The BIG3 league is set to announce the legalization of cannabis CBD oil on Wednesday, making them the first U.S. sports league to allow the use of cannabis for pain management.
Former NBA star Al Harrington has advocated for the use of cannabis in professional sports due to the potential medical benefits, and he’s in the business himself.
“This is a no-brainer decision,” league co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz told CBS Sports’ James Herbert. “This is a medical decision. It is a medical and a humane decision. To not allow athletes to use CBD and instead to force them to use opioids is irresponsible and perhaps even disgusting. It reflects an attitude of not caring about player health.”The use of cannabis is expected to help with player recovery and pain, something several athletes are in favor of.
“All the players we talked to have been either supportive or use it,” Kwatinetz said. “Not everyone uses it or wants to use it, but they are supportive of the right to use it. It’s a safe medicine that addresses pain.”
“I’ve been an advocate, obviously, for a while about this. It’s taken me some time to actually convert some other athletes to this side,” Harrington told CBS Sports. “You know, they had their connotations or different ways that they felt about it, or information they had that was inaccurate, to the point where I was able to get them to try different products. Basically, mostly creams and stuff like that. And it’s helped them so much that it’s allowed them to stop taking Advil, different things like that, because they can manage their pain through CBD products.”
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