Gary Payton Wants You To Rethink Cannabis: ‘It’s About Mental Health… It Brought My Mom Back In Her Final Days’
“My mom was dying from cancer and I wanted her off all the medications that were basically killing her,” says Gary Payton, recalling the deeply personal journey that brought him to cannabis. “I wanted her to live and she wasn’t responding to the things that I was doing. So I tried cannabis, and it brought her back. In those last days, she was able to talk, laugh, smile. I wanted to remember my mom that way,” he shares.
Still connected to basketball—coaching, mentoring and practicing daily—Payton has now expanded his focus to a new passion: promoting cannabis for wellness. His latest venture, Greater Purpose, launched in partnership with Green Label Rx, debuted in 2024 and represents his broader mission to make cannabis accessible as a natural alternative for pain relief and recovery.
While Payton already has a globally recognized cannabis strain named after him, his relationship with the plant remains practical. “I never smoked weed. I don’t do it now,” he says. “It wasn’t for me. But I’ve seen what it can do for people, and that’s why I believe in it,” he adds, clarifying that his interest lies in cannabis’s therapeutic potential rather than recreational use.
However, there are two people who could make him reconsider his stance on smoking weed: “Only two people, I would probably smoke a joint with right now: Bob Marley and my mom,” he says with a smile. For Payton, both figures symbolize a connection to cannabis rooted in peace, healing and memory—a poignant reflection on how cannabis can transcend simple use and take on a more profound meaning.
‘If You Can Get Up And Move Around, That Changes Everything’
At the heart of Greater Purpose is a commitment to wellness, especially for athletes and those who live active lives. Payton has witnessed firsthand the relentless toll that sports can take on the body, often leaving players in pain long after their careers end. “I see guys like Earl Campbell who can’t walk, who can’t get up. And I want to help,” Payton says, emphasizing the motivation behind his wellness line. The brand’s initial products—balms and salves—are crafted specifically to address chronic muscle pain and inflammation, common afflictions for anyone who’s put their body through rigorous physical demands.
Greater Purpose by Gary Payton – Courtesy of Green Label Rx
“Some people can’t even walk a golf course,” he continues. “I want them to feel good, get up, and move around. When you wake up feeling bad, what does it do? It brings your whole mentality and spirit down. But if you can get up and move around, that changes everything.” For Payton, the link between physical health and mental resilience is clear. His products are designed to support that balance, helping others find a path to both physical recovery and a renewed outlook on life.
A Family Matter
Jason McKnight, CEO and founder of Green Label Rx, shares Payton’s commitment to wellness. The partnership with Payton is deeply personal for McKnight, who has known the basketball legend for years. “Gary’s like family. We’ve been working together for a while, and this collaboration felt natural,” McKnight explains.
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