Calvin Johnson Talks Detroit Lions’ Resurgence, Jared Goff’s Future And His New Cannabis Product

It’s a pretty exciting time if you’re Calvin Johnson.

The Hall of Fame wide receiver and Detroit Lions great continues to grow his cannabis-based business, Primitiv, in Michigan. The research company focuses on positive development of the cannabis industry while focusing to change stigmas and educate people on the plant’s benefits.

The 37-year-old explained the basis behind the development of Primitiv.

“A big part of why we want to dive into cannabis and really get to understand the healing powers of this plant is because it’s been deemed illegal for so long,” said Johnson. “I’m from the south, being from the bible belt, anybody using it was demonized. Getting into this industry, it was something totally different. My parents weren’t too fond of it at first, but through education and through conversation, I’m able to show then the true healing powers of the plant.”

Johnson not only opened Primitiv’s flagship dispensary in Niles, Michigan a year ago, Primitiv continues to release new products that helps cannabis users enjoy the positive effects of the plant in a faster manner.

As Johnson teased on social media, Primitiv is set to release a product line nationwide called “Primitiv Performance” in early 2023. The product is created to enter the bloodstream faster than your typical cannabis product.

“You think about the time it takes for these things to work — like topicals — it takes 30, 45 minutes to an hour for those things to really go into effect,” explains Johnson. “The difference is with these nano-particles, they’re bypassing the intestinal process. They enter the bloodstream faster than how people currently consume them.”

As cannabis continues to be more widely accepted in not only culture, but the professional sports world, the Lions great believes it’s only a matter of time before the the plant becomes fully accepted as a way for players to heal.

“More players from all industries have become advocates,” said Johnson. Not just any players, but significant players that have had impacts in their leagues that are coming out in support and advocating for cannabis. And maybe that wasn’t the case years ago because it was still taboo.”

Johnson — who retired following the end of the 2015 season — continued to explain why the perception of cannabis is a lot different than just a few years prior when he was playing.

“You mess around and get yourself in the testing program just talking about cannabis too much,” said Johnson. “So it’s night and day where we are today and it’s hard to ignore the movement that people are trying to do what’s best for their bodies when it comes to pain medicines and trying to relieve inflammation, which is a key source of pain. You have to steer away from the opioids. You have to find another alternative method.”

Not only does Johnson continue to make waves in his post-playing career with his cannabis business, it just so happens that his former team, the Lions, are in the thick of playoff contention entering the final weeks of the season.

Although Johnson hasn’t been an active player of the Lions since the 2015 season, he still follows the team very closely. The former six-time Pro Bowler believes Detroit is a team on the way up. The Lions are currently in the thick of the playoff mix at 7-7, having won six of their past seven games.

Johnson says if Detroit is able to make it to the playoffs and win a game — they haven’t won a postseason game since 1991 — that would change the psyche of the fans and the organization.

“I think that would change the psyche,” said Johnson. “If they’re able to start a comeback like that. They have a great young quarterback (Jared Goff), they have a great core group of players on that team. The sky is the limit if they can make the playoffs this year.”

The man known as “Megatron” played nine years in Detroit from 2007 until 2015. Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford made for one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league, but it resulted in just two playoff appearances during his tenure with the Lions.

Johnson — who still resides and runs his business in Michigan — says fans are a bit cynical due to recent history.

“Everybody is excited in Michigan,” said Johnson. But everybody in Michigan knows there’s (usually) been a big letdown. Right now, there’s hope. But people are very cynical right now.”

Despite that, Johnson believes the Lions are in good hands. In fact, he believes Goff has proven he is the franchise quarterback.

“He should be the guy,” said Johnson of Goff. “I look at his resume. He led Los Angeles to a Super Bowl. He’s a good quarterback to lead a team to a Super Bowl. He has that experience under his belt. Things are starting to look up for him right here, right now. I have no doubt he can get the team to where they want to go.”

Furthermore, he also believes head coach Dan Campbell — his former teammate during his first two seasons in the league — has the team trending in the right direction.

“Every year, it’s been a stair step. If he keeps improving year by year, he’s going to be here for awhile,” Johnson said of Campbell.

With a franchise quarterback and head coach on the team, it looks like the Lions might finally be a threat in the NFC.