Steve Kerr Hopes Sports Leagues Will Soften Their Stance on Weed
On a CSN Bay Area podcast published on Friday, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr told host Monte Poole that he tried using weed to treat the back pain he's experienced for the past two years.
"I guess maybe I could even get in some trouble for this, but I've actually tried [marijuana] twice during the last year and a half when I've been going through this pain, this chronic pain that I've been dealing with," Kerr said.
Kerr, who had two back surgeries last year that caused him to miss almost have of the '15-'16 campaign, has been trying everything for his resulting pain, he explained:
"A lot of research, a lot of advice from people, and I have no idea if I would -- maybe I would have failed a drug test. I don't even know if I'm subject to a drug test or any laws from the NBA, but I tried it, and it didn't help at all. But it was worth it, because I'm searching for answers on pain. But I've tried painkillers and drugs of other kinds, as well, and those have been worse. It's tricky."
Although Kerr says he's "not a pot person" and that weed "doesn't agree" with him personally, he hopes that the professional sports world will be softer on marijuana use in the coming future:
"If you're an NFL player, in particular, and you got lot of pain, I don't think there's any question that pot is better for your body than Vicodin. And yet, athletes everywhere are prescribed Vicodin like it's Vitamin C, like it's no big deal. And there's like this perception in our country that over-the-counter drugs are fine but pot is bad. Now, I think that's changing...But I would just hope that sports leagues are able to look past the perception. I'm sure the NFL is worried that their fans are going to go, 'All the players are potheads.'
Kerr added that although he's not an "expert," after his own back pain, he knows weed is better on the body than prescription pain medication. "I know enough about this stuff," he said. "Vicodin is not good for you. It's not. It's way worse for you than pot."
(H/T ESPN)
You Might Also Like
