Boxing Promoter Bob Arum Completely Fine with Legalizing Marijuana

Bob Arum has no problem with marijuana in boxing or as a legal form of recreational drug abroad. 

Back in early October, news came out that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. tested positive for marijuana and was subsequently fined $20,000 for the transgression. 

The fallout was immense for the fighter, who was also suspended indefinitely. Now the question of whether the drug should be legal has spread to the sport of boxing. 

If anyone was going to chime in on the controversial subject, it was going to be a oft-opinionated boxing promoter like Bob Arum. 

Here is the video of Arum asserting his thoughts on legalizing marijuana. Skip to the 4:45 minute mark of the video for the pertinent part. 

As Arum cites, two states recently passed legislation that marijuana—or pot, as you crazy kids love to call it—would be legal as a recreational drug. 

Aside from Colorado and Washington passing legislation, the US Surgeon General once called for the legalization as well. 

As you can see, there is a growing movement to change the status of a drug that we know full well many athletes already take part of. 

For Arum, he is doing well by his boxer and trying to put a new light on the suspension. 

"

It is what it is. He smoked a joint a month before the fight because he had insomnia. To me, that's not a crime...To put marijuana on the same plane as performance enhancing drugs is to my mind ridiculous. 

"

He goes on to make the popular argument that alcohol, which is legal, is far more dangerous than pot. 

I think most will agree that, if anything, considering marijuana a performance-enhancing drug is beyond tenuous. 

Still, it remains illegal, which means athletes need to stay clear of its use if not within the confines of local laws. 

That doesn't mean we shouldn't re-examine the restrictions surrounding a substance that many are inclined to believe is as harmless as a pint of lager. 

We sit back on Sundays, watch football and pound some brews. A few times a year, we order the pay-per-view fight and tap the keg with buddies. 

Is it time we welcome those who would rather roll a joint?

Bob Arum certainly thinks so. 

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