Calvin Johnson left football too early in the eyes of many Detroit Lions fans.

The six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver quit the game at 30 years old coming off a prime season that saw him haul in 88 catches for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns.

But he had had enough. He was done with the pain of football and ready to move on to his next phase in life.

Johnson was initially denied marijuana permit

Part of that next phase includes opening a marijuana dispensary.

Johnson applied in December for a license to grow, process and sell medical medical marijuana in Webberville, a town that sits between East Lansing and Detroit.

He was denied, thanks to some unpaid traffic tickets in Atlanta, according to the Detroit Free Press.

19 PHOTOS Calvin Johnson through the years See Gallery Calvin Johnson through the years In this Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 photo, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) warms ups before an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Ford Field in Detroit. Johnson says NFL players could get painkillers like they were "candy" during the first half of his career with the Detroit Lions. His comments were part of a wide-ranging interview on ESPN's news magazine E:60 that was scheduled to be broadcast Thursday, July 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski) FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2016, file photo, Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (11) makes a catch under pressure from Indianapolis Colts defensive back Patrick Robinson (25) during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis. The Lions signed Jones to a $40 million, five-year deal just after Calvin Johnson officially retired during the offseason. (AP Photo/R Brent Smith, File) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) talks to quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Chicago. The Lions won 24-20. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) hugs wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Chicago. The Lions won 24-20. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2015, file photo, Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81), defended by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Eric Rowe (32) , catches a pass for a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game, in Detroit. Calvin Johnson has retired. The 30-year-old receiver, known as Megatron, announced his decision Tuesday, March 8, 2016, to walk away from the NFL after nine mostly spectacular seasons with the Detroit Lions.(AP Photo/Rick Osentoski, File) A medic checks the ankle of Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson (81) on the sideline during the NFL football game between Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. Chiefs won the match 45-10. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) stretches ahead of the NFL football game between Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Calvin Johnson, of the Detroit Lions, left, and Tony Romo, of the Dallas Cowboys, present the Bridgestone performance play of the year award on stage at the 4th annual NFL Honors at the Phoenix Convention Center Symphony Hall on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2015. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Invision for NFL/AP Images) FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2014, file photo, Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson catches a touchdown pass during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke, File) El wide receiver de los Lions de Detroit, Calvin Johnson, festeja tras anotar un touchdown contra los Packers de Green Bay el jueves, 28 de noviembre de 2013, en Detroit. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski) Detroit Lions' Calvin Johnson (81) catches a pass as Philadelphia Eagles' Cary Williams (26) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson holds up a copy of Madden '13 during the first round of the NFL football draft at Radio City Music Hall, Thursday, April 26, 2012, in New York. Johnson was selected Wednesday, April 25, to appear on the cover of the popular video game in a vote by fans. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson throws out a ceremonial pitch before the Detroit Tigers interleague baseball game with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Friday, May 18, 2012, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson signs autographs after the first day of NFL football training camp in Allen Park, Mich., Saturday, July 31, 2010. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) ** FILE ** Receiver Calvin Johnson of Georgia Tech runs the 40-yard dash during workouts at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, in this Feb. 25, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson holds up the Biletnikoff award presented to him at the Home Depot College Football Sports Awards in Lake Buena Vista Fla. on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay) ** FILE ** Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson (21) makes a catch for a first down as Duke's John Talley (11) defends in the first quarter of an ACC college football game in Atlanta, in a Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 file photo .Johnson was selected by the Detroit Lions as the team's first pick, second overall, in the NFL Draft on Saturday, April 28, 2007 in New York.(AP Photo/John Bazemore) Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson (21) gets a block from Mike Cox, left, as North Carolina's Durell Mapp (48) chases during the first half of a college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) **FILE** Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson (21) brings a Reggie Ball pass into the end zone for a second half touchdown ahead of Virginia corner back Chris Cook during college football play at Georgia Tech in Atlanta , Sept. 21, 2006. (AP Photo/Ric Feld, File) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

Johnson gets pre-approval

The Free Press reports that Johnson took care of his tickets and is now pre-approved, along with his wife Brittney, thanks to a 4-0 vote committee.

“Calvin is grateful and looks forward to operating with his brand Primitive in this new venture,” Johnson’s attorney Michael Stein told the Free Press. “He’s hoping to have a big presence in the state.”

The Free Press notes that pre-approval does not yet grant Johnson the license to open his proposed business. He’ll have to get approval from a local board before things are finalized.

Another NFL alum moving toward pot

As the NFL continues to ban marijuana as an alternative to opiates and other pain killers among players, Johnson is the latest former player to make a push into the industry and promote pot.

Ricky Williams famously had trouble passing drug tests during his playing days. He announced last March his plan to go into the marijuana business. Former Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Eugene Monroe has been a long-time advocate of removing marijuana as a banned substance.

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