The NBA recently announced that players won't be randomly tested for marijuana throughout the 2021-22 season. While players will still be tested for performance-enhancing drugs and "drugs of abuse" (such as opiates, methamphetamines and cocaine), the league hasn't tested for marijuana since last year's NBA Bubble.
In recent years, 16-year NBA veteran Al Harrington has been speaking out about marijuana use in the league after starting a number of businesses that produce cannabis and CBD products (including Viola, Harrington Wellness, Butter Baby and re+PLAY Hemp).
Harrington stated that “85% of the players in the [NBA] smoke... or use some type of cannabis,” but many have been afraid to publicize their marijuana use because of the stigma associated with the drug.
However, he says that is about the change.
“Even my best friends in the league, they didn’t want [their] parents knowing they smoke or support a cannabis brand,” Harrington told GQ. “But, this year will be the year we will be surprised. I know personally of a few athletes that’ll push that line, and say they use and why they use.”
Harrington specified that there are three “top-20-in-the-league-type guys” who are expected to speak out. He believes this will have a huge impact on how marijuana is perceived.
“It’ll open up the conversation,” Harrington told GQ. “These guys do use cannabis on a daily basis and that stigma of, you smoke and you’re unproductive or lazy — that shit goes out the window. Right now in professional sports — being that it’s pretty much allowed in all leagues right now, in some shape, form or fashion — the level of play is still through the roof... It’s a safe and alternative way to deal with sh*t. Yes, we are supermen. We do make a lot of money. But we have a lot of stress and sh*t on our plate. Constantly. So what is our vice? What can we use to get away? What’s available to us? Cannabis is recreationally available or decriminalized in 18 NBA markets. So, I pay taxes in this state, I hoop in this state, and you’re trying to tell me I can’t go to the dispensary? It makes no sense.”
Kevin Durant may be one of those top-20 players that Harrington is speaking about. Durant recently partnered with Weedmaps, an online marketplace for cannabis consumers and businesses. When he announced the partnership, Durant spoke out about destigmatizing weed.
"I think it's far past time to address the stigmas around cannabis that still exist in the sports world as well as globally," Durant said. "This partnership is going to help us continue to normalize those conversations, as well as create content, events, and a lot more through our Boardroom media network. This is just the beginning for us."