Bill Walton Speaks Up For Cannabis Reform During ESPN Broadcast
Bill Walton is one of the most recognizable figures in all of sports. Considered by many to be the most dominant college basketball player of all time, Bill Walton won ‘College Player of the Year’ three times. Bill played for the UCLA Bruins and led them to two Division I titles during his college career. After moving on to the National Basketball Association (NBA), Bill Walton became a two time champion and was selected as the league’s ‘Most Valuable Player’at the end of the 1977-1978 season. Walton is in the NBA Hall of Fame, and was selected as one of the top 50 players in NBA history during the league’s 1997 season.
Walton has never held back his opinions, whether if its about his love for the Grateful Dead or politics. Something that Bill appears to be very passionate about is cannabis reform. During a recent ESPN broadcast Bill Walton was recently caught giving a passionate speech about reforming cannabis laws in America. The broadcast was coming back from a commercial and Bill was in mid reform rant. See the video below:
This is not the first time that Bill Walton has infused his opinions about cannabis reform into a national sports broadcast. During a 2015 University of Oregon Ducks and University of Washington Huskies basketball game Bill made his opinions known about the failed drug war. A clip from the broadcast is below, which also appeared on ESPN:
Bill Walton is clearly on the right side of history. Hopefully he officially joins the cannabis athlete movement and lends his voice more to reform efforts. Bill Walton has a massive following and is respected by everyone that he knows, which is a very long list of people. Every time he speaks about cannabis, minds are no doubt changed. A big hat tip to you Mr. Walton! Throw down those cannabis facts big man, throw them down!
Nevada Athletic Commission To Explore Reforming Its Cannabis Policy
The State of Nevada voted to legalize cannabis for adult use on Election Day 2016. The successful initiative took effect on January 1st, 2017. Adults over the age of 21 can now possess, consume, and in some cases even grow cannabis legally. But that is not to say that employers can’t continue to prohibit cannabis use. If an employer decides that employees can’t have cannabis in their system, they can drug test them and terminate them when they test positive.
That is true for professional sports too. The Nevada Athletic Commission regulates ‘all contests or exhibitions of unarmed combat, including the licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, mixed martial artists, kick boxers, seconds, ring officials, managers, ring announcers and matchmakers’ and has since 1941. The Nevada Athletic Commission prohibits cannabis use by athletes in sports that it regulates, but could be changing its policy now that cannabis is legal in Nevada. Per TMZ Sports:
Now that Nevada has legalized pot, the N.A.C. has plans to discuss the removal of cannabinoids from the Prohibited Substances list which affect all athletes who compete in the Silver State.
The N.A.C. is scheduled to discuss the matter on Friday — and our sources tell us it’s looking good for the pro-weed movement.
If the weed ban is overturned, we’re told it would take at least 3 months before it goes into effect — so, don’t pick up the bong just yet.
Athletes should be measured by their ability to win on the field, court, octagon, etc., and not whether there is cannabis in their system. That should be the case in all 50 states, but should especially be the case in states that have voted to legalize cannabis. Boxers, mixed martial artists, and kickboxers are constantly battling injuries, as expected when a sport involves hand to hand combat. These athletes should be able to make the safer choice when dealing with their ailments. Sporting events that are regulated by the Nevada Athletic Commission largely embrace alcohol, which has been found to be far more harmful than cannabis. It’s time the Nevada Athletic Commission got on the right side of history.
image via Sports Net
Why Are Athletes Prevented From Entering The U.S. Because Of Cannabis Use?
Athletes that compete on an international level obviously have to travel across borders in order to get to the destination(s) that they are competing at. That may seem like a straight forward thing, but when it comes to entering the United States that straight forward task can turn into a nightmare if the athlete admits to being a cannabis consumer. At any point in their life.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Service has a policy of asking some people entering the United States if they have consumed cannabis at any point in time in their lives. If the traveler admits to previous cannabis use, they can be turned away. That is what happened to Olympic snowboarder Ross Rebagliati when he tried to previously enter the United States from Canada.
The Canadian snowboarder was once temporarily stripped of his gold medal from the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan after testing positive for cannabis. Mr. Rebagliati owns a dispensary in Canada, and is well known for his cannabis use. That cannabis use may prevent him from ever traveling into the United States, even for work purposes. His only shot is obtaining a waiver, which is not exactly a sure thing. Per CTV News:
People who have been denied entry for drug use can purchase a waiver for US$585, roughly the equivalent of C$800. Unfortunately, they are only good for a maximum of five years.
