Rugby league legend Andrew Johns has become the latest sports star to join Levin Health’s sports advisory board and go public with his use of CBD to manage chronic pain.
He joins AFL coaches Damien Hardwick and Alastair Clarkson, basketball Hall of Famer Lauren Jackson, and champion jockey Damien Oliver on the board.
Following years of pain from neck injuries, which led to his retirement from the game in 2007, Johns said medicinal cannabis has helped ease his symptoms since he began treatment 18 months ago. Now he wants to help break down the stigma surrounding the medicine.
He added: “I’ve had ongoing chronic pain following injuries that occurred during my years as an active player and using medicinal cannabis has helped to ease a lot of symptoms.
“Playing professional rugby league for 15 years resulted in my body suffering a lot of trauma, including a broken back in 2003. Then, I had to get a neck fusion which forced me to retire.”
“I can [now] get back in the water to fulfill my passion for surfing and exercise again with hardly any discomfort, neither of which I could do in recent years. The big positive is that I haven’t taken an anti-inflammatory tablet [since starting treatment].
“I really want to de-stigmatise the notion that is still so prevalent around medicinal cannabis. I’m thrilled to be joining the sports advisory board alongside a credible list of other sporting names in bid to help educate others.”
Levin Health is headed up by former AFL player Mark Brayshaw. He said: “Our mission through science and education is to see medicinal cannabis recognised as a viable option for everyone.
“We’re thrilled to see Andrew Johns share his incredible story about how medicinal cannabis has helped him regain his confidence to get back to the things he was once able to enjoy before chronic pain.
“By combining our strong industry relationships and ambassadors with clinically validated products, as well as hearing stories similar to Andrew Johns, Lauren Jackson and Damien Hardwick, we’re committed to developing the best cannabis-based medicine.
“Through clinical trials that help solve the most challenging health issues for athletes and active Australians, it’s great to see Australia become more progressive in the way we approach medicinal cannabis.”
The sports science company has received ethics approval for a clinical trial in collaboration with La Trobe University’s Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, investigating the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis in treating people with chronic pain following musculoskeletal injury.