Miami Hurricanes alum Mike James becoming medicinal marijuana pioneer

In an interview with CNN on Sunday night during their show Weed 4: Pot vs Pills, former Miami Hurricanes running back Mike James spoke about the dangers of opioids in the NFL and how he benefited from using Marijuana as a more effective and far less addictive painkiller.

James has become a pioneer in asking the NFL for permission to use Marijuana as a painkiller. He spoke out about the dangers of opioids and how effective Marijuana can be with the show’s host Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He is one of two Miami Hurricanes alums hoping to be able to use Marijuana as a painkiller alternative.

James’ situation and his background were repeatedly highlighted throughout the show. He was initially given opioid painkillers after fracturing his ankle in a win, ironically over the Dolphins, on Monday Night Football in November 2013.

James was coming off the best game of his career a week earlier. He ran for 158 yards on 28 carries and completed a touchdown pass in a 27-24 Tampa Bay loss to Seattle.

The injury came less than five minutes into the game with the Buccaneers driving deep in Dolphins territory. James suffered the injury on the two-yard line.

He spent four years with the Miami Hurricanes. James shared the backfield with future Pro Bowler Lamar Miller early in his career and UM’s All-Time leading rusher Duke Johnson later.

James has a tragic backstory. His father was in and out of prison when he was growing up due to drug addiction. Now the father of two young sons with his wife Aubrey, James did not want to go down the same path as his father.