“[Rebagliati] has an excellent chance of getting a five-year waiver, but the problem is he’ll have to renew it every five years again and again for the rest of his life, unless they change U.S. federal laws,” Saunders said.
The waiver can be cancelled at any time should the holder admit to continued marijuana use, the lawyer added.
Some United States professional sports leagues have teams located in Canada, such as the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Blue Jays. Athletes on those teams can become medical cannabis patients in Canada legally, and/or can travel to 8 states in America and consume cannabis legally. However, that use could prevent them from traveling, which is essentially the same as preventing them from working being that they cannot enter the United States where the rest of the leagues’ teams are located.
The stigma surrounding cannabis is so strong that athletes get discriminated against by the United States government (along with all other consumers) simply for admitting to cannabis use at some point in their life. 44% of Americans have admitted to cannabis use. 60% of Americans support legalizing cannabis for adult use. Cannabis has been found to be 114 times safer than alcohol, the use of which will not get you banned from entering the United States. It’s beyond time that this travel restriction goes away entirely.
Ten Reasons Why Pro Sports Leagues Should Legalize Cannabis
Cannabis consumption of any kind is prohibited in most professional sports, including the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), and Major League Baseball (MLB). Cannabis prohibition is a failed policy whether it’s in professional sports or society, and is very harmful to those that have to deal with prohibition’s unfair consequences.
Many upstanding professional athletes have had their careers hindered, or even derailed, because of cannabis prohibition. Athletes should be measure by their physical skills and moral character, and not by the level of cannabinoids in their system. Below are ten reasons why professional sports leagues should get with the times and end cannabis prohibition.
1. Because cannabis is safer than substances that leagues currently embraces
Alcohol and opioid painkillers are used widely by professional athletes, and embraced by professional sports leagues. Cannabis has been found to be 114 times safer than alcohol. Opioid addiction is a major problem in professional sports leagues, due in large part to how often painkillers are pushed on players. As many as 40 people die every day in America from opioid based painkillers. Cannabis has never killed anyone.
2. Because cannabis helps suffering players
Athletes get hurt. If you play sports long enough, you will incur injuries either from contact with another player or surface, or from wear and tear. There’s simply no way around it. Cannabis has been found to be a proven medicine that can effectively treat all types of ailments that athletes suffer from, including and especially chronic pain. Cannabis is one of the most studied substances in America, with over 23,000+ medical papers published about the topic to date. Cannabis is medicine. That’s an undeniable fact.
3. Because consumption will not go away, it’s just pushed into the shadows
Cannabis has been prohibited in professional sports for many years now, yet consumption rates are still significantly high (no pun intended). That’s not a bad thing. Cannabis consumption is going to occur regardless of if it’s prohibited or not, the only difference is that players will be doing it in secret under prohibition, and likely with little to no thought as to what type of cannabis or consumption method is best for their situation. Legalization pulls that consumption out of the shadows, which is an undeniably better approach for players’ health.
4. Because the punishment doesn’t fit ‘the crime’
There are numerous professional athletes, Cliff Robinson included, that have been penalized for making the safer choice to consume cannabis instead of alcohol or pharmaceutical painkillers. These athletes were prevented from competing in a sport that they had dedicated their lives to, all because they chose to consume a plant that has been found to be 114 times safer than alcohol. If the only violation is that an athlete was caught possessing and/or consuming cannabis, a substance that is safer than alcohol and painkillers, how is it justified that the athlete should be prevented from competing? If the athlete was not found to be harming another human in any way, how is justified to penalize them in so harsh a manner as to keep them from coming to work and/or fining them large sums of money?
5. Because it will help combat the opioid epidemic in pro sports
644 NFL players were surveyed in 2010 about opioid use. Per the survey, ‘Over half (52%) used opioids during their NFL career with 71% reporting misuse. Additionally, 15% of NFL misusers currently misused vs. 5% among players who used just as prescribed during their NFL career. Prevalence of current opioid use was 7%–3 times the rate of the general population.’ That is a problem that is found throughout professional sports, and the problem seems to grow with every passing year. Patients using medical cannabis to control chronic pain reported a 64% reduction in opioid use, per a University of Michigan study. If professional sports leagues are serious about their desire to reduce opioid abuse among players, which we here at Uncle Cliffy Sports Cannabis sincerely hope is the case, removing cannabis as a banned substance would significantly help achieve the goal.
