“You saw what I do for a teammate and somebody that I loved, as far as the Lemieux thing on March 26, 1997. Now imagine what I’ll do for something that saved my life.” – Darren McCarty, Four-Time Stanley Cup Champion.

When most people think of former NHLer Darren McCarty, they think of the tough-as-nails Detroit Red Wings winger who came up clutch on several occasions en route to the team winning four Stanley Cup championships between 1997 and 2008. 

Unfortunately, like many of the previous generation of NHL players, McCarty’s on-ice fame is just one part of his life’s story, and it’s a tale that has as many lows as there were highs. 

And like most from that era, his troubles stemmed from consuming too much alcohol. In fact, alcohol almost cost him his career. However, on the advice of some trusted friends, McCarty turned to something that many from his generation considered a BIG No-No: Cannabis. 

While the 2020s have brought with them a movement towards legalizing Cannabis across The United States and Canada, the stigma surrounding the plant was quite high (no pun intended) when McCarty was struggling to overcome his addiction to alcohol. 

“There’s no question for me that I came from that era of alcohol and pills and stuff like that,” McCarty said via phone call. “My struggles are well noted as we’re coming up to November 11th this year, (which) will be my 10-year sobriety anniversary.”

“Without Cannabis, I would not be alive,” McCarty continued. “That’s my story. So the difference is, now it’s an option and it’s talked about as an option.”

True, it is now an option, especially since the stigma surrounding it is nowhere near where it once was. In fact, numerous NHL player agents and even players themselves have openly discussed how they use some form of Cannabis products to help recover from the game, rather than go out drinking and hoping that the alcohol will dull the pain of playing hockey. 

“These younger kids are more educated, thank goodness, than we were,” McCarty explained. “I mean, (when I was) growing up, you were either a stoner or you were an athlete, you couldn’t be both, but it was, ‘hey, here’s a bottle of booze, kids, you’re 12 years old, don’t worry about it.’”

“Alcohol Culture” was very pervasive in The NHL back in the day, but now, as more science and data have been published about the negative effects of alcohol and the potentially positive effects of Cannabis, more and more younger players are turning to the latter rather than the former. And for guys like McCarty, through his desire to help the next generation avoid his mistakes, he has taken to the front lines in the movement to legalize Cannabis.

“So, I think the stigma and all that different stuff has changed,” McCarty continued. “And I think the biggest thing is that it’s an option. These kids are realizing that now is huge. I have The Darren McCarty Brand in Michigan with LegaSea Farms. And the big thing I’m working on right now, because, when The NHL hopefully goes to letting the guys use it even more, is a CBD topical and stuff like that for pain relief and stuff, and the CBNs for sleep. 

“It’s the education of don’t tell me what, tell me who is producing it. And I couldn’t be prouder of how things have evolved. I’m not one to sit here and say, ‘woe was me’ and all this stuff that happened to me. No, I’m grateful that I was saved. I’m grateful for guys like Riley Cote and Scott Parker, who have stood behind and helped me get educated early on. And it’s like our hockey brethren that we see the alternatives. 

“There’s also a lot of the guys with CTE and the former guys who do the psilocybin, the mushrooms and stuff like that. For me, that’s not my bag. But the education that helps guys, that’s what it’s all about. So, I think that it’s a great step, but still got more to go to where these guys shouldn’t be able to worry about testing about it. But it gives me great hope that we’re moving in the right direction. And when we do, I hope my CBD topical will be there and guys will be able to use it to help their aches and pains and whatever they need.”

Before we go any further, we should point out, McCarty is not saying that people need to smoke to get the benefits of Cannabis. He is not trying to get people to become stereotypical stoners who smoke pot all day long. That’s nowhere near where he is going. And for those who don’t believe athletes smoke anything, well…

“There’s no hockey players who have ever smoked in their lives, right?” McCarty quipped. “You know what I’m saying? Like, holy, when I walked into The NHL, I went to the stick room, my first game, there were five guys smoking cigarettes in there. So it’s evolved, but that’s not even it. That’s an argument from 20 years ago. The fact is, you never have to inhale any smoke or smoke it or whatever.”

“It’s up to you to get educated on what is best for you,” McCarty continued. “You’re feeding your endocannabinoid system, which is the only thing that this plant feeds and everybody, every human being, any mammal with a spine has an endocannabinoid system that this plant feeds. ‘Cause even though we all have one, it’s all different. So whatever that is, you never have to smoke this plant. Tinctures, rubs, edibles, the CBMs, I’m a huge proponent of all the C’s. 

“Now, you gotta know yourself to know where you mix in the different cannabinoids and stuff like this to make what’s best for you. And that’s a constant conversation that needs to happen. You never have to smoke it if you don’t want to. As long as you get to use the medicinal properties of the plant, whether it’s a tincture, a rub, a gummy, whatever it is.”

As McCarty has pointed out, it’s all about knowing yourself and knowing what you need. Everybody’s body is different. And as McCarty explained, there are a lot of different ways to go.

“As you explore the cannabinoids, have you heard of Myrcene and Limonene and all the different types of cannabinoids that there are?” asked McCarty. “Some of ’em you get the more woody-smoky feeling as opposed to a lemony-piney feeling or stuff like that. 

“There’s different cannabinoids in how the plant is grown or different structures that you have to get into. For me, for example, my bread and butter, go-to, favorite strain is called Pre-98 Bubba Kush. So, anything in the Bubba Kush line or that’s crossed with it or whatever has a great effect on my system. So I search for that stuff. A lot of it is just education, and a lot of it’s trial and error and getting your education from somebody that you trust.”

As you can see, McCarty’s story is not so simple, nor is it one that many expect to hear. However, as society and the times evolve, so too does our understanding of what may or may not help those who need it. 

For his final point, McCarty said, “People who say that cannabis is a gateway. They’re an absolute clown because alcohol’s a gateway drug. Cannabis is an exit strategy. And I’m living proof of that. And every day, I just continue to try to lead by example and get more educated. I’m not educated ’cause I’m the smartest guy in the room. I’m educated ’cause I surround myself with the smartest people.”