‘All my best games I was medicated’: Matt Barnes on his game-day use of marijuana

‘All my best games I was medicated’: Matt Barnes on his game-day use of marijuana

Published on 4/24/18

As more professional athletes come out in support of using cannabis before/after games the anecdotal evidence is piling up that not only does cannabis help with pain and possibly heal injuries faster, but it also keeps players focused on the game. Retired NBA player Matt Barnes recently spoke about his 15 years playing professionally and he says smoking a joint was part of his routine in preparing for a game, and while it wasn't for every game he does he was medicated for all of his best games. Ontop of other stories from athletes, Barnes also says that a large majority of the NBA and NFL regularly use cannabis for medical and recreational purposes, and with known time frames for drug tests it's not overly difficult to work around. Advocates are saying that the more that players speak out about using cannabis the more accepted and looked into it's going to become. The NFL has talked about studying the potential medical value for cannabis and the NBA is now saying they are interested as well.

“When I smoke, I can focus and actually do the job that I have to do,” he said. “It’s like I’m in the zone. I feel like nobody can stop me when I was out there. It mellowed me out, got me going. It’s the best thing for me.”

Smith said he would smoke at home on the morning of games while sitting in a bathtub with Epsom salt, and then would smoke again on his way to the stadium. He also said marijuana use is widespread in the NFL — from captains to quarterbacks, from coaches to personnel employees — and talked about his routine of buying marijuana as soon as he had passed his offseason drug test.

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