Back in April, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that the NBA is considering the legalization of medical marijuana. Silver stated “My personal view is that it should be regulated in the same way that other medications are if the plan is to use it for pain management.”

Recently in the news, Minnesota Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns recently commented on the topic saying that marijuana should be taken of the NBA’s banned substance list. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States. Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant.

For decades, sports athletes have managed their pain with powerful prescription painkillers. With the amount of major and minor injuries these athletes endure over the course of their career, painkillers can’t always be taken.

Many might get addicted, which is a bigger problem. Marijuana is an analgesic. Many former athletes have admitted to using marijuana after their workouts to manage their achy and painful muscles and leg soreness. The two chemicals in marijuana can help inflammation that occurs when injuries happen or even just after exercise. THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD, cannabidiol, offer potent anti-inflammatory components

Athletes For CARE is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating a community where athletes can find support, opportunity and purpose in life after a career in sports. Over the past couple years, the organization has been working on alternative ways to benefit the wellness of players who are retired and still playing, legalization of medical marijuana is a benefit they are striving for.

NBA Coach Steve Kerr underwent back surgery late last year. With all the pain, coming after the surgery marijuana was the only drug that kept his pain at ease without him risking taking an overdosing on drugs. Medical marijuana is an alternative to using commonly-prescribed, highly-addictive, opiate-based pain medications such as Vicodin and Oxycontin, which have turned many athletes, including NFL quarterbacks Ryan Leaf and Brett Favre, into addicts.

Within the next couple years don’t be surprised if you see medical marijuana off the banned substance life of many professional sport leagues.