MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Fourteen years ago, one of the Miami Dolphins defensive linemen was Larry Chester.
He stood tall and strong at 300-pounds and you better believe he knew how to hold his ground.
Today, Chester is looking for answers. After seven seasons in the body bruising NFL he now deals with chronic pain.
This brought on massive depression. For two years after he hung up his jersey, the former defensive tackle explains he became an emotional shut-in.
“I lashed out on my children unnecessarily, lashed out on my wife, I even lashed out at people at the grocery store,” said Chester.
Chester says while in the NFL, he smoked marijuana to provide mental and physical relief. Even then, he knew it helped him settle down.
“I could have a human exchange and I didn’t want to throw you into the wall and I can just accept that,” said Chester.
Chester is now a profound believer in the amazing power of cannabidiol or CBD , one of the most abundant chemical compounds found in the marijuana plant. He uses it in various forms.
Chester needs just a tiny amount of the lotion or salve. He rubs it into his knees when he feels the pain acting up. He says the pain is gone within 15 minutes.
Herve Damas was a player in the NFL for just one season before a career-ending knee injury. After that heartbreaking experience, Damas went to medical school and became a doctor. He was skeptical of CBD at first but quickly changed his mind.
So how does CBD work? Dr. Damas replies, “We actually produce these substances in our bodies. There are things that happen in our lifetime, maybe injury, illness, stress that causes a decreased production of our endocannabinoids, when that happens you fall out of a state called homeostasis, also known as your state of balance or well-being. Then you start to bring yourself back from the level that you need to be at that’s why it works.”
Dr. Damas Adds, “The U-S government has one patent on cannabis and cannabis is scientifically known, proven to be a neuroprotectant. That means players who are involved in collision sports, football players, hockey players, military veterans. If you are able to consume cannabis, you are actually able to protect your brain with the cannabinoids.”
“The substances within the plant there is science behind that. There is tons of research you just have to look for it.”
“If you allowed players to consume CBD you would see an increase in performance, decrease injuries, less off the field incidents,” said Damas
Marijuana is still a banned substance in the NFL but in recent years they have begun studies on the substance. Hemp CBD is the effective alternative for those in states and jobs that still consider cannabis an illegal substance.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me my husband, my best friend back to me,” said Chester’s wife.
Larry adds he feels like he’s getting his life back including his marriage, his relationship with his children, neighbors, community. He says he feels more like himself than he has felt in a long time.
Reference:
https://miami.cbslocal.com/2018/09/24/former-nfl-player-cbd-saved-my-life/