Cannabis and combat sports might sound like strange bedfellows, but the mats tell a different story. In jiu-jitsu circles – especially in the independent scene – the plant has moved from taboo to a commonly accepted tool, helping athletes navigate pain, presence, and performance in a sport where one’s mental flow is as vital as their physical grit.
At the intersection of this cultural shift is High Rollerz, a one-of-a-kind jiu-jitsu tournament where competitors not only roll for gold, but actually light up before the match. This isn’t a casual stoner showdown, though; these are top athletes going to war. With black belts, elite-level grapplers, and even former UFC fighters on the bracket, High Rollerz offers a candid window into how cannabis is being redefined not as a vice, but as a viable part of modern athleticism.
High Rollerz: Blazing a New Trail
Founded by former MMA fighter “Mighty” Matt Staudt and UFC veteran “Big Lonn” High Rollerz burst onto the combat sports scene with an unapologetic vision: create a space where cannabis use is normalized in competition, and athletes can perform without stigma.
What started as a niche idea quickly gained traction. The event’s signature? Competitors are encouraged to smoke before they roll. Victory earns not only bragging rights but sometimes pounds of cannabis as prize money – shattering stereotypes and sparking dialogue across the fitness world.
High Rollerz doesn’t attract slouches. Past participants have included top-level black belts and UFC veterans who see cannabis as a legitimate tool for managing nerves, inflammation, and pain. And far from couch-locked clichés, the matches are high-paced, aggressive, and deeply technical – proof that cannabis and elite performance aren’t mutually exclusive.
Why Cannabis? A New Type of Edge
So why do we see so many athletes – especially in solo, high-skill sports – turning to cannabis? The reasons range from the physical to the deeply psychological.
Flow State Enhancement
Athletes often describe cannabis as a “focus tool.” In jiu-jitsu, where success depends on adapting to your opponent’s micro-movements and keeping calm under pressure, flow is everything. Some practitioners say cannabis enhances proprioception (body awareness), reduces overthinking, and sharpens their ability to stay in the moment.
This isn’t unique to jiu-jitsu. Endurance athletes, climbers, and even skaters have long touted cannabis for helping them drop into “the zone” – a mental sweet spot where movement becomes automatic and intuitive.
Pain and Recovery
Fighting hurts. So does training five to six days a week with few breaks. Cannabis, particularly strains high in CBD and balanced THC-CBD hybrids, is becoming a go-to for managing soreness and inflammation, without the gastrointestinal and neurological risks of chronic NSAID or opioid use.
In a sport where joint locks, neck cranks, and high-level strain are everyday occurrences, many athletes find that cannabis supports recovery and allows them to train longer and more consistently.
Anxiety and Pre-Fight Jitters
Combat sports don’t just challenge the body – they wage war on the nervous system. The hours before stepping on the mat can be the most brutal. Here, cannabis plays a unique role in helping athletes settle nerves without blunting their edge.
However, it’s highly individual. While some report paranoia or over-introspection with the wrong dose or strain, others find just the right amount can promote calm, presence, and confidence.
Voices From the Mat: Who’s Speaking Out?
Nick and Nate Diaz
Few fighters have pushed cannabis into the mainstream spotlight like the Diaz brothers. Long before it was cool (or legal), they openly used cannabis and CBD for recovery, pain management, and mental clarity. After one fight, Nate even puffed a CBD pen during a post-fight press conference – an iconic moment that shifted how people view cannabis in high-level athletics.
Jeff Glover
The ultra-creative, sometimes unpredictable jiu-jitsu legend Jeff Glover has spoken openly about cannabis and creativity. His flowing, unconventional game has inspired legions of grapplers – and he credits part of that to an open mind and altered state.
Ricky Williams
The former NFL running back became a leading advocate for cannabis in sports after retiring. Williams used cannabis throughout his career to manage anxiety and physical pain, and today he runs a cannabis wellness company focused on holistic healing for athletes.
The Stigma Still Lingers
Despite growing support and legal reform, cannabis still carries baggage in professional sports. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) continues to ban THC in competition (though it recently increased the acceptable threshold). Promotions like the UFC operate under looser guidelines, but some state athletic commissions still penalize fighters for testing positive.
This means athletes often walk a tightrope: using a compound that helps them train and recover better while risking fines, suspensions, or loss of endorsements.
Even culturally, there’s friction. Critics argue that High Rollerz and events like it trivialize cannabis or promote drug use under the guise of sport. But for advocates, it’s about harm reduction, honesty, and expanding the conversation about what true recovery and performance enhancement look like.
Cannabis, Solo Sports, and a New Athletic Consciousness
It’s no accident that many cannabis-friendly athletes thrive in individual or fringe sports: jiu-jitsu, MMA, skateboarding, ultrarunning, climbing. These disciplines reward self-awareness, internal motivation, and deep connection to body and mind – qualities that cannabis, when used responsibly, hold the potential to enhance for some individuals.
Unlike team sports, where culture and policy lag behind, solo athletes
have more room to experiment. They’re not beholden to collective image control. They can speak openly. They can roll joints and ankle locks in the same day without fear of locker-room whispers.
And while cannabis isn’t for everyone, the narrative is changing from “stoner slacker” to “mindful mover.” It’s less about escaping reality and more about engaging with it – body first, ego second.
Conclusion: The Future Is High and Self-Aware
Cannabis use in sports is evolving. What once got athletes suspended is now getting them sponsored. What used to be whispered in locker rooms is now announced in press conferences. And in places like the High Rollerz mat, it’s not just tolerated – it’s celebrated.
As the lines between mental health, physical performance, and spiritual balance continue to blur, cannabis may become not just a recovery tool – but a symbol of a more conscious kind of athlete. One who’s not afraid to breathe deep, stay present, and roll with both the punches and the puffs.
