Retired Four-Time Stanley Cup Champion, Detroit Red Wings legend, cannabis advocate and entrepreneur Darren McCarty is enforcing change.

Early in his career, Darren McCarty made a name for himself on the ice as an enforcer.  Darren was selected in the 2nd round of the 1992 NHL draft by the Detroit Red Wings. McCarty played 15 seasons in the league with career accolades that include; scoring 19 goals and 42 points in the 96’97 NHL season and earning Four Stanley Cup Championship Titles in 1997’98, 2002 and in 2008.

Today he’s cultivating a unique brand to assist athletes of all levels on their health and wellness journey as well as sharing his passion for the plant and the benefits of the endocannabinoid system. Taking an opportunity to shift the narrative Darren joined our team to talk about the McCarty Cannabis Movement;

“I proudly hail from Detroit, where I won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings, but my greatest achievement isn’t in sports—it’s the Dan McCarty premium cannabis brand. This journey began as I battled alcoholism, emerging seven and a half years sober, thanks to the healing power of this plant. I’m committed to sharing knowledge and wellness. As a Canadian, I live by ‘tell you once and show you twice,’. Alcoholism was my bane, but the Rick Simpson plant, specifically the Rick Simpson oil, was my saviour during a seven-and-a-half-day detox. On November 11, 2015, I triumphed over alcohol, and now my mission is to advocate for health, wellness, and high-quality cannabis products, including CBD and CBN.  Today, I’m embracing my ultimate calling, advocating for weed and helping others.”

-D McCarty

Today you’re making waves on and off the ice as a cannabis, psychedelic advocate, entrepreneur and podcast host.  Before we jump into everything you’re pushing forward, let’s talk hockey and making it professionally?

“I firmly believe that you can manifest your reality.  I grew up in the hockey culture.  Since I was eight years old all I wanted to do was play in the NHL.  I wasn’t the best skater, so I travelled out of the country and did whatever it took to learn power skating because I wasn’t going to be denied an opportunity to play at the highest level.  Playing Junior, my first true mentor Brian Drum said; Do you want to make it to the next level? You have to do something 99.9% better than everybody else who does it. I’m like cool what is it? He goes well for you, you got to play physically, work on your skills, practice and develop a reputation.  I always tell everybody that I wished for those moments and that my journey has been about persistence and embracing opportunities when they present themselves.  I’m very blessed to have been part of a hockey dynasty with legendary players like Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, and others.”

-D McCarty

In a sport where health is put to a premium and career security hinges on being game-ready, what were the prescribed modalities for you to stay on the ice?

“In the earlier days, pre-2002, the NHL had a different culture, and I’ve witnessed significant changes over the years. In my rookie year in ’93-’94, things were quite different. Players used to smoke cigarettes in the locker room, which you’d never see nowadays. The playoffs were a different ballgame with Toradol shots numbing pain for a few hours.  For example, I believe we just saw this happen when we watched the last Super Bowl and Patrick Mahomes came back despite everything he endured.  I didn’t start smoking weed until I was 27 after a sports hernia surgery which left me dealing with the side effects of the prescribed pain pills they gave me. I couldn’t sleep and didn’t want to drink and was constipated, so I finally tried weed and found immediate relief.  It blew my mind that something so natural and clean could be so effective.”

-D McCarty

Was that your ah-ha moment for recovery and relief with cannabis?

“The first time I smoked, I experienced something profound, I realized that it was way bigger. It wasn’t just about getting high, it was about how it made me feel, deeply relaxed and in tune with my body. Unlike the other substances, it felt natural. At the end of the day, I was just trying to find relief and to be able to sleep without the pain. I was getting tested at different points so I couldn’t use it the way I wanted to, but yes, that injury was what drew me into the plant and the endocannabinoid system.

-D McCarty

Did you consume cannabis during your playing days?

“Let’s just say I did… Let’s say I got in trouble for it, but there’s more to the story than that. Despite any issues, my honesty and transparency about it never really cost me, except for one memorable incident when I tried to use fake urine for a drug test and it broke the machine, costing me 20 grand – that one I deserved. I’ve always been accountable for my actions, and this was one of those times when I owned up to it. Back in my sobriety journey from ’96 to ’06, I faced a lot of challenges. It was a complicated journey and it took me until 2015-16 to fully understand the plant’s full potential.”

-D McCarty

How was cannabis viewed in the NHL when you played?

