Megan Rapinoe has long been known as one of the most influential figures in modern sports, celebrated for her achievements with the U.S. Women’s National Team and her activism away from the field. Over the last few years, Rapinoe has expanded her advocacy into the wellness space, becoming a leading voice for CBD use among professional athletes. Her work with Mendi, the cannabis-derived wellness brand she helped launch with her twin sister Rachael Rapinoe in 2020, reflects her belief that CBD can play a meaningful role in recovery, injury management, and long-term athletic performance.
Rapinoe’s support for CBD emerged from her own experiences as an elite athlete managing stress, inflammation, and wear-and-tear from years of high-level competition. Traditional pharmaceutical options—often NSAIDs, opioids, and sleep medications—came with side effects or long-term concerns she wanted to avoid. CBD, on the other hand, offered a plant-based alternative that aligned with her broader values around health and sustainability. Rapinoe has emphasized publicly that CBD helped her improve sleep, recover faster between training sessions, and maintain a more balanced mental approach during intense competition seasons.
The founding of Mendi marked a turning point in athlete-led cannabis wellness. Built to provide clean, natural recovery tools, the brand focuses on THC-free CBD products designed to meet the strict needs of athletes who regularly undergo drug testing. Offerings include gummies, gel caps, salves, lotions, and recovery sticks—all formulated to be non-intoxicating while supporting muscle recovery and stress management. Rapinoe has expressed that Mendi’s mission is to “replace pills with plants” by offering safe, effective, and accessible options for everyone, from professional players to everyday fitness enthusiasts.
Rapinoe’s role within Mendi is more than a celebrity endorsement. She’s been deeply involved from the ground up, shaping the company’s values around transparency, sustainability, and athlete empowerment. She has also used her platform to advocate for the normalization of CBD across professional sports, arguing that athletes deserve safer alternatives to traditional recovery protocols. Her outspokenness has contributed to shifting perceptions in leagues where cannabinoid products were once taboo. The National Women’s Soccer League, Major League Baseball, and several Olympic-governing bodies have since relaxed their stances on CBD—reflecting a broader cultural shift toward accepting non-psychoactive cannabinoids for therapeutic use.
Mendi’s early success was also rooted in its athlete-driven identity. Alongside Rapinoe, the brand partnered with fellow pros, including Sue Bird and other high-performance competitors. Their participation gave credibility to CBD’s role in modern sports recovery, helping demystify cannabinoids for fans and consumers. Rapinoe’s willingness to speak publicly about CBD’s benefits has been particularly impactful, given her high profile in global sports and advocacy circles.
Beyond product development, Rapinoe and Mendi have emphasized education, a crucial piece of the CBD conversation. They regularly publish information on dosing, safety, and the science behind cannabinoid recovery—an approach that helps consumers make informed choices while reducing stigma. Rapinoe has also highlighted the importance of equitable access and fair industry practices, supporting women-led businesses and advocating for diversity within the broader cannabis wellness economy.
Today, Megan Rapinoe remains a powerful force at the intersection of sports, wellness, and cannabis reform. Through Mendi, she continues to champion CBD as a safe, plant-based tool that can help athletes and everyday individuals live healthier, more balanced lives. Her influence not only elevates the brand but also pushes the conversation forward on what modern recovery can look like.