Wolves center Karl Anthony Towns may not use marijuana, but he sees the benefits of it.
After a shootaround with his team at the Target Center, he said, “I thought it was something that needed to be said “Because there is a bad stigma when it comes to marijuana. Obviously, in the right context, in the right form, it’s been beneficial for people.’’
Town was referencing former NBA Commissioner David Stern, who said that, as more states legalize both medicinal and recreational marijuana, the NBA league should remove it from its list of banned substances.
In a Q&A, Town was featured in the article and said, “Just because we’re NBA athletes, we’re not super humans. Some of us have conditions that could use [medical marijuana] to our benefit for everyday living.’’
In the article, he also said, “I agree with David Stern with marijuana. … You could use the [chemical] properties in it to make a lot of people better. That’s something that [commissioner] Adam Silver has to do. That’s out of my control, but maybe legalizing marijuana. Not fully legal where people are chimneys but using [marijuana] as a beneficial factor as an athlete, as a person living daily. I think a lot of times fans forget that sometimes there may be some things that are banned that may not be the greatest for playing basketball, but for everyday living off the court, sometimes those things that are legal could help us.
“I’ve never smoked, I’ve never taken a strand, I’ve never taken properties of it, whatever the case may be. But I deal with kids all the time at autistic schools, Reed Academy in New Jersey. My girlfriend has an autistic nephew, and you realize those properties of marijuana can do a lot of good for kids and for adults. These guys, just because we’re NBA athletes, we’re not super humans. Some of us have conditions that could use [medicinal marijuana] to our benefit for everyday living, just taking care of our kids and our families.
“I don’t ever say anything without thinking about what I said,’’ explained Town about those comments.
Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said, “Karl, he’s got a lot of different interests. And I think it says a lot about who he is as a person. In terms of helping people, and people that are suffering, I know that’s the type of person he is. He’s an open-minded person, he’s got great curiosity in a lot of different things. Very thoughtful. So, it was his opinion, it was honest, and I don’t have a problem with it.’’
“I’m very blessed to be in the NBA, where I’m given a chance to have a platform to speak about what I want to speak about,’’ said Town.
“And have the full support of the NBA and [current commissioner] Adam Silver. That’s a huge honor. Whenever I come to the media, I always speak my mind. And I’m always truthful. I never come up here and lie to you. I tell you how I feel. And If I’m thinking about something, then I say it,” he added.
