Cannabis and CBD oil is being endorsed by more and more professionals in all fields, but their use by athletes has catapulted the topic into mainstream discussion.
Currently, the WNBA’s Brittney Griner is stuck in Russia, facing a court appearance for cannabis charges.
She reportedly had vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage and this is why she is currently in custody in Russia.
Why does Brittney Griner take medical cannabis?
When testifying in her trial in Russia, Griner said how it had helped her recover from an injury hell.
“There are injuries that I’ve had over the long career of basketball, from my spine to no cartilage in my knee, and I was in a wheelchair for four months,” she said.
“I broke my ankle and I also sprained my knee really bad. So, I was wheelchair-bound.
“The benefits from medical cannabis definitely outweigh the painkillers that they prescribe.
“The painkillers have really bad side effects. With medical cannabis, there are honestly no side effects that harm you.”
CBD oil’s anti-inflammatory properties help athletes ease the pain from injuries or day-to-day training.
Many have credited it to helping them get over chronic pain from recurring injuries, and it has neuroprotective qualities that defend the nervous system against both short-term and long-term damage.
What have other athletes said about using medical cannabis?
While there’s still research going into its long-term effects, athletes have pointed out the mental health problems with some painkillers.
Meanwhile, the NBA stopped testing for medical cannabis in 2020, while the NFL, MLB and NHL all allow its use with various limitations in place.
“85 percent of the players in the NBA smoke or use some type of cannabis” Philadelphia 76ers legend Allen Iverson told GQ in October 2021.
“It’s a safe and alternative way to deal with s**t.
“Yes, we are supermen. We do make a lot of money, but we have a lot of stress and s**t on our plate constantly.”
Meanwhile, Brooklyn Nets‘ Kevin Durant has partnered with a tech company Weedmaps, which directs users to their closest marijuana dispensaries.
However, he wouldn’t comment on whether he used the substances.
“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 told ESPN.
In England, various cases of extreme epilepsy are treatable by CBD and this has brought it into the public spotlight and forced rules to be relaxed about its use in everyday life.