“The most misunderstood and stigmatized aspect of weed when I played in the NHL, especially back then, was what happened to you when you used it compared to other substances. It doesn’t make sense that a person could receive more criticism for using weed for pain or stress than someone would for injecting a needle into their butt. You know, alcohol is widely accepted in the NHL still to this day, but the weed conversation has always been swept under the rug.  I’ve always embraced my connection to weed openly, not because I believe it’s glamorous, but because I’m passionate about educating and destigmatizing it. When I walk into a room and someone comments on the smell or questions my choices, I proudly say, “I own the brand, I’m Darren McCarty, and I’m supposed to smell like weed, unless it’s bad weed.” I believe in making uncomfortable conversations comfortable, whether it’s about weed or battling alcoholism. It’s not about what I take or use, it’s about the education.”

-D McCarty

Fast forward to today, you have retired but have also played a lifetime of hockey.  What does your cannabis regimen look like?

“To start my day, I prefer smoking flower – it’s like a ritual. From their my day revolves around weed and caffeine – weed and coffee, to be precise. Don’t get me wrong, I drink coffee more often. But the key for me is the balance it provides. In the afternoon, I might use a sativa edible. It’s all about proper dosing and adjusting as my schedule demands. That’s why in my weed brand, you’ll find different ratios, like 3:1, 2:1 or 1:1, where CBD plays a significant role. I’ve learned that it’s all about how these compounds interact.”

-D McCarty

With an array of compounds that all have very different attributes, what’s your favourite and which compound do you find provides the best relief?

“It’s got to be the CBD, but the CBN runs the show.”

-D McCarty

Photographed by Jasmine Knox

In 2022 you made headlines collaborating with Pincanna to launch a new lineup of cannabis edibles, creating THC, CBD and CBN gummies.  Talk to us about what you’ve created today.

“Before we get into the gummies, if anyone is canna-curious about CBD, my CBD roll-on serves as the perfect start for any conversation. I can have a conversation with the staunchest skeptics by providing relief from aches and pains with a simple roll-on, who can argue with that?

With the gummies, I’ve cultivated five varieties, each with a different purpose. The white gummy, infused with pure CBD, provides the best starting point. With CBD, you can explore its benefits without worrying about overdoing it because your body naturally eliminates any excess.  The CBD-THC combination gummy is designed to find that sweet spot and is tailored to my preferences. These gummies are individually packaged, so it’s easy to share and consume. We also have the Party Pack and the most popular choice is the black gummy, infused with THC and CBN, expertly crafted for a deep sleep.  I love them all and hope they can help with any athlete on their journey.”

-D McCarty

The gummies you’ve created would be perfect for the locker room bag.  Over the past year, the Sports Cannabis landscape has shifted with professional sports leagues changing their approach to cannabis. Do you believe the NHL is next in line?

“100% absolutely, I hope to pave the way for this in Michigan because it’s all about offering choices and fostering the conversation. My goal is to empower athletes with natural options for their wellness journey.  I’ve been preparing for this change for five years now, and I believe it’ll gain momentum when football takes the lead. The path forward involves building awareness, creating products and maintaining transparency. We’re making progress, and it might be closer to happening within a year than two with the Detroit Redwings and sports landscape evolving so quickly. I can see a day when players are reaching for a cannabis roll-on much like they do in soccer, and it could be a game-changer.”

-D McCarty

Advocacy is at the forefront of your movement, how can we collectively break the stigma?

“It’s about having the conversation and not being afraid to ask questions. Unfortunately, most people don’t want to know about cannabis unless it’s a health issue or something that prompts them to look for solutions. I look at it in the same way as people treat their health and wellness, whether it’s related to fitness, veganism, or the quality of their food. This is about what you put into your body. What’s unreal is it took me until I was 27 years old, recovering from sports hernia surgery to smoke and realize there was more to it. Learning about our endocannabinoid system and the plant’s potential changed my perception of healing. So, it’s our responsibility to explore what the plant can do.  I choose to advocate for weed because I owe this plant my life.”

-D McCarty

What advice can you share with other athlete-entrepreneurs following in your footsteps?

“The key is to follow your passion and don’t be scared to ask questions, or get advice. I didn’t reach this point in my journey alone; I got here with the support of an incredible team of loving individuals who really helped me during the process. It’s all about looking in the mirror at the end of the day and being true to yourself.”

-D McCarty

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