Lauren Jacksonpossibly the best basketball player in WNBA history, returns to the court after a hiatus of almost eight years, just in time for the World Cup; but only if you are given a therapeutic exemption for his use of medical cannabis.
The three-time WNBA MVP, four-time Olympian, five-time WNBL champion and seven-time WNBA All-Star stopped taking prescription drugs several years ago to manage her chronic knee, hip and lower back pain with medical marijuana.
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“I have been open about my battle with prescription drugs throughout my career; And when I retired, I dropped everything because I wanted to raise my kids and be the best version of myself,” Jackson said.
Fortunately, her doctor suggested she try medical marijuana when she asked for an alternative treatment for pain control.
“It has been incredible. It has helped me a lot and gotten me to the point where I can train again and live a very active lifestyle with my two young children,” said Jackson.
Jackson’s successful experience with medical cannabis for pain convinced her to come out of retirement to play for her hometown team, the Albury-Wodonga Bandits, in the second-tier NBL1.
Scheduled to play in the stadium that bears her name, Jackson will join the Bandits in April for the inaugural season in her native Australia. There she will hold the World Cup after the season ends.
However, if he is denied therapeutic exemption, Jackson will not be able to play.
“That has been fundamental in my ability to recover and come back, the way I have been training has helped me a lot. I am very grateful to have participated in that trial and will explore my options to obtain that exemption,” said Jackson referring to his cannabis treatment.
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“I haven’t played in eight years… I can be terrible; there are so many unknowns right now and I’m 40 years old. The stars have really aligned for me right now… being pain free, getting out there and moving again is what I look forward to.”
“I was really exhausted, basketball had affected me a lot emotionally, so it will be a new experience for me and I am very excited.”
Via Benzingatranslated by El Planteo.
Photo by Bidgee, CC BY-SA 3.0 AUvia Wikimedia Commons // Edited by El Planteo
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