Support for marijuana reform seems to be growing all around America. As marijuana.net has suggested previously, President Barack Obama has been getting pressured on the issue an awful lot lately. Marijuana’s benefits are not simply a domestic issue and there have been interesting updates from around the globe.
Over the weekend, marijuana.net briefly spoke about a new trend in professional sports that refreshingly was not about inflating ticket prices, player salaries or owner profits. The NBA has already decided not to test its players for marijuana in the offseason and the Detroit Lions‘ general manager Martin Mayhew has indicated that he is not overly concerned with his players being arrested for marijuana. Building on this trend internationally, Australia’s Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports has recently said that marijuana should not be grouped with performance enhancing drugs such as steroids or Human Growth Hormone. Unlike the United States (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS etc.), Australia has one organization that represents many of the different professional sports. As Martin Mayhew suggested, the culture is changing and athletes in their prime are in their 20s. Altering the approach professional sports takes on marijuana seems to be very crucial moving forward.
We have already witnessed the pressure put on the United States and President Obama from our neighbors to the south to change marijuana laws. Now, mayors from British Columbia cities in Canada are also calling for a new approach to cannabis law enforcement. Eight mayors are now officially calling for marijuana legalization in order to reduce crime and violence associated with cannabis laws. The mayors are also seeking to generate tax funds from a regulated marijuana system.
In particular, Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver recently stated in a letter to the Canadian government, “As mayors of BC municipalities, we are fully aware of the harms stemming from the province’s large illegal marijuana industry, “Our communities have been deeply affected by the consequences of marijuana prohibition including large-scale grow-ops, increased organized crime and ongoing gang violence. It is time to tax and strictly regulate marijuana under a public health framework; regulating marijuana would allow the government to rationally address the health concerns of marijuana, raise government tax revenue and eliminate the huge profits from the marijuana industry that flow directly to organized crime.”
It is great to see a progressive approach from other countries even though the Netherlands seems to be trying to uphold their recent ban on allowing tourists to purchase marijuana. The plan is controversial and may cripple Holland tourism so it will be interesting to see if the ban remains permanently. If the ban on Amsterdam coffee shops hurts the Dutch economy, will the United States take note? Even with tough talk from the feds it seems that marijuana has gotten over the hump and moved into mainstream acceptability.
Big Up to the NBA and the Detroit Lions GM. Funny how trainers and owners will pump their “property” full of steroids, painkillers and other things to bring them back from injury to perform, but if an athlete were to use MMJ as pain relief they could be disciplined, or even banned. Ras clot fckery…
I agree with you totally NOSCARYBIZ, in the case of the NFL they can ruin your body, reduce your lifespan, increase clinical depression etc. Those are the physical and emotional issues. An NFL contract is not guaranteed so when people yell at the TV that NFL players make so much money, they do not always see alot of that backloaded money in their contracts. A player may play a year or two of his 5 year deal and then simply get cut. NHL,NBA, and MLB guarantee contracts which makes them consider what they are doing. NFL treats players as if disposable and will just sign guys to whatever to get their eyes to light up. The team can squeeze what they want out of player and send him packing
here are some statistics on what NFL players deal with after they are done with football, btw an average NFL career is 3 years.
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-09-08/opinion/nfl.life.after.the.game_1_nfl-player-football-career-big-time-college-football/3?_s=PM:OPINION
Wow, I had no idea the average length career is 3 years. I would hope the funds from the three years can last them much longer with proper management.
not only that, the NFL is notorious for not treating their players well after they retire. its only in the last 25 years where players can be set for life. so many players from 50-60 did not make a fortune and the NFL which is worth more than small countries GDP does not pitch in enough to help those who built the league and its national television machine.
you should be asking what is the average life span!
I just heard the news of another ex NFL star committing suicide, it seems like the sport not only inflicts damage to the body, but on the mind as well.
weakling!
thats not very nice, this guy probably had some serious issues that no one knows. he took a pounding for his profession, prayers be with him
after so many blows you become a deadhead.
heard it was too much trauma to his head and he suffered from depression
Never understood why people use steroids, its just too much muscles popping out everywhere from every part.
