Marijuana in the NBA has been an everpresent drug throughout the league’s history, with various current and former players expressing openly that they regularly use the substance.
Kevin Durant is one of the biggest advocates for the use of the drug among active players. When marijuana was removed from the banned substances list, many assumed KD had advocated for the same. The Suns’ star confirmed he spoke to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to aid the process.
“I actually called [Adam Silver] and advocated for him to take marijuana off the banned substances list. I felt like it was becoming a thing around the country and around the world. The stigma behind it wasn’t as negative as it was before. It doesn’t affect you in a negative way. He agreed… I just enjoy the plant, it’s simple as that.”
Durant admitted that he went to his meeting with Silver high and the Comissioner could smell it off him.
“He smelt it when I walked in, so I didn’t really have to say much. He understood where this was going. I mean, It’s the NBA, everybody does it. It’s like wine at this point.”
"I actually called [Adam Silver] and advocated for him to take marijuana off the banned substances list… It's the NBA, everybody does it. It's like wine."
Kevin Durant on the NBA lifting its ban on marijuana.
(via @cnbcevents)pic.twitter.com/zZdybfaWKt
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 26, 2023
Durant said that marijuana consumption is safe and has compared it to wine previously as well. NBA players are allowed to drink alcohol or take prescription painkillers that can lead to addiction, stigmatizing marijuana and telling players they can’t use it wasn’t really fair. Many players have advocated for marijuana use to be legal in sports as a whole as well.
Benefits Of Marijuana For Athletes
No substance is perfect, and staying off everything is always the path people should take. However, marijuana has proven beneficial to athletes in dealing with the unique stressors they face. It is abundantly used for pain relief, with athletes previously stating the harmful effects that prescription painkillers can have. Its known effects on reducing anxiety and stress have also been cited as reasons for its use.
NBA players have been open about their marijuana consumption in recent years. Former players like Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson openly discuss getting high during their careers, while Alex Caruso and Klay Thompson, among many other NBA stars, have previously been arrested for possession.
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