Cannabis In The NBA: Why Change the Policy Now?
Even as cannabis becomes progressively legalized around the United States, for some incongruous reason, the NBA still prohibits the drug.
You may ask, “How come the NBA’s players’ union hasn’t campaigned harder to eradicate onerous penalties for marijuana?” Perhaps, it’s because a plethora of staff members in the league use cannabis already! “Six different NBA players, who did not want to be identified, estimated that the percentage of active players using marijuana in some form – buds, edibles, concentrates, CBD oils, lotions, patches – was at least 50 percent and as high as 85 percent,” says reporters Monte Poole and Tom Haberstroh.
Current NBA Weed Policy
We are not aware of how often players get busted violating the NBA’s weed initiative. The first infraction bears no penalty. The second comes with a $25,000 fine and the infringements are not announced. A five-game suspension comes with the third violation and is announced though not as particular to cannabis. We unearthed only five suspensions in the past three years that fit a weed offense. Any discourse of the NBA’s cannabis stance ought to involve the inquiry: Why ban the substance?
Some desire to present a spotless persona to fans. Others want to lay a trap for ballers who are feckless enough to get caught. However, it’s tough to make the argument this is about honestly keeping players off pot. Giving so, the directive is radically failing. That poll was part of Poole’s and Haberstroh’s deep plunge into cannabis in the NBA. We propose you check it out sometime. The tale of the time Stephen Jackson – who confessed he puffed weed his entire NBA career – attempted pain pills is especially haunting.
The Commish on Cannabis in the NBA
Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner, has expressed his thoughts on the issue. “When I’ve talked to players about it, I think they have mixed feelings. It’s not so much about what guys do in the summer. If they want to smoke pot, whatever, it’s legal in a lot of states. We have no issue with that.”
Silver furthered: “One of the things I’ve been talking more about in the past several years is mental wellness of our players. Some guys are smoking pot in the same way some guys would take a drink. Just using it to calm down a little bit or using it to relax, no big deal. It’s no issue, which is why I think it’s been legalized in a lot of states. “On the other hand, there’s guys in the league who are smoking a lot of pot,” he added. “Then the question becomes, ‘Well, why are you smoking a lot of pot?’ And that’s where mental wellness comes in. Because I’ve directly talked to players who say I’m smoking a lot of pot because I have a lot of anxiety and I’m struggling.”
Why Change?
What do you think … should the NBA just stop playing and allow their players to freely smoke weed, or? Comment below.
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