NOVATO, Calif. — A former pro football star and an advocate for athlete marijuana use have teamed up to open a gym in San Francisco that they say will be one of the first in the world to allow members to smoke pot while working out.
Former running back Ricky Williams, who played for the Saints, Dolphins and Ravens, and Jim McAlpine, a snowboard company executive, said Power Plant Fitness also will offer edibles and topical gels for those who don’t like smoking the plant. They say using pot while exercising can help them focus or relax.
Members of the gym, which is set to open this year, will need a medical marijuana prescription to join, but that could change if California voters legalize recreational pot in November.
“I personally use it for focus. It’s not about getting high. It’s about keeping my mind engaged in the activity I’m in,” said McAlpine, who organizes the 420 games, athletic events aiming to stop the stigma against pot use.