Why Brittney Griner and Other Athletes Use Weed for Pain
Last week, Brittney Griner testified in a Russian court after being arrested for possession of marijuana. She claimed she used marijuana to treat her sports injuries. And she’s not the only one.
“Because of my injuries that I had in my long basketball career. From my spine, no cartilage in my knee. I was in a wheelchair for four months. I broke my ankle and also sprained my knee very badly. So I was wheelchair bound,” she explained.
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Griner shared that she bought the cannabis in Phoenix and ended up with them in Russia by accident. “In the seven years that I’ve been traveling back and forth (to Russia), I’ve never brought any reportable substances with me. And I had no intention of bringing any substance when I came on February 17,” she said.
Athletes, while banned from all sports, are among the most consistent cannabis users in the world. In an interview with GQ, retired NBA pro Al Harrington said he believes 85% of NBA players use “some type of cannabis.” Martellus Bennett, a retired NFL player, said he believes “about 89 percent” use cannabis.
When gamers retire, they usually come to terms with their drug use, claiming that marijuana has helped them calm down and manage the aches and pains that come from exposing their bodies to hours of stress and exercise. “When we looked at the positive effects of cannabis on this demographic, the most common areas where athletes saw improvements were sleep, pain levels, and the ability to calm down,” said Joanna indicator, who conducted a study on the subject.
Despite the large number of cannabis users who exercise, there isn’t much research on the subject. Kevin Boehnke, a researcher at the University of Michigan’s Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center, spoke to the New York Times and explained that while cannabis tends to be safer than anti-inflammatories and opiates, “that doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.” Still, he believes the drug should be investigated.
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As we previously reported, although there is a prospect of developing a marijuana addiction, research shows that less than 10% of consumers eventually do so. Also, unlike opioids, there are no recorded overdoses of marijuana.
Griner’s future remains in the balance. She pleaded guilty but clarified that it was not her intention to smuggle any substances into Russia. It’s up to the US and Russia to figure out what to do next and how that will impact the sports community.
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