Cannabis and the Tokyo Olympics
At age 36, Megan Rapinoe is a living legend in the world of soccer (fútbol), but it isn’t her style of play that’s been making headlines. Breaking a long-standing tradition in the 125-year old international games, Rapinoe, amongst other athletes, are openly discussing their usage of CBD products in their training and therapeutic physical routines in order to achieve holistic, natural wellness as they train their bodies to compete on the worldwide stage. Japan’s strict drug laws, which may be opening up for medical patients soon, has discouraged the Olympians to travel to Tokyo with any cannabis-derived products, regardless of medical benefit just yet.
While the soccer forward is being rightfully applauded for being public about her CBD usage routine, Sha’Carri Richardson received a one-month suspension for testing positive for THC once again highlighting the inequitable application of rules, regulations, and law. Despite the difference in usages, the grey area that so much of cannabis and cannabis-derived products remain in legally seems to be crystal clear when it is profitable. Megan Rapinoe is a spokesperson for her fraternal twin sister and fellow award winning footballer, Rachael’s CBD wellness brand, Mendi, while the fastest woman in the United States was punished for seeking relief. Richardson took public ownership of her failed drug test, stating that she used cannabis to ease her troubles after her biological mother died two weeks prior to the Olympic trials, which has since disqualified Richardson’s Flash-like time.
With her signature bright orange hair and Flo-Jo nails, Richardson soared through the finish line like a fireball, so it’s hardly believable that smoking a joint or however the 21-year old track superstar consumed some leaves from a plant, affected her performance. The untold number of good people whose lives have been ruined, dreams have been dashed, and hope has turned to despair due to the abhorrent laws enacted out of pure greed, vilification of the marginalized for profit of the few is and always has been immoral and is absolutely unsustainable in the modern world. The increasing amount of states and countries that are legalizing some form of cannabis trade, coupled with the billions that corporations are already reaping while people waste away in prison, adds more validity to the antiquated American law (and international.)
Nearly every sector of every industry benefits with full cannabis decriminalization-- including the Olympic world. Although cannabis consumption is legal in Oregon, where Sha’Carri Richardson resides and trains, it is still banned from her sport. While a one-month suspension isn’t the end for Richardson, Rapinoe is using her platform privilege to call for reform, pointing out disparities in how such rules and laws significantly impact people of color and other marginalized group.No amount of Jack Herrer, Green Crack, or Sour Diesel makes an Olympian.
Decriminalization is the only ethical path forward.