'I was going from 3 Tramadol pills a day to 9 a day, within a week'
CBD entrepreneur Grayson Hart was nine years old when his father went to rehab, knowing he needed professional help to rid himself of the scourge of heroin addiction. The former Scotland scrum-half was too young to grasp the severity of this peril, too little to realise that the man he cherished and looked up to was in the throes of a grievous battle.
“My dad was a legend to me, a hero. I never saw him as a junkie or a druggie,” said Hart to RugbyPass. “I learnt when I was young that the drug he had an addiction to was heroin and I saw from the age of nine how he turned his life around.
“As we got older, I used to speak to him about it and ask how he fell into it and found his way out of it. He spoke about how he always struggled to live up to that viewpoint in our culture of success and his escape was through drugs and alcohol. It came to the point where he came across heroin – and that is so addictive and horrible a path to lead down.
“Although it had a massive effect on my dad and I saw that first-hand as a kid, he never was homeless. He was still a good dad, loving and supportive and there for us. If he was dropping me off at primary school, none of the other parents would have known he was a drug addict. There are so many out there that you wouldn’t even know.”
Hart, who now plays for Bedford Blues, saw how addiction floored his father. He saw too how alcohol could seize hold when, at 21, the New Zealander lost his dad to cancer and began drinking excessively to escape the grief. As a professional player, he came to appreciate the dangers of painkiller abuse, watched friends take higher and higher doses of opioids to dull the relentless aches of the game with livelihoods and starting berths at stake.
? Delighted to see Bedford Blues and our scrum half @grayson_hart feature in @Forbes.
? We’re proud to support the off field ventures of our players #BluesFamily
Read the full article ?? https://t.co/13q4ZRR7OZ #differentshadeofblue pic.twitter.com/yr3iKSrGCT
— Bedford Blues (@BedfordBluesRFC) June 22, 2020
In his newly published autobiography, Dylan Hartley describes players “gobbling painkillers like Smarties” and the ex-England hooker is far from a lone voice. Former back row Lewis Moody likened himself to a “walking medicine cabinet” in a Rugby World magazine investigation on the issue. Others have detailed being hooked on the opioid Tramadol, which Hart himself began to use prolifically after a shoulder operation in 2016.
“These things can creep up on you, man,” explained the 32-year-old, who began his career with Auckland Blues before joining the NSW Waratahs and then moving to Scotland where he spent four years with Edinburgh and Glasgow. “In professional rugby, you go for beers after with your teammates or nights out on away trips. It’s easy for something that is part of the culture to become an issue.
“It’s the same way with painkillers. To do an illicit drug, you have got to make a conscious decision or maybe you’re around the wrong people or whatever. But alcohol and prescriptions, they are part of the culture of sport and they can easily become abused. It’s so competitive, contracts are on the line, you need to get selected that week so you need to get through the pain.
“That’s where the mentality of ‘I’m just going to pop these pills’ comes in. I was going from three Tramadol pills a day to nine a day within a week because they were losing their effect so I would up the dose. I would find myself with a buzzing feeling, it had an effect on me mentally. I would be dazed and not worried and my communication would change.
“I had seen painkiller abuse in Scotland. I saw multiple players struggling in Scotland – teammates, friends – and in New Zealand and Australia. I was aware of the negative spiral that it could entail, so that led me to research and look at other avenues.”
This quest led Hart to cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical compound derived from the hemp species of the cannabis plant. CBD is the non-psychoactive element of the plant – it neither creates the sensation of being ‘high’ nor seems to be addictive. The psychoactive THC compound is found only in very small quantities in hemp and to comply with UK law, CBD products cannot contain more than 0.3 per cent of it.
WADA removed CBD from its banned list in 2017 and the industry has since exploded with people seeking alternative remedies for pain relief, seizure disorders, anxiety and poor sleep quality. But with a vast array of suppliers pledging all manner of benefits, it remains something of a minefield, particularly for athletes for whom a failed drugs test bears devastating consequences.
Together with then-Glasgow teammate Adam Ashe, Hart founded PureSport CBD two years ago. The company sources its hemp and extracts the CBD in America and sends it for testing at three different laboratories across Europe before it is made into oils, lotions, balms and capsules. The finished products are then lab tested again and, for extra assurance, samples are analysed by America’s banned substances control group (BSCG). Crucially, the BSCG applies ‘Olympic-standard’ third-party testing and has given PureSport its seal of approval.
