Former NBA big man Al Harrington has emerged as one of the biggest supporters of marijuana use within the league today. For the retired 39-year-old, he firmly believes that the use of cannabis is something that can benefit players who use the same for medicinal purposes.

“I think the day-to-day pain management issues that players deal with can be dealt with through cannabis,” Harrington said of athletes who are often prescribed pain relievers following surgery, including highly addictive opioids, via Candace Buckner of the Washington Post. “Something that is all natural and nowhere near as harmful as the stuff that they’re using now.”

Harrington's message is clear. He is not speaking about the use of marijuana for recreational purposes here. On the contrary, it's about finding a better alternative to pain medication that may actually have undesirable side effects in the long term.

Harrington went on to say that in his mind, the most important factor that will strengthen this push within the league is the support of the players themselves. It's not just moral support we're walking about here, but more importantly, being openly vocal about this rather polarizing issue.

“I know that — in order to get things done, because I’ve played in the league so long — it has to start at the players,” he said. “That’s when barriers can be broken down.”

Harrington currently owns a cannabis company which he founded himself. Life appears to be good for the former NBA journeyman after he retired from the league in 2014. In 16 seasons, the 6-foot-9 big man boasts career averages of 13.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.9 steals.