McMahon won a Super Bowl with the Bears in 1986 and played with the Eagles from 1990-to-1992.
By Mary Cunningham
Jim McMahon has always been a little bit out of the box:
From his head bands to his practice habits to his friends — mostly linemen, whom he treated to dinners often.
And now he has made a medical decision that fits right in.
Former Eagles and Bears quarterback McMahon’s struggle with severe health issues has been well documented in recent years.
Now, the 56-year-old McMahon tells the Chicago Tribune he’s found something to ease the pain: Medical marijuana.
McMahon, who quarterbacked the Bears to a victory in the Super Bowl following the 1985 season, played 15 years in the NFL. He suffered multiple concussions in his career, and has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. Other health problems include headaches, depression and memory loss and speech issues.
McMahon, who was in Chicago earlier this week for a reunion of that Super Bowl-winning team, told the Tribune that he had been taking 100 prescription Percocet pills a month to fight pain throughout his body. The habit dated back to his playing days.
But the Arizona resident said that after voters in that state approved the medicinal use of marijuana in 2010, he got approved to use the drug. He says daily use has made a big difference for him.
“(Painkillers) were doing more harm than good,” McMahon told the Tribune. “This medical marijuana has been a godsend. It relieves me of the pain — or thinking about it, anyway.”
McMahon told the paper he usually smokes at least two or three times a day, including before bed. Otherwise, he said, he couldn’t sleep.
He said he went public with his story to give hope other people suffering from pain issues.
