Kevin Durant has doubled down on his previously articulated stance against marijuana remaining on the NBA’s banned substance list, arguing that it “shouldn’t even be a huge topic” for the league at this point.
During an appearance on Showtime’s “All The Smoke” podcast, the Brooklyn Nets superstar railed against the notion that marijuana use continues to have a “stigma around it” despite its continued legalization and decriminalization on a state-by-state basis across the country.
“It’s one of those plants that’s an acquired taste. If you love it, you love it. If you don’t, you’re not even going to be pick it up. It shouldn’t even be a discussion these days,” Durant said, as transcribed in a New York Post article. “It’s just like, marijuana is marijuana. It’s not harmful to anybody. It can only help and enhance and do good things. I feel like it shouldn’t even be a huge topic around it anymore.”
Durant, who is an investor in two weed-based businesses, including one fronted by Snoop Dogg, argues that the social acceptance of marijuana use should be on par with how partaking in caffeine and alcohol is treated.
“Everybody on my team drinks coffee every day. Taking caffeine every day. Or guys go out to have wine after games or have a little drink here and there. Marijuana should be in that tone,” Durant said. “Why are we even talking about it? It shouldn’t even be a conversation now.”
Marijuana is among the 200 substances on the NBA’s banned list, but the tide appears to be turning when it comes to the league’s position. Not only has recently passed former NBA commissioner David Stern rallied around the notion of pot’s removal from the list on multiple occasions, current commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly exhibited a pragmatic, sensible stance on how the league will approach the issue going forward.
With Major League Baseball just removing marijuana from its banned substance list in December and the NBA having positioned itself as extremely progressive when it comes to such issues, the days of pot’s presence on the league’s banned list are likely numbered.
