Marijuana, while still illegal under federal law, is available for recreational use in 23 US states, three US territories and our nation’s capital Washington DC. Times are changing and professional sports and those who play them are advocating for legalization.

The advantages and disadvantages of cannabis use are widely contested, much like anything else in the realm of sports. While some fervently advocate against it, others vouch for its effectiveness. There’s a long list of professional athletes that are on record for using marijuana while still playing or more recently, owning their own cannabis brand.

Professional Athletes and Marijuana

• UFC fighter Conor McGregor smoked a blunt on Instagram.
• NFL Hall of Fame WR Calvin Johnson smoked after games, owns his own marijuana business. 
• Michael Vick is on record stating he has used marijuana. 
• Allen Iverson has his own brand of marijuana. 
• UFC brothers Nate and Nick Diaz co-own their own marijuana brand. 
• Marshawn Lynch owns a cannabis brand. 
• NBA star J.R. Smith has been a political advocate for cannabis legalization. 
• Kevin Durant smokes weed and says the majority of NBA players consume it like “wine”. 
• NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss smoked marijuana after games. 

While professional sports leagues continue to limit penalties and fines for marijuana violations, restrictions still exist. Back in June, a new collective bargaining agreement between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and its players union was finalized, eliminating marijuana from the league’s list of prohibited substances.

Kevin Durant was one of the stars in the NBA lobbying for the change in the latest collective bargaining agreement.

Still, there are some roadblocks with smoking marijuana and playing sports professionally.

There is always a chance that cannabis use will impair cognitive function and slow reaction speed. Performance may suffer as a result, increasing danger during physical activity. Marijuana does however, appear to have more advantages following physical activity. Cannabis itself can help you recover from a game or workout by reducing muscle pain and inflammation as well as any lingering jitters or anxiety.

All that’s great, however league rules haven’t exactly come around to the “times.”

Alternatives to Marijuana: Chill Clouds – CBD edibles and delta-8 Disposables

Experts believe cannabis, in the form of CBD, could help relieve pain and promote muscle recovery.  CBD is a non-psychoactive component of cannabis that has been exempted from the doping ban since 2019.

You absorb cannabis more efficiently when you smoke or vape than when you take edibles, but their effects are more potent and stay longer. Smoking cannabis products and ingesting cannabis products have quite different impacts in terms of strength and duration.

Orally administered, delta-8 takes between 30 and 1.5 hours to start working. The popular brand Chill Clouds offers CBD and delta-8 vape pens and edibles, which many found to be the more “safe and effective” way to consume and some cannabis, while still feeling the medical benefits cannabis can offer.

In contrast to smoking, vaping has effects that are noticeable 25 minutes after your first puff. Therefore, delta-8 gummies may take longer to work, but they do offer certain advantages.

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