Kevin Durant, a forward for the Phoenix Suns and one of the top scorers in NBA history, personally lobbied NBA commissioner Adam Silver to end the league’s ban on cannabis. Durant believes that cannabis is commonly used in the league and that it should not be prohibited. He said that Silver agreed with him, and that he simply enjoys the plant ¹. The NBA and its players union, the National Basketball Players Association, signed a new collective bargaining agreement last month that removes cannabis from its list of banned substances. Players have not been subject to random tests for cannabis since the 2019-20 season ¹.

Durant’s lobbying and the NBA’s decision to remove cannabis from its list of banned substances represent a growing acceptance of cannabis among professional sports leagues and athletes. The decision is also likely to have a positive impact on the cannabis industry. It could lead to increased investment in the industry and the development of new products ¹.

It is worth noting that other US sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and Ultimate Fighting Championship, have all relaxed their cannabis policies in recent years. The drug is legal for recreational use in 23 US states, three US territories, and the capital Washington DC – but its use and possession remains illegal under federal law ¹.

Kevin Durant, a universally acclaimed luminary in the world of basketball, is renowned not just for his exceptional on-court skills but also for his activism off the court. Durant recently made headlines when he boldly declared that he had leveraged his personal influence on the National Basketball Association (NBA) commissioner, Adam Silver, to bring an end to the league’s long-standing prohibition on the use of cannabis. This bombshell revelation was made public during an exclusive interview Durant had with CNBC, a distinguished worldwide news platform that covers a wide array of topics, including sports, finance, and world news. Known as an influential figure in the NBA and on the global basketball stage, Durant has made the strategic decision to use his substantial platform to voice his views on the contentious issue of cannabis use in the professional sports realm. Notably, Durant’s comments signal a momentous shift in the dialogues surrounding cannabis use within the professional sports community. This is especially impactful considering Durant’s stature as a highly respected and accomplished athlete, one whose opinions can potentially sway public opinion and catalyze policy changes. To provide clarity on his stance, Kevin Durant disclosed to CNBC his belief that cannabis is a substance regularly consumed by players within the league. This statement, while surprising to some, doesn’t come as a shock to those in the sports community, where it’s an open secret that a significant number of athletes, including those in the NBA, use cannabis for a variety of reasons. Some athletes turn to cannabis as a way to unwind and destress after adrenaline-pumping, high-intensity games. Others leverage its properties for medical purposes, using it as an effective tool for pain management. Meanwhile, there are those who use cannabis simply for leisure and recreational purposes. Despite this common usage among athletes, the NBA league has steadfastly upheld a stringent ban on cannabis, aligning it with other prohibited substances under its regulations. This hardline prohibition has been a hotly debated subject for years, with advocates arguing that the league’s stance is antiquated and out of sync with the current realities of the modern world. In today’s context, marijuana use is gradually gaining societal acceptance, and many jurisdictions have even taken steps towards legalizing it. Durant’s recent comments have added considerable momentum to this ongoing debate. He articulated his conviction that cannabis should not be classified as a forbidden substance within the NBA. His arguments echo a growing sentiment among many in the basketball community and beyond. They feel that the league’s harsh position on cannabis use is ripe for reconsideration, and that it’s high time the NBA modernizes its policies to reflect contemporary societal norms. The revelation from Kevin Durant has not only amplified the discourse around cannabis use in the NBA but has also underscored his unwavering commitment to standing up for the rights of his fellow players. As one of the most high-profile figures in the basketball universe, Durant’s statements carry substantial weight. His public lobbying for policy changes could potentially serve as a tipping point in this ongoing conversation, ushering in a new era of progressive policy reform in the NBA. In conclusion, Kevin Durant’s public advocacy for the termination of the NBA’s ban on cannabis serves as a monumental development in the ongoing dialogue surrounding this contentious issue. His statements underscore the growing acceptance of cannabis use among athletes. Furthermore, they signal a potential shift in perspectives that could pave the way for transformative policy changes within the NBA, ultimately aligning the league with the progressive tide of modern societal values.