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Former Commissioner David Stern: Medical marijuana should be removed from banned list
Former Commissioner David Stern: Medical marijuana should be removed from banned list
Source: YouTube

Ex-Commissioner David Stern Says Medical Marijuana Should Be Allowed in NBA

Former Commissioner David Stern: Medical marijuana should be removed from banned list Source: YouTube

Is current commissioner Adam Silver listening?

David Stern was the commissioner of the NBA for 30 years. During his long, legendary stint, Stern had a strict no drugs policy. However, there is now more information out — particularly about medical marijuana — and his views have changed.

NBA player turned cannabis entrepreneur Al Harrington produced a documentary about the medical marijuana industry for UNINTERRUPTED. In the feature, Harrington sat down with Stern to talk about the ex-commissioner's views on marijuana and where he stands now.

READ: NBA Encourages its Players to Be More Politically Aware

During the interview, Stern acknowledged that the NBA rules should be changed:

"I'm now at the point where, personally, I think [marijuana] probably should be removed from the ban list...I think there is universal agreement that marijuana for medical purposes should be completely legal."

Harrington responded by saying:

"I think it's that big. Not only the players, but I think coaches consume, I think the owners consume. I think in sports it's very prevalent and it's right there."

Harrington said he believes that about 70 percent of players use marijuana.

READ:Steph Curry’s White House Refusal Has Donald Trump Angry

Stern believes that marijuana use in the NBA is something that should be collectively bargained, in particular for players who live in states where marijuana is legal already:

"I think we have to change the collective bargaining agreement and let you do what is legal in your state...If marijuana is now in the process of being legalized, I think you should be allowed to do what's legal in your state."

NBA beat reporter Jeff Zillgitt, of USA Today, got a statement from league spokesperson Mike Bass. It seems like the league is standing firm:

In June, Portland Trailblazers guard CJ McCollum interviewed current commissioner Adam Silver. He asked Sliver about marijuana use in the NBA, Silver said:

"I don't see the need for any changes right now," Silver said. "I mean, it's legal in certain states. But as you know, our players are constantly traveling, and it might be a bit of a trap to say we're going to legalize it in these states, but no, it's illegal in other states. And then players get in a position where they're traveling with marijuana, and we're obviously getting into trouble."

Watch Harrington's interesting documentary below.

SourceUNINTERRUPTED