We carefully design Pure Sport CBD products with your wellbeing and health in mind.
Whether you’re a world class athlete or a health conscious individual we have products to support you, that you can take with peace of mind ?#cbdoil #zerothc #wellbeing pic.twitter.com/HvEa0ZQNEE
— Pure Sport CBD (@puresportcbd) May 20, 2020
“From day one, we saw that the CBD world is referred to as the wild west because there are so many brands popping up,” said Hart, who won three Test caps in 2014. “There is publicity about brands with illegal THC content, not enough CBD, or falsely advertising about what they could offer.
“It was black and white for us – we were only going to bring to the market product that was safe for drug-tested athletes. Logistically, it’s a lot of work and it’s expensive, but we were never going to make a brand or bring out a product that had any question marks. Otherwise, there was no use in us creating it.
“As pro athletes, we were in the middle of our careers and there was no way we were going to risk ourselves and any other athlete because we know what that would do to your career and reputation. It does cost us a lot, and our margins aren’t as good as other CBD brands.
“But athletes aren’t going to use and endorse things if they don’t work. The testing protocol we use is expensive and eats into our margin but that makes us the brand that we are. If we can show people that the best athletes in the world can use and endorse this stuff with all that they have on the line, then the wider audience can trust it and use it beneficially.”
?????? thanks for the support @jeromekaino https://t.co/48OlrTcJPb
— Pure Sport CBD (@puresportcbd) June 23, 2020
More and more athletes are turning to CBD. An International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism study published earlier this month revealed more than a quarter of the 517 professional union and league players surveyed use or had used CBD oil. Among the Hart clients at PureSport are Scotland fly-half Finn Russell, Gloucester’s fulcrum Danny Cipriani, and former All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Liam Messam and Victor Vito.
“You should see our inbox,” Hart said. “We could make a World XV five times over with guys who are using our products. We have easily over 300 professional players across the globe. I’ve seen how many athletes will say, ‘Man, I’ve stopped taking painkillers, this has helped so much’, and there is an ability to spread it wider. People are seeing the benefit within their own bodies and it is spreading by word of mouth. No athletes were getting paid by us to talk about it on social media.”
There is understandable dubiety about CBD in the scientific sphere. The prevailing view seems to be that more research is needed to fully understand its effects and evaluate any benefits. Some clubs advise their players against its use and trials have shown a high placebo effect. Hart hopes independent science backs up the waves of positive CBD testimony he has received from his peers.
“If clubs looked at the wider CBD issue and wanted to make a general statement to look after their players, they may advise there are risks here because the industry is not well regulated,” he said.
Throwback. Fun times! https://t.co/w0DSp5hYlx
— Grayson Hart (@grayson_hart) May 23, 2020
“I would like them to look at it from the perspective of the player, put the player first and see that this is something that could naturally benefit them and get them away from the painkillers, have a positive effect on their recovery and performance, and do due diligence and see which companies can we recommend our players to use that are safe.
“If we can provide the most transparent, trusted product endorsed by household names in sport, we are going to change the narrative. It costs us a lot but it’s just not something that we are willing to shirk on.”
With his thriving CBD business having spawned from the seeds of childhood trauma, Hart now yearns to steer others away from so destructive a path.
Comments on RugbyPass
Jake White talks more sense than anything I've read in the last 5 years. Hope someone's listening.
9 Go to commentsThe Springboks tried going down the road of only picking home-based players and it was an unmitigated disaster in 2016 and 2017. Picking overseas-based players has been one of the main reason the Boks have done so well since 2018, not only because of the quality Rassie could call on, but because of the knowledge and experience those players brought into camp from England, France and Japan. With some of the big names playing abroad it also gave younger players in SA the chance to break through at franchise level. Would we have seen the emergence of a Ruan Nortje if RG and Lood were still at the Bulls? Not so sure. I understand why Jake would want to block players leaving since his job depends on good results but it’s an approach that would take Bok rugby back to the bad old days and no South African wants to see that.
9 Go to commentsExeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
34 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
34 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
86 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
86 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
9 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
34 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
9 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
9 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
11 Go to comments