The NBA’s lift on marijuana puts the world of sports on notice

With NBA players now allowed to smoke marijuana without being penalized, it puts the MLB and NFL in a position to follow the mandate.

Opinion by Kevin Khachatryan, Staff Writer

The NBA will let players use marijuana under a new labor agreement that will go through the 2029-30 season, which was approved by players and governors for a seven-year deal. This should have a positive effect on the NBA and the sports community because many athletes already smoke marijuana, and sports leagues continue to follow suit and do like Peter Tosh said, “legalize it.”

Just four months ago, major league baseball started allowing teams to take on cannabis companies as sponsors, with plans to promote the burgeoning weed business at the upcoming World Series.

The NBA saw this happening and wanted to make the policy permanent after the league initially suspended cannabis testing, with players competing in the quarantined bubble in Orlando. COVID-19’s big impact on players not needing to be tested for marijuana anymore allowed the league to permanently change it’s policy.

“I’ve always been taught to follow protocol,” said former NFL player Lester Towns. “I don’t have an issue with it, as long as everyone agrees to it. I’m sure the players union won’t be against it because now you won’t have players being suspended for something that everyone is doing anyways.”

The NBA’s policy change could open the door for baseball and football to follow suit. The NFL and MLB still test for cannabis during the regular season, but restrictions have loosened for baseball.

In 2019, MLB removed cannabis from its substance list, eliminating its previously imposed fine of $35,000 dollars for players. The NFL tests players for drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and opioids.

Marijuana has been shown to calm anxiety or nerves. According to Forbes, 95 percent of cannabis is used to deal with stress and anxiety. This move could benefit athletes in any sport because of the benefits of marijuana, including pain management, mental health and recovery from a career-ending injury.

“I don’t think that’s something that athletes are going to argue about,” said head coach Lester Towns. “They won’t be suspended anymore for it, the only thing that they will get suspended for would-be drug policies.”

Athletes have shared mixed reactions to the new policy, with some embracing the mandate as a step forward. Some remain cautious about the mandate as it could lead to potential abuse and is unhealthy to the body.

NBA star Kevin Durant, for the Phoenix Suns, spoke in an interview with David Letterman last year saying, “For me, it clears distraction from the brain, it’s like having a glass of wine.”

The NBA’s move to lift the marijuana ban raises questions about the future of cannabis in professional sports.

While the debate on if marijuana will continue to evolve in the world of sports, it is clear that the NBA’s decision marks a significant turning point in the discussion on the drug’s role in the broader sports community.