The use of marijuana for medical purposes has long been a controversial topic for athletes and professional sports leagues, not just in the United States, but also around the world. While it's legality has slowly been approved in some states, it continues to be a source of debate on whether it should be used as an alternative for pain killers and anti-inflammatories.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently spoke to a Redditor who goes by the username EdHamden, where he admitted that the board will look into its regulation with the help of the NBPA, but is interested in the science behind its curing effects. Silver believes that it should be regulated just like any other prescription medications in the market today.
Full quote pic.twitter.com/D2ctkxJBZU
— ouriel daskal 🏳️🌈 (@odaskal) August 14, 2017
While it's still a long way to go before regulation is realized, which includes a number of talks to be made between league officials, the NBPA, and lawyers before its legalization advances, Silver's statement does show that he is not closing his doors on the league approving it someday.
There have been a number of players who received suspensions from the league office in the past due to the use of marijuana, but if it gets legalized in the future, it might eliminate handing out hefty sanctions, and regulate its use in the process as well.
Should talks for legalizing its usage proceed in the future, it can be expected that it will continue to divide the opinion of the sports community, and would need to have a lot of tests to be done first in order to prove its effectivity. However, other pro sports leagues may also follow suit should the NBA become a pioneer in considering it as a means to a cure, but for now, it will remain a contentious topic to many.
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