Former WNBA star Lauren Jackson has joined the list of athletes who have strongly advocated for cannabis use to ease chronic pains or to just let loose.
Over the past few years, NBA and NFL players have been more vocal about their use of marijuana. The NBA has stopped testing for its use ,and some of its former players, including Mat Barnes, Al Harrington, and Stephen Jackson, have strongly advocated for cannabis use among athletes.
In a March 25 interview with Cannabis News Australia, the former Seattle Storm star opened up about how medical marijuana helped her deal with her chronic health issues.
“Medical cannabis has been life-changing in managing my chronic pain,” Jackson said. “I’m proud to support this educational initiative from Saged, which will help healthcare professionals better understand how it can be safely and effectively used to support athletes and patients dealing with long-term pain.”
Jackson had dealt with multiple injuries throughout her career that forced her into retiring from the WNBA. She made a brief comeback at age 40, playing in the WNBL, and retired again last year.
Lauren Jackson wants to inspire young athletes
Since retiring in 2024, Lauren Jackson has kept herself busy. While no longer dominating opponents on the court, she is still involved in the sport.
Body + Soul reported that Jackson is traveling across Australia to lead skill clinics with the hope of inspiring and empowering young female basketball players looking to be like her.
“The sport has given me so much over my career and I really want young Australians, particularly from regional areas, to see that anything is possible if you have a dream and a goal and you want to go for it,” Jackson said in a Feb. 26 interview.
Considered one of the greatest athletes in the history of Australian sports, Jackson was a two-time WNBA champion, a three-time WNBA MVP, and a five-time Olympic medalist and flag bearer. She also had successful stints in various international leagues.
With her active basketball career over, Jackson wants to use her platform to help lead the new generation of women athletes and leave a lasting legacy.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
