Featuring Marius Balan | Interviewed and Written by: Jai Morzaria

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In a culture where cannabis has long been misunderstood within the athletic world, Marius Balan is part of a new generation changing the narrative through action rather than rhetoric. As the founder of Lifted Athletics, he is building more than a fitness platform; he is creating a movement rooted in accountability, wellness, and intentional living. Through kettlebell classes, community workouts, performance coaching, and open conversations around cannabis, Marius is helping dismantle outdated stereotypes that have followed both athletes and consumers for decades.

His story is not built on perfection. It is built on growth. What began as early exposure to cannabis eventually evolved into life-altering adversity, forcing him to confront the realities of stigma, legality, and personal responsibility. Instead of allowing those experiences to define him, Marius transformed them into fuel for a broader purpose: creating spaces where discipline, recovery, cannabis, and performance can coexist without contradiction.

Today, Lifted Athletics stands as a reflection of that philosophy; an inclusive community where movement becomes medicine, wellness becomes culture, and cannabis is approached with mindfulness rather than excess. What separates Lifted Athletics from traditional fitness movements is its refusal to compartmentalize wellness. Rather than treating cannabis as taboo or incompatible with performance, Marius integrates honest education and intentional use into a broader conversation around recovery, discipline, and longevity. His platform reflects the evolving reality of modern athletics, one where recovery protocols, mental wellness, nervous system regulation, and holistic health are becoming just as important as physical output.

For Marius, cannabis is not an identity. It is not an excuse. It is one component within a larger ecosystem built around structure, accountability, and sustainable living. In a conversation with Sports Cannabis, Marius opens up about adversity, accountability, recovery, performance, and the ah-ha cannabis moment that ultimately connected the dots for him.

Marius:

“I was introduced to cannabis at a young age through family and early experiences growing up. One of my first real memories was after a Friday night football game in high school, when my older sister and I shared a joint together. At the time, it was more curiosity than understanding. I was young and didn’t yet have a mature perspective on cannabis, responsibility, or intentional use.

My true “ah-ha” moment came years later through adversity. I was charged and incarcerated on a felony marijuana distribution case, and I spent time sitting in a jail cell over cannabis-related charges. That experience changed my perspective completely. I remember talking with other inmates, counsellors, and people I met along the way, and many of them viewed what I had done as relatively harmless compared to the serious crimes around me. Yet there I was, facing major consequences over cannabis.

That experience opened my eyes to the bigger picture—the stigma, the legal system, and how many lives had been impacted by outdated views and policies around cannabis. It also forced me to grow up, take accountability, and reevaluate the role cannabis would play in my life moving forward.

Today, I view cannabis through a much more disciplined and intentional lens. It’s something to be respected, not abused, and when approached responsibly, it can be part of a healthy lifestyle rather than something that defines or derails your life.”

Jai Morzaria:

What does cannabis mean to you within your journey as an athlete, and how has it shaped your approach to performance, recovery, or mindset?

Marius:

“Cannabis has played different roles in different seasons of my life. Early on, I used it more casually without much structure. As I grew as an athlete and as a man, I learned that anything powerful needs discipline behind it. That includes cannabis.

Today, I see cannabis more as a recovery and mindset tool than a performance enhancer. For me, it can help slow the mind down after intense training weeks, long coaching days, or high-stress seasons. It helps me decompress, reflect, and create balance when life moves fast.

It has also shaped my approach to recovery. I prioritize movement, hydration, sleep, nutrition, sunlight, and training first. Cannabis is not the foundation—it can be a complement when used intentionally. That mindset is important because too many people look for shortcuts. Real performance still comes from consistency, discipline, and hard work.

Most of all, cannabis has taught me awareness. It showed me that how you use something matters more than the thing itself. With the right relationship, it can support wellness. Without discipline, it can become a distraction.”

J M:

Can you walk us through a moment where you felt the narrative around cannabis and athletics needed to change — and how you’re contributing to that shift?

Marius:

“One of the biggest moments for me was realizing how many high-level athletes, hardworking professionals, and everyday disciplined people used cannabis responsibly, yet still felt like they had to hide it. There has been this outdated narrative that if someone consumes cannabis, they must be lazy, unmotivated, or not serious about performance. My real-life experience showed me the opposite.

I’ve met athletes who train hard, recover intentionally, run businesses, raise families, and still responsibly use cannabis. That contradiction made it clear the conversation needed to change.

I’m contributing to that shift by living it openly and building community through Lifted Athletics. We host fitness events, workouts, and experiences that blend movement, wellness, and intentional cannabis culture in a positive environment. It’s not about escaping life or promoting stereotypes—it’s about showing that discipline, health, and cannabis can exist in the same space.

I also try to lead by example through coaching, training, and how I carry myself daily. My goal is to normalize a healthier, more honest conversation and show people that performance and cannabis are not mutually exclusive.”

J M: 

How do you integrate cannabis into your lifestyle in a way that aligns with discipline, longevity, and peak performance?

