Charles Barkley Cautiously Supports Cannabis Use for Medical Reasons
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]I[/dropcap]n an exclusive interview with USA Today, TNT sports analyst and former National Basketball Association (NBA) star Charles Barkley discussed cannabis use in professional basketball. While Barkley admitted he isn’t “a pot guy,” he acknowledged that the plant is helpful to others—if and when they use it for the right reasons.
Barkley discussed his disappointment with the Chicago Bulls, as well as plenty of insights into his thoughts on the prevalence of cannabis in professional sports, especially basketball.
“I’m not a pot guy,” Barkley admitted to USA Today. “I’ve had pot like five times, and it just makes me want potato chips. But I got to be progressive. Listen, if you’re using pot to heal your body and things like that, I guess I can accept it. But I don’t want guys smoking pot just because they like smoking pot. I don’t think you can compare basketball to football. But I know it’s been helpful to my football friends.”
Barkley cautioned, however, that he doesn’t support drug use in general, when getting high is the only goal. The former NBA star witnessed firsthand the devastation that addiction to other drugs can inflict upon family and friends.
“But if you’re going to use cannabis—I must be getting old, I’m saying cannabis,” Barkley added. “If you’re going to smoke weed or pot, it better be for the right reasons. Don’t just do it because you’re a druggie. I’m very sensitive to the subject. I had a brother who died young who was a junkie. Drugs are a real serious issue to me. But I have to be open-minded. If you’re going to use drugs for the right reasons, fine. But I don’t want to give people carte blanche to use.”
Numerous former NBA players have said that they performed some of their best games on cannabis. The list includes Chauncey Billups, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington and Matt Barnes. In addition, many players have launched their own cannabis product lines such as Cliff Robinson or Lamar Odom.
