Down, set, hut-hut-hut, invest 75 million dollars! Investing 75 million dollars is exactly what Joe Montana and his partners did recently with cannabis. Joe Montana gained the nickname of 'The Comeback Kid' and 'Joe Cool' as an American football quarterback who played for the NFL. In his 16 seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, Joe Montana left a powerful and positive impression with many people.
The 75-million-dollar investment went into a San Jose based company called, Caliva. Along with Joe Montana the former CEO of Yahoo Inc, Carol Bartz was also a part of this investment venture. It's said that Carol is expected to join the company's board of directors.
For those of you not familiar with Caliva, they are a cannabis store located in San Jose California. Additionally, per a report by Business Insider, Caliva is the number one dispensary in the nation. They are San Jose's premier marijuana dispensary. Caliva opened its doors back in July of 2015. Their state-of-the-art facility is located on the corner of Phelan and 7th in San Jose.
In addition, you can even stop in for Taco Tuesdays where with every $45 minimum purchase you get two free tacos and a drink! You might call this place a feed and weed. By visiting Caliva's website, you can see their products, find out about wholesale, as well as find out where to purchase gift cards, read their blog, stay up to date on events, and view their shop menu.
Joe Montana is not the first sports icon to express support or invest in the cannabis industry. He was quoted saying that he hoped "his investment would provide relief to people fighting an opioid addiction" in an article on ABC11.com.
For example, other sports legends like Elias Theodorou the #13 UFC ranking middleweight who won The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia also openly supports cannabis and advocates for its use over prescription drugs. Other athletes such as the following have also publically endorsed cannabis.
As cannabis legalization gains more momentum, we will find more places and more people accepting cannabis and investing in its future. The sports community is one that is all too familiar with the dangers of prescription drug addiction. Athletes often have to utilize prescription medications to treat injuries, stress, and other conditions.
Cannabis is currently not accepted with many sports committees including the NFL. Changes to outdated draconian policies are in the works but can't come soon enough. Especially those looking to utilize medical cannabis as a first-line option over deadly and dangerous prescription drugs.