Marius:

“For me, discipline always comes first. Training, nutrition, hydration, sleep, mindset, and recovery habits are the foundation. Cannabis is never the foundation—it’s something that can complement those habits when used intentionally.

I’m very mindful about timing, dosage, and purpose. I don’t look at cannabis as something to rely on throughout the day. I look at it more as a tool for recovery, relaxation, and helping downshift after demanding days of coaching, training, and building. In certain seasons, that may look like low-dose edibles or products focused more on balance and recovery rather than heavy consumption.

Longevity matters to me, so I’m always thinking about sustainability. I want to feel good, move well, and stay sharp for years to come. That means avoiding abuse, avoiding mindless habits, and making choices that support my long-term health.

Peak performance is built through consistency and discipline. Cannabis doesn’t replace that. But when used responsibly, it can support recovery, reduce stress, and help create balance so I can continue showing up at a high level.”

J M:

What are you building right now, and how does cannabis fit into that vision?

Marius:

“Right now, I’m building Lifted Athletics—a community and movement centered around fitness, wellness, and intentional cannabis culture. The mission is to create spaces where people can challenge themselves physically, improve their health, and connect with others who share a more open-minded view of wellness.

I’m also continuing to grow as a strength and conditioning coach, helping people become stronger, more confident, and more capable through training. Whether it’s one-on-one coaching, group classes, kettlebell training, or athletic performance work, my goal is to help people level up physically and mentally.

Cannabis fits into that vision as part of a broader lifestyle conversation. It’s not the main character—it’s one piece of the puzzle. Movement, mindset, recovery, community, and discipline all matter. Cannabis can support relaxation, recovery, and connection when approached responsibly.

What I’m really building is proof that health and cannabis don’t have to be on opposite sides. You can train hard, live with purpose, pursue goals, and still have a healthy relationship with cannabis.”

J M:

What is the mission behind Lifted Athletics, and what do you hope people feel when they experience it?

Marius:

“The mission behind Lifted Athletics is to bring people together through movement, wellness, and community while helping break outdated stigmas around cannabis and fitness. I wanted to create something bigger than just workouts—a space where people can challenge themselves physically, meet good people, and feel supported in becoming healthier versions of themselves.

At its core, Lifted Athletics is about empowerment. Some people come for the fitness side, some come for the community, and some come because they’re curious about a different approach to wellness. What they usually find is all three.

When people experience Lifted Athletics, I want them to feel welcomed, energized, and inspired. I want them to leave feeling stronger physically, clearer mentally, and more connected than when they arrived. I want them to realize fitness doesn’t have to feel intimidating or rigid—it can be fun, inclusive, and meaningful.

Most importantly, I want people to feel like they belong. In a world where many people feel isolated, creating spaces where people can move, connect, and grow together means everything.”

J M:

What is the biggest misconception people still have about cannabis today?

Marius:

“One of the biggest misconceptions people still have is that cannabis automatically makes someone lazy, unmotivated, or unsuccessful. That stereotype is outdated and ignores the reality that many disciplined, high-performing people use cannabis responsibly while still pursuing big goals, maintaining careers, raising families, and taking care of their health.

Like anything else, cannabis comes down to the relationship a person has with it. Used mindlessly, it can become a distraction. Used intentionally, it can be part of a balanced lifestyle that supports recovery, stress management, and overall well-being.

Another misconception is that cannabis and fitness cannot exist in the same world. I’ve built much of my own brand around showing the opposite. Some people train hard, care deeply about their health, and still choose cannabis as part of their lifestyle.

The real conversation should be less about judgment and more about education, responsibility, and personal accountability.”

J M:

What message would you give to younger athletes or people trying to balance ambition, wellness, and cannabis use?

Marius:

“My message would be simple: put your goals first and let discipline lead everything. If you have big ambitions, your habits need to support those ambitions. Training, sleep, nutrition, mindset, and consistency will always matter more than any product or substance.

If cannabis is part of your life, be honest with yourself about whether it is helping you or hurting you. For some people, it can be a tool for relaxation or recovery. For others, it can become a distraction. Self-awareness is everything.

Don’t use anything as an escape from the work you know you need to do. Build your foundation first. Earn confidence through discipline, effort, and showing up daily.

Also remember that wellness is bigger than one thing. It’s sunlight, movement, community, purpose, recovery, and how you treat yourself mentally. Protect your future, move with intention, and never let anything replace the value of hard work.”

Marius represents a new era within the cannabis and athletic landscape, one defined not by rebellion, but by responsibility. His story reflects the evolution of cannabis culture itself: moving away from stereotypes and toward intentionality, education, recovery, and performance.

Through Lifted Athletics, he is proving that cannabis does not diminish ambition. When approached with discipline and awareness, it can coexist alongside elite training, structured wellness, and meaningful community impact. More importantly, he is creating environments where people feel empowered to move, connect, and grow without judgment. In a space long divided by stigma and misunderstanding, he is helping lead a movement that proves strength, wellness, and cannabis culture can rise together with purpose.