After 500 Drug Tests, Ex-NFL Star Says His New Cannabis Business Outshines ‘Pennies’ Earned in Football
A former Dolphins player, once subjected to extensive drug testing during his 11-year career in the NFL, has shared his frustration with the league’s pay, referring to it as insignificant compared to the millions he has now amassed from a burgeoning business venture.
Throughout his time on the field, Ricky Williams estimates he underwent roughly 500 drug tests. Remarkably, he appeared in 147 games and recorded 342 receptions, meaning he was drug tested far more frequently than he even caught the ball. Famous for his association with cannabis, Williams once joked in 2016 that he might hold the record for the most drug tests taken, to the point where testers seemed almost like family.
His wife, Kristen, later revealed just how familiar they had become with the testers. She mentioned a specific incident where the tester left Williams’ sample unattended for a significant amount of time, suggesting that, had they chosen to be deceptive, they could have easily tampered with the results. However, Williams opted for honesty.
By 2004, following his third failed test, he faced a season-long suspension, and after a fourth violation, he was sidelined for all of 2006. A similar scenario unfolded in 2007, leading to frequent testing as he sought reinstatement. The cost of these suspensions added up: missing 36 games and forfeiting approximately $10 million in potential earnings. Yet, Williams found a silver lining, channeling his experience into a thriving enterprise.
According to Tyler Webb’s post on X, Williams now owns a cannabis brand, Highsman, which operates in 10 states. Despite the financial setbacks in football, he views his current business endeavors as far more lucrative than his past earnings in the NFL.
Webb’s detailed thread on Williams reveals how his journey with cannabis began. It wasn’t until college that he first tried it, at the suggestion of a roommate who recommended it for stress relief. Williams found that cannabis helped him cope with setbacks, and just weeks later, he won the prestigious Heisman Trophy in 1998. Even as he continued to use cannabis, a positive drug test shortly after joining the Dolphins in 2002 did not deter him. While his football career had its ups and downs, he sees those challenges as part of his growth.
In 2015, Williams hesitated to speak at a cannabis conference but eventually agreed. Sharing his story felt liberating, he later recounted. Today, he is the founder of Highsman, a brand that has raised $3.5 million in funding and stands as a testament to his entrepreneurial success. Reflecting on his career, he acknowledges, “Despite all the trouble, I’m in the College Football Hall of Fame, I have a statue at Texas, and the field is named after me. Staying true to yourself pays off.”
Williams has redefined his narrative from one of NFL challenges to empowerment through entrepreneurship. Once feeling detached from football, he has now found purpose in his cannabis venture. Highsman is more than a brand; it embodies a lifestyle that celebrates wellness and performance. Williams credits cannabis for aiding in his recovery from football’s grueling demands, adding, “Cannabis made the game more enjoyable and helped me recover.”
Highsman is about more than just selling cannabis; it’s about fostering a lifestyle around wellness and performance. Williams hopes to change the public perception of cannabis, teaming up with industry leaders like Chris Ball to build a supportive community. His ultimate goal is to shift the narrative around responsible cannabis use and inspire people to “Spark Greatness.” Through Highsman, Williams’ legacy continues to grow beyond the football field, into a new realm of holistic wellness and innovation.
