Ethan Zohn reveals he tried to get cannabis use approved for “Survivor”
Ethan Zohn reveals he tried to get cannabis use approved for “Survivor”
Dalton RossThu, June 18, 2026 at 1:15 PM UTC
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Ethan Zohn on 'Survivor: Winners at War'Credit: CBSKey Points -
Survivor champion and Kicking Back host Ethan Zohn reveals the reason he could not get cannabis use approved for the show, but he came close!
How would Survivor be different if cannabis was allowed? Ethan shares his take.
Ethan also names his all-Survivor soccer team. Who made the cut?
Ethan Zohn became the Sole Survivor 25 years ago when he was named winer of Survivor: Africa in 2001. A professional soccer player, Zohn used some of his winnings to help start Grassroot Soccer, with the goal of improving health conditions for at-risk youth in Africa.
But Zohn's story as a true survivor was only getting started, as he was diagnosed twice with CD20+ Hodgkin's Lymphoma, requiring two stem cell transplants and requiring two long, slow recovery periods — recovery periods the reality star says were greatly aided by the use of medicinal cannabis.
Now, Zohn's interest in TV, soccer, and cannabis are all combining in a new web series he is hosting titled Kicking Back.
Airing on High Times' YouTube channel, Kicking Back celebrates the 2026 World Cup by having Zohn travel from city to city to explore the "intersection of soccer, cannabis, and community." The first of eight episodes drops on June 19, so we decided get into the… ahem… weeds with the host to see if we could smoke out some answers. And Zohn not only revealed that he almost got cannabis approved for the Winners at War season, but also names his all-Survivor soccer team.
Ethan Zohn from 'Survivor'Credit: Courtesy Ethan Zohn
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: You've been a big advocate for cannabis after everything you went through with your health. What kind of role did it play in your recovery?
ETHAN ZOHN: Cannabis gave me back some control during a largely uncontrollable period in my life. When you're going through treatment, especially one that is aggressive, your body stops feeling like it's yours. There's so much to contend with, including nausea, body pain, mental pain, sleep troubles. Then you add in the anxiety of not knowing if any of what you're doing is working.
Cannabis didn't fix any of those symptoms, but it helped make life livable. It lessened the edge enough to let me eat, rest, and remain mentally present for my own fight. It continued to help after remission. Relapse fears weigh on you every single day. And when they did, the plant helped me manage.
Ethan Zohn on 'Survivor: Winners at War'
How would your experiences on Survivor have been different had they allowed Mary Jane to be a tribemate of yours during the season?
Tribal Council gets a lot more interesting, that's for sure! Mary Jane would be my ride or die. Because I'm a medical cannabis patient, I actually asked CBS and Survivor if I could bring it to the Winners at War season. The doctor told me, "Well, no one has ever asked us that before." I was THIS CLOSE… but the plant is illegal in Fiji, so it was a hard no.
I would have loved to have it around the fires at night, and hopefully lead to even more chaos than we already get to see! But really, Survivor can get heavy really fast. If the plant was out there with us, there probably would've been more laughs and less tears or fights. Or, maybe it would have made some players that much more paranoid and forgetful. Hey Probst, what are your thoughts on season 53 theme of: SurHIGHvor?
You are traveling around the country while filming Kicking Back. What city is tops when it comes to finding that peak intersection of soccer and cannabis?
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I've heard lots of opinions, but I'm still early into my journey. So, I'll have to get back to you on that. But that's the most exciting part of the show. The point of Kicking Back is to find out and report back to the soccer and cannabis communities.
I've got my ideas on which cities might top the list, but just like the World Cup, we won't know the answer 'til the match has been played.
Ethan Zohn from 'Survivor'Credit: Courtesy Ethan Zohn
What do you make of the current restrictions on World Cup players not being about to use marijuana during the tournament?
It's a tricky situation. WADA's rules are what they are, whether you agree with them or not. Players know what they're signing up for. Still, it stings to see that being the case when the tournament is in three countries where cannabis is largely legal and normalized for millions of people.
You say in the series trailer that "It's also kinda fun to watch soccer high." What makes it so fun?
The game rewards presence, and cannabis helps me stay in that mindset. But, also, cannabis makes exciting moments that much more exciting.
Think about when an amazing goal comes out of nowhere. Think about the U.S. securing a last-minute win or the 4-1 destruction of Paraguay. For me, when I've got some cannabis in me, those moments feel that much more amazing. They get that much bigger, and the celebration is often that much more electric. Hopefully, I'll get to show that on the show when the U.S. wins it all.
Ethan Zohn from 'Survivor'Credit: Courtesy Ethan Zohn
Finally, give me your teammates on an all-Survivor soccer team.
Me: Head coach. Jeff Probst: So can just narrate and yell old school insults at the opposing team during the game from the sideline. Coach: AKA Assistant Coach on my team. Just because I get to make him an assistant after 22 years in the game. Tyson: Can negotiate with the ref and turn any red card back to a yellow.Devens: So he can just flip the coin for kickoffs.Mike White: Because when we win the championship, maybe he will put me on The White Lotus.Parvati and Cirie: Can strategize and distract. Boston Rob: Because he takes up the entire goal.Rizo: Just because his energy is off the charts. Danielle DiLorenzo and Kellie Nalbandian: Because they can play.
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