Bucks' Larry Sanders apologizes for his marijuana use; thinks it should be legal

Milwaukee Bucks center Larry Sanders has had it rough since he signed his $44 million deal in the offseason. He's been involved in bar fights , fights with teammates, cited by the police for animal cruelty,  a broken thumb and eye socket which torpedoed his season.

After failing multiple drug tests, Sanders was suspended or five games for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug policy. Sanders had been using marijuana, presumably for medical reasons. Sanders' suspension will take effect next season when he is healthy and eligible to play.

Sanders apologized to Bucks fans and organization for his marijuana use , but he does feel that it should be ok to use it and that it should be legalized.

“I apologize to the entire Bucks organization and our fans for being suspended five games for using marijuana in violation of the NBA Anti-Drug Program,” Sanders said in a statement. “I take full responsibility for my actions.” 

"It's a banned substance in my league. But I believe in marijuana and the medical side of it. I know what it is if I'm going to use it."

Sanders went on to defend his use of the drug and feels that once the "prohibition" is lifted all of it will go away.

“It’s something I feel strongly about, just to let you know something personal about me,” Sanders told NBA.com and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel prior to the Bucks’ game against Chicago at United Center Friday. “I will deal with the consequences from it. It’s a banned substance in my league. But I believe in marijuana and the medical side of it.

“I know what it is if I’m going to use it. I study it and I know the benefits it has. In a lot of ways we’ve been deprived. You can’t really label it with so many other drugs that people can be addicted to and have so many negative effects on your body and your family and your relationships and impairment. This is not the same thing.”

I'm not too keen on the activity itself but I don't think that there should be restrictions on athletes using especially since they take so much physical punishment. If you can take medication in pill that you can get busted for, why not marijuana. How many commercials have you seen where a drug manufacturer puts out a disclaimer telling you what effects on your health a "legal" drug can have on you, where marijuana is a natural solution. I'm not stumping for marijuana to be legal. That's another argument for another day.