"Sports should go green, allow pot smoking"

[Auggie]

Gwen Knapp, S.F. Chronicle Staff Writer, Thursday, February 12, 2009:

Weed, the Breakfast of Champions.

I've been waiting a long time - 11 years to be exact - for the sports world to seize on that concept, but no one's had the guts. Now, far later than I expected, we've entered pot's perfect storm.

Just as the economy has tanked, strangling sponsorships all over the athletic map, a Super Bowl MVP and the most decorated Olympian of all time have emerged as partakers. Advocates for drug reform have long said that legalizing marijuana would increase tax revenue, not to mention reduce violence in the dealer population. In sports, the door would open for a cash flow to fill the creek bed left dry by a shriveling General Motors, Citigroup and their ilk.

<snip>

Common sense says that athletes shouldn't be punished for pot any more than they would be if they ran a red light. Creative thinking says that the sports leagues should lobby for legalization and then treat the stuff like Gatorade or Budweiser. Call it the greening of athletics, which it will be, as soon as the checks clear.

Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/12/SP9O15S2H6.DTL
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It appears the author is suggesting that legalization will lead to the creation of pot "brands", and therefore, advertising and sponsorship revenue. Wow.

[hobbit709]

1. They'll find some way to call pot a "performance enhancer"

That's their justification for everything.

[navarth]

2. K & R

It's simple to me....these guys can go drink beer and not get in trouble. The same should apply to ganja.

[cobalt1999]

3. As long as it's illegal, that'll never happen

There is a blanket ban on illegal substances.

If pot ever became legal, it doubt it would be banned anymore than beer.

[Lost in CT]

4. Golf certainly should lead the way on this one.

Maybe have some plants in the rough to liven up the game for those whose habitually slice the ball.

[Auggie]

5. The thought of branding it is hilarious. I can see the names...

"Humboldt High"

"Mendocino Fog"

"GanjAhhhhh"