Former Commissioner David Stern Wants NBA to End Pot Ban

Former NBA commissioner David Stern believes that the league should remove marijuana from its list of banned substances and treat it the same as states, he said, according to SB Nation, in a new Uninterrupted mini-documentary, The Concept of Cannabis.

The documentary was produced by former NBA player Al Harrington. In it, Stern says that he’s at the point where he thinks marijuana “probably should be removed from the ban list. I think there is universal agreement that marijuana for medical purposes should be completely legal,” reports SB Nation.

“Marijuana for medical purposes should be completely legal.” — More from David Stern in THE CONCEPT OF CANNABIS at https://t.co/rs935TItP6. pic.twitter.com/sH6LvD3rR9

— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) October 25, 2017

Currently, marijuana is legal in all forms in eight states and the District of Columbia. It is also decriminalized or allowed for medicinal purposes in many more states. However, according to SB Nation, the NBA has a strict ban on all types of marijuana. It does have a three-strike penalty program, so there is no suspension until a player fails a drug test for the third time.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass responded to Stern’s comments through a statement to SB Nation.

“While Commissioner Silver has said that we are interested in better understanding the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana, our position remains unchanged regarding the use by current NBA players of marijuana for recreational purposes,” he said.

Stern, 75, ran the league from 1984 to 2014, and during that time, the NBA had harsh penalties on players who smoked weed. However, it is apparant that he has changed his mind.

“I think we have to change the collective bargaining agreement and let you do what is legal in your state,” Stern said, according to SB Nation. “If marijuana is now in the process of being legalized, I think you should be allowed to do what’s legal in your state. So now I think it’s up to the sports leagues to anticipate where this is going and maybe lead the way.”