I def agree with you for 99.9% of steroid users. Who needs to look silly and swollen to walk around the beach. I do not support steroid use in athletics at all and I am so upset that many records, especially in baseball have been broken and are now unbreakable like Barry Bonds single season home run record because of steroid use. But, if this is your shot and you can get a professional contract with steroid use and nothing without I cant say I totally dont understand where an athlete is coming from
i feel ya there man
I like skin.
oohhh lala you Nasty N-A-T-E
bet u like that kekekek
I think most things are ok in moderation, steroids included. With that said there needs to be strict guidelines when records are taken into account as some participants do not use performance enhancers.
you took the words out of my mouth, smooth
ras clot fckery…
When will they realize that legislation, medical programs and/or legalization are the only option to combat the criminal element in marijuana. What happened to bootleggers and the mob when prohibition ended, they no longer made money illegally from alcohol. Is Mexico the new Contra????
Some people just cannot face facts, no matter how obvious they are. Remember the saying “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink”?
Theres too many beautiful uses for this plant, the government will lose so much money if that happens…I guess its conflict of interest when it comes to peoples lives.
Well it looks like the domino effect that we have all been waiting for has finally begun, now it is just a matter of time before global reform for marijuana use.
Canada seems ready for major change
I agree, I can’t wait to see what is in store for us this year in the industry.
Dab hits.
hahaha yeah dab hits are the big buzz now
Dab hits aren’t for everyone I can tell you that much.
Yes they are getting very popular but something about it sketches me out, maybe the hot nail and blowtorch makes me feel like im doing hard drugs, ill stick to a doobie!
Everyone keeps talking about these “Dabs”, whate are they all about? I suggest marijuana.net do a story on them.
marijuana may actually be great for players who get impact injuries everyday, better than Brett Favre and getting addicted to painkillers
The governments objective: get people addicted to our Sh*t.
yeah MJ would relieve so many pains that athletes suffer everyday without disabling them
getting high while playing is very dangerous, it slows things down a bit when you’re constantly playing in the heat
thats why you smoke after you play!
Relief for all is in the near future, I’m soooo excited. I think that for as many positive things we anticipate happening when marijuana is legalized there will be an abundance more that we did not see coming. I predict society to be happier in general once legalization becomes global.
As change spreads across the world I can only wonder how different things would be if Anakin Skywalker could have medicated. Perhaps his anxiety would have been dealt with properly and I would not have had to deposit his padawan body into a lava pit.
HA HA HAHAHA! Thanks for making me laugh Obi
I second that! Thanks for a good laugh nerd.
NERD
hahaha I have a feeling the Jedi has had a run in with Mary a few times…. Yoda had to have had some good stuff.
If Canada were not so cold I would have already hitched my way up, but alas the temperature is not fit for this spoiled Beach Bum.
You look familiar, have I seen you in Bum Fights?
i got kicked out of the NFL for weed. this was 27 years ago. i still remember the day they let me go. couldve done some big things back in my days
wow thats crazy, im cant beleive they made you lose out on a pro career over weed. such crap
That’s awesome for the rest of the world that they are progressing marijuana forward without waiting for the US to lead the way. We are falling behind in everything else why shouldn’t drug policy just add to the list. Where are we in education anymore? like 17th 18th? they only make the list extend that far so they can keep including us on it somewhere. It’s embarrassing and we all should feel ashamed. If we’re not victim we let it happen. But anyway, hopefully this just lights a fire in the places necessary and the oppression of pot can begin to be lifted globally!
Global marijuana infused cuisine! Sounds delicious to me… and it starts with removing the crazy laws. I agree with you daytime toker, why wait for America to get our head out of our collective asses, enact legislation and increase tourism. Look at what it did for Amsterdam regardless of what happenes now.
u got that right son!
free Marijuana Worldwide!! before it’s too late
What’s up with the Netherlands ban?
For more info on the Netherlands ban :
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2012/0504/Netherlands-bans-tourists-from-buying-marijuana.-Yes-in-Amsterdam-too