6. Because cannabis prohibition is a racist, failed policy
Cannabis prohibition disproportionately affects minorities. According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) African Americans are almost four times as likely to be arrested for cannabis than white people, even though consumption rates are roughly the same for both races. In St. Louis specifically, one study found that African Americans were arrested 18 times more often than white people for cannabis. This is tremendously important because many sports leagues treat a legal cannabis issue such as an arrest as grounds for league sanctions. By enforcing cannabis prohibition in that manner, professional sports leagues are perpetuating the systematic racism that is so ingrained in America’s criminal justice system. If leagues truly embraced diversity and equality, they would get on the right side of history and remove cannabis as a banned substance.
7. Because fans support cannabis reform
Gallup has been asking Americans if they support cannabis legalization since 1969. Back then, only 12% of Americans that participated in the survey supported cannabis legalization. That number has since steadily surged to an all-time high of 60% this year. Support is even greater for the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Professional sports leagues need to recognize that reforming cannabis policies in their leagues is not a risky move. After all, polling consistently has shown that most Americans would welcome such a move.
8. Because so many teams are located in states/districts that are legal
There are many NFL, NBA, and MLB teams located in states (and D.C.) that have voted to legalize cannabis for adult use. Those teams are: Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels, Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners, Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals, Washington Wizards. This of course doesn’t even include states that have legalized medical cannabis, nor does it include other professional sports leagues who have teams or hold competitions in legal states.
9. Because doctors and law enforcement support it
Doctors for Cannabis Regulation is making a big push for cannabis reform in sports. The doctors that help lead the organization are established and very much respected in the medical community. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition is an organization comprised of current and retired members of law enforcement who have witnessed first hand the failures of cannabis prohibition, and therefore fight to end cannabis prohibition wherever it may exist. Common reasons that cannabis opponents offer up as to why they oppose cannabis reform (including in sports) is because it’s bad for peoples’ health and it’s illegal. It’s important for sports leagues to know that doctors and cops are among those leading the charge to reform cannabis laws in America, which includes professional sports leagues.
10. The NHL has done it, and the sky is still intact
The National Hockey League (NHL) does not include cannabis on its list of banned substances. This sensible approach to cannabis policy is something that other professional sports leagues should adopt, and is definitive proof that removing cannabis as a banned substance does not result in the downfall of a sport or its players.
image via ThirdMonk.net
Steve Kerr And Phil Jackson Admit To Using Cannabis, And That’s A Good Thing
Pain management is something that many athletes struggle with. They struggle with the pain itself, but they also struggle with finding a wellness regimen that helps manage the pain in the best way possible. Many athletes turn to opioid based pharmaceutical painkillers, which is understandable given how professional sports leagues embrace and promote the use of them. What starts out as an injury for an athlete unfortunately often turns into a lifelong battle with addiction.
Cannabis is a proven alternative to pharmaceutical painkillers. Numerous studies have found that cannabis can help treat chronic pain. Cannabis can be consumed in measured doses via non-harmful delivery methods such as topical rubs or edibles with no risk to the athlete. Cannabis is undeniably safer than pharmaceutical painkillers, which is something that was recently pointed out by NBA Coach of the Year Steve Kerr.
Steve Kerr responded to a question on a Bay Area podcast about what he thought the NBA should do to improve its pain management policies and strategies. Below is what Steve had to say, via ABC:
“I guess maybe I could even get in some trouble for this, but I’ve actually tried [marijuana] twice during the last year and a half when I’ve been going through this pain, this chronic pain that I’ve been dealing with,” Kerr told host Monte Poole.
“A lot of research, a lot of advice from people, and I have no idea if I would — maybe I would have failed a drug test. I don’t even know if I’m subject to a drug test or any laws from the NBA, but I tried it, and it didn’t help at all. But it was worth it, because I’m searching for answers on pain. But I’ve tried painkillers and drugs of other kinds, as well, and those have been worse. It’s tricky.”
“It doesn’t agree with me. I tried it a few times, and it did not agree with me at all. So I’m not the expert on this stuff. But I do know this: If you’re an NFL player, in particular, and you got lot of pain, I don’t think there’s any question that pot is better for your body than Vicodin,” Kerr, 51, said. “And yet, athletes everywhere are prescribed Vicodin like it’s Vitamin C, like it’s no big deal. And there’s like this perception in our country that over-the-counter drugs are fine but pot is bad. Now, I think that’s changing.”
