By Oregon Small Business Association,
Former Portland Trailblazer Cliff Robinson fell afoul of the NBA’s anti-marijuana policy twice in his days as player for a marijuana-related DUI and failing a drug test. Now, he’s making headlines once again for pot. This time it’s as a businessman and an advocate for the benefits of cannabis on athletes.
Known as Uncle Cliff during his NBA career, Robinson has unveiled the name of his new company—Uncle Spliffy, the first-ever sports cannabis brand that will market cannabis products specifically designed for sports athletes. His business is based on the premise that marijuana is a legitimate and better alternative to the use of other types of drugs athletes use to manage pain, among other benefits.
As a long-time, professional athlete, Robinson understands the prevalence of the use of pharmaceutical painkillers to manage pain. According to Robinson, as reported by numerous news sources, “Cannabis is definitely a more positive alternative to pharmaceuticals at the end of the day. Those are synthetics. I’m talking about something that’s natural that can bring the outcomes you’re looking for, be it for muscle tension or relaxation or preparedness. There are a whole lot of different things that are beneficial.”
Uncle Spliffy hasn’t officially launched any products yet, but interested individuals can sign up through its website to receive future launch and product details. The Uncle Spliffy website hints at a varied and unique line of cannabis products that will meet a range of therapeutic needs for athletes. It also claims that the market potential for designer cannabis products aimed at athletes is significant and will be the third largest pot market behind medical and recreational marijuana.
Research on the positive benefits of cannabis as an alternative to synthetic pain medication remains limited, however. That’s because pot is still illegal at the federal level and researchers lack the ability to carry out exhaustive research easily. A 2014 study published in Newsweek did report that states with legalized medical marijuana laws have seen a dramatic decrease in the number painkiller-related deaths. At the time of the study, the 13 states with such laws had on average 25% fewer related deaths than those that have not legalized medical marijuana. Even if marijuana can be proven to help with pain management and lower opioid-related overdoses, there’s no comprehensive research indicating the regular use of marijuana is a good idea for athletes interested in maintaining peak performance.
The announcement of Robinson’s cannabis venture does come at a time when public opinion is shifting towards greater acceptance of medical and recreational use. In 1969, only 12% of the population supported pot legalization. In the fall of 2013, Gallup released a poll showing for the first time that a clear majority of Americans now favor legalization. If that trend continues and more states legalize some form of pot use, Uncle Spliffy and the emergence of other related enterprises could exert pressure on professional sports associations to rethink their current bans.
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