When Ross Rebagliati became the first athlete to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal in 1998, his dream spiralled into a nightmare — the International Olympic Committee stripped him of his prize after he tested positive for cannabis.“I was left on the curb by the end of the whole thing. I had to fend for myself,” he said in a phone interview, adding that his sport was relatively new at the time.
Finally, Rebagliati has become the resource he yearned for 21 years ago.The Olympian and founder of two cannabis brands, Ross’ Gold and Legacy, joined a panel in Toronto on Nov. 14, to discuss retirement and how the marijuana business can improve their lives. “A lot of athletes retire at an early age, and even though they may have the capital to live without working, people want to be a part of something cool.”
Athletes for CARE also introduced cannabis physician and lifestyle strategist Dr. Mike Hart as a brand ambassador to help provide medical services and treatment guidance for athletes.