“You’re seeing that change in these laws that you’re talking about in different states, including California. But I would just hope that sports leagues are able to look past the perception. I’m sure the NFL is worried that their fans are going to go, ‘All the players are potheads.'”
Steve Kerr’s comments were received with various reactions from players, coaches, and fans, but a vast majority of it was positive. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, who both currently play for Steve Kerr, came out in support of their coach. Although it’s worth noting that Klay Thompson stated that he didn’t support cannabis consumption for adult-use, only for medical use. That is odd considering that Klay Thompson knows first hand that prohibition is harmful, as he was arrested in college for cannabis possession and was penalized as a result. Klay Thompson, who had recently turned 21 years old around the time of the arrest, would have been free to go had the incident occurred in Washington today.
In addition to Steve Kerr coming out in support of cannabis reform in the NBA, Phil Jackson also admitted to using cannabis to treat his pain. Per USA Today:
“[When I was recovering from back surgery], I was smoking marijuana during that period of time,” Jackson said. “I think it was a distraction for me as much as a pain reliever. But I never thought of it as ultimately a pain medication for that type of situation … We have tried to stop [marijuana use] in the NBA. I don’t think we have been able to stop it. I think it still goes on and is still a part of the culture in the NBA. It is something that we either have to accommodate or figure out another way to deal with it.”
A conversation has been growing in professional sports about cannabis reform. Steve Kerr and Phil Jackson speaking about their cannabis use obviously helps further that conversation, which is a great thing. Hopefully more current players, coaches, and executives come out of the ‘cannabis closet’ and help end the stigma. Reform in professional sports shouldn’t stop at just cannabis use for medical purposes. People suffering from various conditions that cannabis can treat should be allowed to make the safer choice if they do so. Absolutely no one should ever be forced into a situation where they either have to use harmful pharmaceuticals, suffer, or be kicked out of the league. Not when there is a proven, safer alternative.
Leagues need to remove cannabis from the banned substance lists altogether because prohibition harms players’ careers, it harms their lives, and ultimately it harms the leagues. The NBA’s product is its players, and players should only be prevented from taking the court if they have done something truly wrong or are not healthy enough to compete. There are many NFL, NBA, and MLB teams located in states (and D.C.) that have voted to legalize recreational cannabis. Those states (and D.C.) and teams are:
California – Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels
Massachusetts – Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots
Oregon – Portland Trail Blazers
Washington – Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners
Colorado – Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies
Washington D.C. – Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals, Washington Wizards
That of course doesn’t include the teams located in the 28 states (and D.C.) that have legalized cannabis for medical use. According to the most recent Gallup Poll, 60% of Americans support ending cannabis prohibition. Cannabis has been proven to be 114 times safer than alcohol. Cannabis is not harmful to players. Cannabis prohibition is harmful to players.
Athletes can consume cannabis and be healthy and successful, proven by the combined 19 championship rings that Steve Kerr and Phil Jackson have accumulated as NBA players and coaches over the years. The NBA, NFL, MLB, PGA, and other professional sports leagues that prohibit cannabis need to wake up to the facts, get on the right side of history, and show some compassion for their athletes.
image via Sporting News
Uncle Cliffy Cannabis On The 2016 Election
The 2016 election is in the history books, and what a historic election it was. Out of nine states that voted on recreational or medical cannabis legalization, eight of them were victorious! California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts legalized recreational cannabis, and join Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Washington D.C. in doing so.
Arkansas, North Dakota, and Florida voted to legalize medical cannabis, with Montana essentially voting to legalize recreational cannabis for the second time. There are now 28 medical cannabis states in America, along with Washington D.C.. Arizona was the only state voting on cannabis reform (recreational legalization) that failed to pass. To be fair votes are still being counted in Arizona, but the initiative does not appear to be within striking distance of victory.
There are many NFL, NBA, and MLB teams located in states (and D.C.) that have voted to legalize recreational cannabis. Those states (and D.C.) and teams are:
California – Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A’s, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Rams, San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, San Diego Padres, Anaheim Angels
Massachusetts – Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, New England Patriots
Oregon – Portland Trail Blazers
Washington – Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Mariners
Colorado – Denver Nuggets, Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies
Washington D.C. – Washington Redskins, Washington Nationals, Washington Wizards
All of those teams are located in parts of America that have voted to end cannabis prohibition. However, if players from those teams are found to have cannabis in their system, they are harshly sanctioned. Why is that? Isn’t it time that the NFL, NBA, and MLB recognized the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans (and with it, sports fans) support cannabis reform?
