In the summer of 2020, the NBA announced they would suspend cannabis drug testing at the end of the 2019-2020 season. Then in December 2020, Commissioner Adam Silver spoke about the continued suspension of cannabis drug testing into the 2020-2021 season. 

Now, the NBA will continue the cannabis drug testing suspension for the upcoming season 2021-2022. “We have agreed with the [NBA Players Association] to extend the suspension of random testing for marijuana for the 2021-22 season and focus our random testing program on performance-enhancing products and drugs of abuse,” said Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass.

For the upcoming season, as with this past season, the NBA will reach out to players who show signs of problematic dependency, specifically those who have had dependency issues in the past. They won’t be testing those for simply using cannabis casually. 

Commissioner Silver speculated there could be a chance the NBA could permanently remove random cannabis drug testing in the future. “We decided that given all the things that were happening in society, given all the pressures and stress that players were under, that we didn’t need to act as Big Brother right now,” he explained. “I think society’s views around marijuana has changed to a certain extent.

Changing Views

In 2020 and 2021, two states (South Dakota and Alabama) legalized medical cannabis and four (New Mexico, New York, Virginia, and Connecticut) legalized recreational cannabis. Additionally, several states will see initiative measures on the 2021 and 2022 ballots. They cover legalizing medical and recreational cannabis along with various decriminalization measures. 

Continued changes across the country could lead to further change. Plus, cannabis testing took center stage during the Olympics after track star Sha’Carri Richardson tested positive for THC. Several lawmakers reached out to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to get rules changed.

Finally several former NBA players are getting involved in cannabis. Kevin Durant is a notable example. He partnered with Weedmaps in a multi-year partnership. Together they aim to destigmatize cannabis and showcase the plant’s potential for athletes’ “wellness and recovery.”

As viewpoints change, more and more people accept cannabis and what it can do for people all across the board. The NBA seems to be one of the first major sports leagues to take that leap. Others could follow soon. 

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