was blown away by my findings. A plant that can be cultivated and ingested to provide a multitude of healing capabilities for the human body, replace cotton, or literally be used to build a house. That's just to name a few of this plant's superpowers. I had to know more. It was in my transition from adolescence to adulthood that I truly began to understand the wonders and abilities of hemp.
2. With your haircare product line, one of the staple ingredients featured is derived from cannabis. Can you explain this more and its importance to your product/brand/customers?
It was very important that hemp oil be an integral part of the DāO product line and the reasoning was simple. The human body has an abundance of cannabinoid receptors, which means that our bodies are already fine tuned to receive the benefits of the cannabis plant. Hemp does a multitude of things for the scalp and hair, such as rejuvenate the hair follicle and promote overall hair health. It also works great with the additional plant-based ingredients in our products to provide a "super vitamin" effect and a superior product.
3. Why is it important for more brands to start incorporating these types of ingredients?
It is important for brands to incorporate these type ingredients for 1 reason: The plant-based ingredients we use were placed on earth by our creator to heal and nourish our bodies. Yes, that may seem like an obvious answer, but the proof is in the pudding. The long-term benefits of hemp in our products show a healthier scalp, less skin discoloration after shaving, and thicker/fuller hair, without the harsh chemical side effects that most beauty products have.
4. As a former professional football player, what are your thoughts on the storm brewing between the NFL and the legality of marijuana?
The storm brewing between the NFL and the legality of marijuana has been going on for years and is almost at a tipping point. The NFL has been against players using marijuana, or any cannabis related products because cannabis is listed as a schedule 1 forbidden drug at the federal level, not that it gives a competitive advantage or causes physical harm. In the meantime, despite the overwhelming pain relief benefits the plant has for players when ingested, they have continued to fine and suspend those that do. The recent decriminalization of marijuana by several states, with more to follow, has still not swayed the NFL into changing its rules on player intake. But, there is a dark cloud hovering over the NFL called CTE, and it's already begun unleashing its downpour. Studies have already shown that marijuana reduces the chances of developing CTE and also helps to treat the symptoms. I believe revenue is always the determining factor with any business, and the NFL can't continue to lose the millions they have been, to the brain injury-related lawsuits. Allowing the players to medicate with cannabis may just be their saving grace.
5. Have you ever used marijuana for the health benefits it provides and/or for injuries?
As an early adolescent, I studied the benefits of the hemp plant and cannabis, but never actually tried it on a recreational level. As a professional, the game of football definitely became more "violent", so pain tolerance was a must if you wanted to succeed. Sure, it was a gladiator mentality, but that's what it took. It's also because of my health and nutrition background I have always been against over the counter medicines or prescriptions. When most of my teammates were turning to prescription pain pills after a game, I decided to try ingesting marijuana. Besides the obvious euphoria from the THC, my body felt great, even after the psychedelic effects wore off. The other benefit was no hangover. This was definitely an affirmation of all the knowledge I'd acquired into cannabis and its ability to heal the body. With this enlightenment, it furthered my studies into the health benefits of cannabis and specifically hemp oil.
6. Have you invested into any cannabis-related stocks? If so which and why?
I have invested in a couple of cannabis-related stocks because of their innovativeness and ability to realistically forecast future growth. Aphria (TSX:APH) is an example of a stock I invested in, that portrayed these exact attributes. This market is gonna get to a point where it is oversaturated, so the time to get in is now.
7. With Canada and other States now legalizing the usage, what trends in the industry do you see happening?
Now that Canada has become one of the largest nations to legalize cannabis and several more U.S. states are following suit, I believe we are on track to de-classify cannabis from a schedule 1 drug. As I mentioned earlier, revenue is always a factor in business, and states that have already legalized have seen extraordinary amounts of tax dollars flowing back into their communities. Not only has the economy benefitted from this legalization, so have the individuals that welcome the lower crime rates, in these same communities.
8. Any other thoughts you want to leave us off with?
I'm really excited about the future of DāO. Our plant-based products are each infused with Hemp and designed for everyone regardless of age, gender, or hair type. DāO is a lifestyle, and we look forward to expanding our product offerings to encompass wellness items. Our motto is mind, body, hair, so we're eager to educate folks about living a healthier and happier life that defies all odds.
WEBSITE: www.daodetroit.com
SOCIAL MEDIA: @daodetroit
Written exclusively for Pot Stock News by Jamie Calden