Cannabis is a much safer alternative to alcohol and pharmaceutical drugs, both of which are perfectly OK with the NFL, NBA, and MLB. The 2016 election was a referendum on prohibition in American society. So too should it be seen by league officials as a referendum on cannabis prohibition in sports. Sanctioning players for consuming a substance that is now legal in eight states and Washington D.C. is a bad policy not only for the players, but also for fans that want to see those players compete. Now is the time for current players to speak up, and join the growing list of retired professional athletes that want to see players be able to make the safer choice.
Former MLB All-Star David Wells Prefers Cannabis Over Painkillers
A lifetime of playing sports can take its toll on the human body. Professional and amateur athletes sacrifice their bodies regularly in order to become better at their craft. That leads to a lot of aches and pains which are commonly treated with opioid based painkillers. Painkillers are harmful to the human body, and while they provide temporary relief, they do not help the body heal and instead just mask the pain (for a time).
Cannabis on the other hand has been proven to not only help alleviate symptoms of chronic pain, it also helps the body repair itself. Unlike pharmaceutical painkillers, cannabis does not harm the body’s organs and does not lead to a lifelong battle with addiction. Cannabis is a much safer alternative to painkillers, which is something that former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher David Wells knows about first hand, which is why he has been spreading awareness about the benefits of cannabis. Per The Post Game:
For years, Wells says he was like many athletes who took painkillers such as Percocet on a regular basis: Sometimes after surgery. Sometimes just to get through another start while dealing with the grind of pitching. Sometimes recreationally. He continued using these painkillers even after he ended his 21-year MLB career in 2007. Then he tried CBD (cannabidiol), and Wells says he hasn’t touched an opioid since.
Wells had grown weary of the drugs’ after-effects — “I feel like crap” — and turned to CBD after watching a 60 Minutes story about how it helped cure a young girl in Colorado who was suffering 300 seizures a week.
“I wish I knew about it back when I played because I would’ve been all over it,” Wells told ThePostGame’s David Katz in an exclusive interview. “I would’ve took those risks. If they tested me — ‘hey, you got marijuana in your system’ — I’ll bring it to them: This is what it is. Dissect it. Take it in a lab and see what it’s about.”
As it stands right now, MLB players are not allowed to use cannabis. They are however allowed to use insane amounts of pharmaceutical painkillers, which is a very harmful policy. Baseball players, as with all responsible adult athletes, should be able to make the safer choice to use cannabis if they and their doctors choose to. Too many former athletes have similar stories as David Wells. Stories that are full of misery and unnecessary suffering. There is a better way, and leagues need to recognize that fact and put their players’ health first.
NFL Player Poll Finds Overwhelming Support For Cannabis Reform
The National Football League (NFL) considers cannabis to be a banned substance. The fact that the NFL prohibits cannabis use, but allows the use of various other substances that are much more harmful, is hypocritical to say the least. The NFL needs to have more compassion for its players. With NFL players suffering from chronic pain, and often times brain injuries, it’s time that the NFL got on the right side of history.
As it stands right now, there are 25 states that allow medical cannabis use, and four states that have legalized adult-use cannabis laws. Washington D.C. has approved both medical and adult-use cannabis laws. The upcoming election could very well see more states added to the list. So why doesn’t the NFL recognize that cannabis is medicine, and a safer alternative to alcohol, and permit its use? How do players feel about the NFL’s ban on cannabis, and cannabis in society?
ESPN recently conducted a survey asking NFL players questions about cannabis. Below are some of the questions along with the results. As you can see, there is overwhelming support for cannabis reform among current NFL players. The ESPN survey involved 226 players, including players from both the AFC and NFC:
Should medical marijuana be legal in all states?
Yes 71 percent
No 29 percent
Is it hard to beat the NFL’s testing system for recreational drugs?
Yes 33 percent
No 67 percent
Have you ever used marijuana to help with concussion symptoms?
Yes 17 percent
No 83 percent
Have you ever had a teammate who you think became an addict because of NFL painkiller abuse?
Yes 42 percent
No 58 percent
What would you rather use if both were allowed by the NFL: Toradol** or marijuana?
Toradol 57 percent
Marijuana 43 percent
Do you worry about the long-term effects of painkillers?
Yes 59 percent
No 41 percent
If marijuana were an allowed substance, would fewer players take painkillers?
