Former Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball player David Ortiz has had a busy week. Last weekend, he was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame; this week, cannabis company Rev brands announced it is teaming up with Ortiz for a new line of cannabis called “Papi Cannabis,” a nod to his nickname “Big Papi,” CBS Boston reports.
Ortiz is often considered one of the greatest Major League Baseball players, boasting three World Series rights, 541 home runs and, of course, his recent admittance into the Hall of Fame. Since Ortiz started his 14-year career with the Red Sox, he’s been a hometown hero of Boston both on and off the field.
Ortiz said in a statement that once he embraced the “flow of flower,” everything changed.
“Cannabis has helped me relax, sleep better, manage stress and heal physically after a lifetime of playing ball, and I look forward to sharing Papi Cannabis and my personal journey to help people understand its benefits,” Ortiz added.
The first Papi Cannabis product is called “Sweet Sluggers,” including what Rev Brands calls Bib Papi’s “favorite strains.” The pre-rolled, one-gram blunts include strains like Black Mamba #7, Lava Cake #7, Motorbreath #15 and Bootylicious #4. The blunt wraps are tobacco-free and produced with tea leaves and hemp.
They will be sold at Massachusetts recreational dispensaries, and Rev Brands said it plans to release more Big Paper products later this summer.
As the news was announced, Ortiz also shared how cannabis has specifically helped him to recover from the demanding physical needs required as a MLB player.
“I’m a huge believer of medical cannabis, and the power of healing and all the stuff that comes along with it,” Ortiz said, per Cassie McGrath of Boston Business Journal. “As you guys know, I retired, like, six years ago, and cannabis has been amazing for me for my pain relief, my stress.”
According to the Boston Business Journal, Ortiz had been approached by cannabis brands for years, but Rev stood out as a kind, high-quality brand that treated him like family, all essential pieces to forging ahead with a partnership.
Revolutionary Clinics CEO Keith Cooper expanded on the shared values of the company and Ortiz during the press conference, where the news was announced.
“Papi worked hard to become one of the best baseball players in history. He also worked hard to help the community with his generosity and leadership. The Papi brand stands for those values,” Cooper said. “Working to be your best, being clutch when it matters, standing up for what’s good and what’s right, enjoying life and caring for each other. We at Rev stand by those values as well.”
Orti will also show some love to his home country, the Dominican Republic, by releasing a one-hitter made of hand-carved Guayacan wood. The proceeds from those sales will be allocated back to the community when the product launches.
While discussing the new partnership, Ortiz was also asked by a reporter if he believes there is still a stigma regarding cannabis use within professional sports and whether that is changing.
“The reality is that cannabis doesn’t help you with sports, I don’t think,” Ortiz said. “You know what I’m saying? … Cannabis slows you down.”
The Papi Cannabis website notes that Ortiz wants to help erase the stigma of cannabis and he believes in cannabis as an “integral part of a physically active life.”
In 2019, Major League Baseball removed cannabis from its list of banned substances and now treats it the same as alcohol. Though players are still subject to discipline for using or possessing the drug. Specifically, the league maintains the right to punish players breaking existing cannabis laws, like possession, distribution and driving under the influence.
Players and team personnel who “appear under the influence of marijuana or any other cannabinoid during any of the Club’s games, practices, workouts, meetings or otherwise during the course and within the scope of their employment” must undergo a “mandatory evaluation” for a potential treatment program, according to a memo obtained by ESPN.
