B/R x 4/20: A Letter from the Editor

    Joe YanarellaCorrespondent IApril 20, 2018

    B/R

    Marijuana usage and the push for legalization has intensified across the U.S. and throughout the world.

    Nine states and Washington, D.C., have legalized broad usage for people aged 21 and over, while another 29 states have legalized some form of medical marijuana use.

    Attitudes toward cannabis are rapidly changing, as focus has shifted away from pure recreational usage to potential medical or scientific benefits. Despite this shifting public landscape, cannabis is still banned in most of the major sports leagues. (Marijuana usage is illegal under federal law.)

    With that in mind, Bleacher Report decided to provide a platform for former pro athletes to discuss marijuana, to allow closet smokers the opportunity to state their case—why they use cannabis, what they believe the benefits are and how their conversation mirrors those taking place at the state level.

    It is incredibly important that Bleacher Report reflects the issues that matter to both athletes and our audience, and the future of cannabis is one of them. To mark 4/20—an unofficial marijuana holiday—B/R will be releasing content throughout the day that features an array of athletes discussing their experiences with cannabis. This is B/R x 4/20:

    1. McCollum and the Blazers Snapped Postseason Losing Streak for "Jennifer"

    2. Spencer Is the Real Winner of the Boston Marathon

    3. Stars Invest in Plant-Based Food as Vegetarianism Sweeps NBA

    4. The NBA Got Some Wild Techs This Season

    5. Jarrett Allen Is One of the NBA’s Hottest Rim Protectors

    6. Wade's Jersey Swaps Created Epic Moments This Season

    7. NBA Squads Brought the Heat with Bench Reactions This Year

    8. Westbrook Makes History While Honoring Nipsey Hussle

    9. Nation’s Top-Ranked H.S. Teams Will Play for a National Title

    10. Is 20-Year-Old Undefeated Ryan Garcia Boxing's Next Superstar?

    11. Devin Booker Makes History with Scoring Tear

    12. 29 Years Ago, Jordan Dropped Career-High 69 Points

    13. MLB Players Are Getting Wild Inspiration for Their Cuts

    14. Bosh Is Getting His Jersey Raised to the Rafters in Miami

    15. Carsen Edwards Put on a Show vs. the Defending Champs

    16. Gabe Kalscheur Is Early Breakout Star of March Madness

    17. Barrett, Brazdeikis Lead Canadian Hoops Revolution to March Madness

    18. UM's Ignas Brazdeikis Is the Villain of March Madness

    19. OBJ's Trade to Cleveland Has the Browns Hyped

    20. Steph Returns to Houston for 1st Time Since His Moon Landing Troll

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    As part of this project, players share their stories and smoke cannabis on camera in California, where consumption is legal. (Note: No B/R employees associated with the production participated in on-site consumption.)

    This is not an endorsement or indictment of cannabis usage but rather a platform for discussion—to allow the athletes’ voices to be heard and to share their stories. 

    To be able to facilitate that conversation is an incredible responsibility—and one that B/R takes seriously. I was blown away by the thoughtful nature of the discussions and the real-world implications the players referenced, ranging from pain management to stress relief.

    As retired NFL offensive lineman John Moffitt said during one of two roundtable discussions hosted in California: “I think things like this is what’s important, because it’s breaking the stigma.”

    Today marks the start of that conversation at B/R. I'm hopeful you'll spend some time at 420.BleacherReport.com to watch these athletes’ stories—from Al Harrington on his grandmother to Kenyon Martin on his bad knees—and use the hashtag #BRx420 to keep the conversation going. 

         

    Thanks for watching,

    Joe Yanarella

    Senior VP, Content

    Bleacher Report