SPIRITUAL PAIN, CANNABIS, + PSILOCYBIN WITH
NOW WHEN I HEAR THE WORD PAIN, I THINK OF DIFFERENT DIMENSIONS OF PAIN. THE MENTAL HEALTH COMPONENT.
After over 250 fights on the ice, 4 years in the NHL, and 7 total surgeries between his nose, eyes, wrist, knee, and even his fingers, the former left winger and enforcer for the Philadelphia Flyers, Riley Cote, is no stranger to physical pain. A longtime consumer of cannabis, since the age of 15, Riley believes cannabis helped him manage more than just the physical pain from the brutal demands of his sport. He also believes it aided him in coping with the mental struggles and anxiety resulting from amping up his nervous system in anticipation of fights before games, and the spiritual aftermath of inflicting pain on others. “I turned pro at 20 and started fighting. It cranked on this different level of anxiety, as you can imagine. I mean, performance anxiety, just daily stress and anxiety, but then all of a sudden now you're fighting regularly and preparing to fight the next night. I realized then, it (cannabis) was really helping with my anxiety but then also my sleep, you know, just comes hand in hand. I didn't really identify the anti-inflammatory properties until later on in my career when I started learning about the science behind it.” Riley is now retired from the NHL, but still involved in the sport of hockey on several levels, but with different goals in mind. 22
PAIN
RILEY COTE BY ANTONIO DEROSE
Since retiring from his professional sports career, Riley has created his new path as a powerful voice of reason and inspiration for healing the body, the mind, and spirit, while also being environmentally conscious. “I’m trying to make a difference,” says Riley, and he’s doing a lot to live up to his word. Riley is the Founder of the Hemp Heals Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit promoting cannabis and hemp as a viable renewable resource. He is also a cofounder of another not-for-profit organization called Athletes For Care, where they are dedicated to creating a community where athletes can find support, opportunity, and purpose in life after careers in sports. In addition to his leadership role, he is the organization’s NHL Ambassador, while also sitting on the Pennsylvania Hemp Industries Council board, and his passion for healing is what really inspired him to start his own product company, BodyChek Wellness. A line of hemp-based personal care products with a mission to optimize everyday performance and challenge individuals to rethink the healing process; it’s a brand that reinforces his passion to help individuals discover safe, nontoxic methods for pain management and self healing.
