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:

When MJ Wore #12 After His Jersey Was Stolen Before a Game
15 Years Ago, LeBron, Wade and Melo Took Over All-Star Weekend
14 Years Ago, Iverson Dropped Career-High 60 Points
AAF Was Perfect Cure for Football Fans' Post-SB Blues
Projected No. 1 NBA Pick Commits to Georgia
Team Went 1-78 Until Freshman Savior Stepped into the Gym
CFB National Signing Day 2019 Did Not Disappoint
The Kyrie and LeBron Bromance Is Back!
Makur Maker Is 7-Ft Recruit with Guard-Like Handles
Bats Have Become an Unexpected Attraction at Spurs Games
Friends to Foes, Ex-UGA Teammates Meet in Super Bowl
Cooks Gave a Super Gift to This Rams Employee
You Can Chop Your Way to a Lumberjack World Championship
KD Giving Back to His Hometown with Durant Center
Floorball Is the Newest Growing Sport in the USA
Former No. 1 NBA Pick Is Lighting It Up in the G League
Four Years Ago, Klay Drops Record 37 Pts in One Quarter
Remembering the Night Kobe Scored 81 Points
Happy 37th Birthday Dwyane Wade
Martell Is Leaving Ohio St. and Is on His Way to the U

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