Ex-nhl Player Riley Cote Adds Athlete’s Voice As Marijuana Rescheduling Talks Emerge Under Trump

Cannabis remains taboo in pro sports due to its federal classification, yet athletes still rely on it for recovery. Former NHL enforcer Riley Cote believes it’s time marijuana was recognized as part of mainstream wellness

As a former enforcer for the Philadelphia Flyers, Riley Cote’s career was built on toughness, sacrifice and on a body that needed constant resetting into recovery mode. In those days, cannabis was more than a choice; it was a lifeline for managing pain and inflammation.

These days, his relationship with the plant looks very different. Instead of sheer survival, it’s about balance. That perspective is taking hold well beyond hockey, as cannabis gummies like Shayo (launched by “Real Housewives of Potomac” reality star Stacey Rusch), beverages like Afterdream, a hemp-derived and micro-dosed THC/CBD tonic and balms flood the wellness market.

The timing couldn’t be more relevant: with President Trump signaling he may follow through on former President Biden’s unfinished effort to reschedule marijuana from its current Schedule I status (the same federal category as heroin), cannabis faces a potential reckoning. 

Now partnered with cannabis retailer Trulieve on an education initiative, Cote is working to shift the conversation. Athletech News caught up with him to discuss how that mission connects to his own recovery journey and why he believes cannabis belongs in the broader wellness conversation.

Beyond Ice Baths & Massage Guns

Cote’s current regimen is modest compared to his professional playing days, with low-dose edibles, often just 2.5 milligrams, cannabis flower when needed and CBD topicals after a skate. 

“It’s not an exact formula,” he said. “It’s based on how I feel. Some days I need more, some days less. It’s not every day, it depends on how much stress I’m dealing with or how sore I feel.”

Back when he was playing, Cote admitted, his use was much heavier, driven by the need to manage constant pain and inflammation. Over time, he’s come to understand cannabis as distinct from traditional recovery tools such as ice baths or massage guns, a practice that reaches deeper, regulating the nervous system and supporting relief on multiple levels.

“It does alleviate inflammation and minimize pain,” he explained. “But I think there’s something else there that’s also healing, that’s more spiritual. I think holistically, cannabis offers a larger spectrum of relief than just one-dimensional healing modalities.”

Dispelling Misconceptions

One of the biggest hurdles, Cote notes, is the common perception that cannabis use is synonymous with being “stoned.”

Instead, he stresses the importance of education and personalized dosing to show how cannabis can support daily function and recovery. He contrasts it with alcohol, which he describes as “a celebrated drug that’s universally accepted,” while cannabis has always carried a stigma. Education and mindfulness, he argues, are the keys to shifting that perception and showing that cannabis can be used intentionally in ways that support productivity and recovery.

Some emerging science is on his side. A 2023 survey published in the Journal of Cannabis Research of 111 regular exercisers found that 93% believed CBD improved their recovery, while 87% said the same of THC.

“Cannabis is not for everybody, but I think there’s a cannabis-based product that could fit everyone’s regimen,” he said. “Low-dose consumption is about being sub-threshold — avoiding the headiness or high. Most people immediately think cannabis means belly up on the couch, being less productive. That’s not the case if you’re educated, mindful and precise about dose.”

Though his story begins in hockey, Cote points out that cannabis for recovery is not just for high-performance athletes. His advocacy has drawn the attention of the cannabis industry itself, partnering with Trulieve, one of the world’s largest cannabis retailers, on its education initiative.

“It was an organic fit,” he said of the collaboration. “We aligned on the importance of predictable outcomes, being mindful and pairing cannabis with actionable practices like yoga or meditation. It’s about intentional use, not misuse.”

The platform gives him an opportunity to normalize cannabis as part of a holistic lifestyle and to reach everyday consumers.

“Everyone needs to sleep. Everyone needs to relax and recover so they can wake up fresh and perform — whether that’s in sports or in the workplace,” Cote said. “If people knew there was a better solution out there, more would explore it.”

The Silent Shift in Sports Recovery

An evolution has clearly taken place — Cote recalls when even hemp seeds were once banned from the Flyers’ locker room.

He estimates that a majority of players and coaching staff now use cannabis products in some form. The difference? It’s just not publicized, but Cote predicts that will one day change.

“Fifteen years ago it was super taboo, underground, we didn’t talk about it,” he said. “Now guys are deliberate about CBD-THC ratios, patches, oils — getting precise about recovery. It’s evolving into a category of sports science, and eventually I think organizations will formalize protocols through strength and conditioning departments.”

It’s a vision that feels probable, given athletes already fine-tune their nutrition, supplements and training methods in search of predictable outcomes that support performance and recovery. Still, most current professionals avoid speaking openly about cannabis use, wary of the risks.

“Most guys have no interest in speaking about this while they’re playing,” he admitted. “But at some point, if they feel called to be vulnerable and share their experience, there’s power in that. It helps others who might be on the fence. That’s what this movement is about — being a voice and helping people find relief.”

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