Former doper to open pot shop

Not that one. The other one. Floyd’s of Leadville hosts a launch party Thursday.

Chloe Aiello

Jun. 27, 2016, 3:09 p.m.

Former professional cyclist, one-time Tour de France champion and admitted user of steroids Floyd Landis is opening a marijuana dispensary in Leadville. There’s a party in Denver on Thursday, a mere two days before the start of the 2016 Tour.

If you don’t know the back story, Landis earned international fame in 2006 for becoming one of three Americans ever to win the Tour de France. He later tested positive for steroids and lost his title — but not before blowing the whistle on another American champion. Yes, that one.

Floyd’s of Leadville will specialize in vape and transdermal cannabis oil products for recreational use and alternative pain treatment, according to a press release. Landis said he feels passionately about alternative pain treatment and medical marijuana after an injury at 30 left him reliant on opioid painkillers.

“With cannabis, I find that I can manage my pain and have a better quality of life. We need to give people a safer alternative,” Landis said in an interview with Business Insider.

“I think it’s foolish that it’s banned and that it’s banned in professional sports, that it’s illegal and people go to prison over it,” he added. “It” being marijuana.

Landis and Floyd’s of Leadville will host a product launch party Thursday, June 30, 7-11 p.m., at Club Vinyl. You can RSVP here.

Multimedia business & healthcare reporter Chloe Aiello can be reached via email at caiello@denverite.com or twitter.com/chlobo_ilo.

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