The Brett Hull No. 16 strain: Q&A with the Blues legend on how and why he got into the cannabi

Posted by Abbie Anker on Friday, May 17, 2024

As a Hockey Hall of Famer who played in the NHL for 20 years, Brett Hull has had a lot of things named after him: restaurants, burgers, beers, etc.

Now, the 58-year-old has his name on a product he once couldn’t have imagined: a cannabis strain.

The “Brett Hull No. 16 strain” of medical marijuana was put on the market recently, and Hull is now spreading the word about cannabis. Late in 2021, he joined former Blues players Kelly Chase and Barret Jackman in launching a dispensary business, Hippos, which has three locations in Missouri.

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Of course, Hull has never been hesitant about voicing his opinions — or concerned about what people think of him. And he’s not on this topic, either.

The Athletic caught up with Hull to find out more about his involvement, why he elects to use cannabis and what he thinks about having a strain with his name on it.

(Note: The following Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.)

Why did you get involved in the cannabis business?

(Chase) came to me and he said, “We’re working to put medical marijuana on the ballot.” I know some people that are in the business, and they said with all the things coming out about the benefits of it, it’s worth your while to talk to them. So I said “sure,” and we started. We knew it was just medical at the time, and that was the key. That’s what we wanted. We want to get it out there to people who need it, that it can help. I have a friend, not a hockey player, who can barely sleep because of (a) neck injury. They tell me that the only time they’re not in pain is when they’re taking cannabis.

What do you recall about post-career aches and pains and learning how to deal with them?

Well, I was very lucky. I had very few injuries. I’m not even sure I had a concussion during my career. I can look back at maybe one time I might have had a mild one, but I never had any symptoms. I only missed a couple of shifts before I went back out and played. Everybody else, from (Chase) with his lesion on his brain, and Todd Ewen, and people getting their hips and knee replaced and having chronic problems, guys who can’t even play golf because their backs are so screwed up. You look at that and the facts that have come out that CBD, along with THC, in cannabis can alleviate the pain. If you can have something like that that alleviates the pain without having to take opioids, it makes it worthwhile to keep studying it and to keep moving forward. It’s very new and it’s in its infancy.

Off-color and off-the-cuff – teammates dish on the wonderful and wacky Brett Hull: ‘He’s got no filter’ #stlblues https://t.co/98LvdGZK3S

— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) February 22, 2022

Was it pretty eye-opening during your career to see players taking opioids and the effects?

Absolutely. I knew guys were taking painkillers, but you really have no idea how many. You don’t know if they’ve become addicted and need them to continue to play and have no pain. It was really eye-opening to me to see the number of people that had to go through it — and not only athletes but just people. I have people I know that have gone to rehab to get clear of opioids. It is a little like heroin, but you don’t have to shoot up or anything; it’s just a pill, and you take it, and it makes you feel good. But then all of a sudden, you’re completely addicted and it just takes over your life. Yeah, it opened my eyes, and when I found out the medicinal benefits of CBD and THC — the way they can genetically grow these things with strains — and give to people, whether it’s for seizures or glaucoma, I thought it was a genius idea and something I would be proud to be involved with.

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There may be some people who hear this who don’t agree with the use of cannabis. Do you think it may be a case of being more familiar with the situations that you’re describing?

That’s the nail right on the head: ignorance. People say, “Oh marijuana, it shouldn’t be legalized” … Well, you know what, get informed! It’s like politics. You can’t just sit there and say, “Well, I like this guy, so I’m going to vote for him.” You have to research policies, and where they stand on certain things. You don’t just go, “I like that guy or that girl and I’m going to vote for them.” Understand the stigma behind marijuana is crazy because it’s got such helping, healing powers and benefits to people that need it. Look at all the Fentanyl deaths in this country, and any alternative other than that would be unbelievable.

When did you start using cannabis, and since you didn’t have any lingering post-career issues, what is the benefit?

Well, I was just like any kid, right? In high school, you dabble in it and whatnot. But then when I turned pro, there was no way I was going to keep doing it and play in the NHL, because the opportunity to play a game you love, before I ever knew what was going to happen to me, why would I ever think about throwing that away? When you retire, you get a little more social with people, so it was high school and then after I retired. Like I said, knock on wood, I’m very physically healthy. I have no residual effects from the NHL. It’s just what I’ve learned since we’ve gotten into the business.

Being a high-profile public figure, was there any hesitance in having your name attached to cannabis because of the stigma you referenced?  

Not whatsoever because there’s so much good in it. Like we’ve been talking about, with the health it can bring to so many people all across the spectrum, it was a no-brainer to me.

With some of the professional sports leagues relaxing their stance regarding cannabis, do you think that’s helping change the perception?

Yeah, because I think the medical people in the sports fields, they’re very intelligent. They study, and they look at things that are beneficial. Every league is like, “We’ve got to do something to get away from opioids for pain,” and this seems to be the newest and most viable way. So, they’re going to look at all the things that they can do to get away from having to use painkillers, and that’s why I believe it’s happening.

What do you think about having a cannabis strain named after you?

I didn’t even know they were working on one. It’s very flattering, I can tell you that much. It’s flattering that they would consider putting my name on a strain, especially if it can help people. My strain has anti-inflammatory traits in it. I met our geneticist, and they’re incredible with what they can do, and they can put stuff in it. Each strain can have a specific benefit to certain illnesses and pains and whatnot.

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So let me get this straight, after being so outspoken in your career, and inflaming so many situations, the Brett Hull has anti-inflammatory traits?

Yeah, how about that!?

Finally, you’re a lifelong member of the hockey community. What has been the overall reaction to cannabis use and where do you think it’s headed?

Yeah, it’s very positive, people trying it and saying it’s a very helpful and viable alternative. I’ll tell people, look into CBD and cannabis and THC and find out if there’s a way that this could help you and keep you away from opioids. Even if opioids are a possibility for what ails you, cannabis is still a more natural way of helping yourself, as opposed to putting drugs or chemicals in your body.

Again, it’s just another benefit of being pain-free without having to do opioids. This is just scratching the surface, and I think with more experimenting with strains that can help, it’s only going to get better and more specific. I think it’s the wave of the future.

(Top photo courtesy of Brett Hull)

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