José Canseco has never shied away from speaking bluntly about the realities of professional sports. The former Oakland A’s star—MLB’s first 40–40 player and the 1988 American League MVP—spent years pushing public conversations about performance, health, and the toll athletics takes on the body. Today, his focus has shifted to another controversial frontier: cannabis, longevity, and how former athletes cope with long-term pain.
Canseco has always treated his body as a kind of personal experiment. In his 2005 memoir Juiced, he famously suggested that science and supplements might someday allow humans to live to 150. While the prediction was sensational, it reflected his long-running belief that chemistry can extend vitality, especially for high-impact athletes.
His years after baseball have been marked by chronic pain and multiple surgeries, including major elbow and back procedures. Like many retired players dealing with joint deterioration and lingering injuries, he has turned toward alternative approaches to recovery—and cannabis fits squarely into that landscape.
In 2024, Canseco officially entered the legal cannabis industry with “Thirty-Three,” an infused pre-roll line released in partnership with Natural Roots Dispensary in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The product nods to his jersey number and blends sports nostalgia with modern cannabis branding.
But beyond celebrity ventures, the science behind cannabis and athletic recovery is evolving. Research from the National Academies of Sciences shows “conclusive or substantial” evidence that cannabis can alleviate chronic pain in adults. Additional reviews suggest CBD may support sleep, anxiety reduction, and mild pain management, all of which can indirectly assist recovery for active or retired athletes. However, experts also emphasize that high-quality clinical trials remain limited, particularly in sports-specific populations.
Regulators remain cautious. The World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from its banned substances list in 2018, yet THC and most cannabinoids remain prohibited in-competition. This distinction reflects ongoing concerns about impairment, fairness, and inconsistent research across different cannabis compounds.
Canseco’s role isn’t that of a scientist, but his candid perspective resonates. He was early—if controversial—to challenge how sports view performance enhancement and long-term health. His shift toward cannabis mirrors a broader cultural move: athletes are increasingly exploring cannabinoids as part of post-career recovery routines, seeking relief from pain, inflammation, and sleep issues without relying solely on pharmaceuticals.
Whether his cannabis venture becomes a meaningful part of that dialogue or simply another brand extension, José Canseco is once again positioning himself where athletic longevity and evolving science intersect. And as cannabis continues to enter mainstream health and wellness conversations, voices like his ensure the debate around recovery, performance, and what athletes need long after retirement stays alive.
Learn more: Opioid Reduction in Professional Sports: Can Cannabis Be a Replacement?