Yes 61 percent
No 39 percent
Which is better for recovery and pain control: marijuana or painkillers?
Marijuana 41 percent
Painkillers 32 percent
Neither 27 percent
Retired NBA Player Al Harrington Supports Ending Cannabis Prohibition In California
Retired 16-year NBA veteran Al Harrington is featured in a powerful new video that just launched on TheRoot.com. In it Harrington describes the benefits he and his grandmother receive from using marijuana. Harrington also explains that he is a California voter, and he proudly announces, “I’m voting YES for Prop. 64” to legalize marijuana in California on Election Day this November.
“When I was young, I definitely did not smoke,” explains Harrington. “We always had that connotation that it was just bad for you, and then especially it was illegal. You felt that you would go to jail, so I stayed as far away from it as I could.”
However after suffering from a staph infection, Harrington was recommended medical marijuana and he benefitted greatly from it. Harrington’s grandmother, who suffers from glaucoma and diabetes, was resistant at first when her grandson suggested she try medical marijuana. After several conversations and dealing with such severe pain, she was willing to try it. Harrington recalls checking on his grandmother and hearing her say, “I haven’t been able to read the words of my bible in over three years. I’m healed.”
Harrington says that marijuana has “enhanced” his life. He explains, “I still wake up at 6:00 in the morning. I walk my dog and then I go straight to the gym. I work out hard for two hours and then I go to my office and work for the rest of the day.” Harrington is choosing to be part of the marijuana industry, which under Prop 64 includes licensing equity allowing small business owners to participate in it. And unlike previous legalization initiatives, a conviction does not automatically exclude a person from becoming licensed.
Proposition 64, or the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, is designed to allow the responsible use of marijuana by adults and establish a strict regulatory system to facilitate the transition to a legal market. Prop. 64 comprehensively addresses both medical and nonmedical use of marijuana, the regulation and licensing of businesses, taxation, revenue allocation and criminal penalties.
Harrington joins a strong coalition of Prop. 64 supporters including California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Academy of Preventative Medicine, California Nurses Association and the California Medical Association — as well as a bipartisan group of federal, state and local elected officials, and an unprecedented coalition including environmental leaders, business owners, small farmers, civil rights groups, public safety experts and social justice advocates.
Source: Californians for Responsible Marijuana Reform press release
image via The Root
Super Bowl Champion Jim McMahon Campaigns For Cannabis Legalization
The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Arizona will air a new TV ad in support of Prop. 205 during the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. It features Super Bowl champion quarterback Jim McMahon, an Arizona resident who began his career with the Bears in 1982 and ended it with the Packers in 1996. He also spent a season with the Arizona Cardinals.
The ad begins with McMahon describing his first major injury, which occurred during his second season. “That’s when I started using painkillers, and I was using them daily, pretty much the rest of my career,” he says. “It takes its toll. I was taking too many of those things.”
He then discusses how he “got rid of those” and has “been using marijuana ever since” he retired, moved to Arizona, and enrolled in the state’s medical marijuana program.
“Someone like me can afford to become a medical marijuana patient, but others aren’t so lucky,” he points out. “Marijuana should be available to all adults who need it. I’m voting ‘yes’ on Prop. 205 and hope you will, too.”
Most patients who qualify for Arizona’s medical marijuana program must pay $150 to receive a medical registry identification card, which must be renewed annually at a cost of $150. Many patients also need to pay for appointments with their doctors or with specialists to obtain a medical marijuana recommendation. This includes most veterans, due to a federal directive from the Veterans Health Administration that prohibits VA physicians from recommending medical marijuana, even in states that have made it legal.
Arizona’s medical marijuana law also does not cover patients suffering from several medical conditions that are covered by other states’ medical marijuana laws, including Parkinson’s disease, lupus, muscular dystrophy, and traumatic brain injury.
“We are grateful to Jim McMahon for sharing his story with the voters of Arizona,” said CRMLA Chairman J.P. Holyoak. “Our opponents try to argue that we should not make marijuana legal during the current opioids crisis. But Jim conveys an actual truth: the availability of marijuana can help reduce the use of opioids in our society.
“Jim also makes an important point about the cost and availability of medical marijuana,” Holyoak said. “Prop. 205 will make this therapeutic substance available to many Arizona adults who could benefit from it but have trouble accessing it. This is just one of the many reasons to support ending prohibition and regulating marijuana like alcohol.”