Happy 4/20 to those who celebrate. It’s a national holiday for those who like to take a toke.
Sorry, Stephen A. These athletes might not have stayed off the weeeeduh. But they are the greatest stoner athletes ever.
Michael Phelps
In this new world of popularized, recreational marijuana, it’s insane to look back at how the media scrutinized Phelps for photographs that surfaced in 2009 of the legendary swimmer using a marijuana pipe.
Phelps didn’t lose any Olympic medals (that would’ve been insane), but he lost sponsorships and dealt with a three-month suspension from USA Swimming during the fallout from those photos.
Outside of the pool, Phelps is a champion for men’s mental health and has opened up about his own battles about depression and anxiety. Inside of the pool, Phelps is one of the greatest athletes ever, retiring with 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them golden.
Ricky Williams
One of the most famous weed lovers in sports, Williams struggled with suspensions due to his marijuana use during his 11 years in the NFL.
The Heisman trophy winner said that he had back-to-back 300+ yard rushing games after he smoked marijuana for the first time in college. Ever since, he became an advocate for the plant’s benefits, including mental health support and relaxation.
Kevin Durant
In an interview with David Letterman three years ago, Durant opened up about his marijuana use.
“I’m high right now,” the legendary forward quipped during the interview.
Durant believes that the NBA should normalize cannabis use, stating that it helps “clear the distractions out of your brain.” He tried to meet with NBA commissioner Adam Silver about the topic, but got high before the meeting (that’s a real story).
Nate Diaz
Sep 10, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Nate Diaz (red gloves) fights Tony Ferguson (blue gloves) during UFC 279 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images The former UFC star once referred to himself as the most athletic stoner besides Phelps.
He’d light up at UFC press conferences. His brother, Nick Diaz, has dealt with suspensions in MMA for cannabis usage.
Diaz won 22 fights in the UFC and endeared himself to fight fans everywhere because of his extremely laid back personality. Leading up to his 2023 boxing match against Jake Paul, Diaz’s team sought therapeutic exemptions for marijuana in their fighter’s drug tests, but this was denied by Texas regulators.
Bill Walton
You really thought we’d complete this article without a hat tip to an OG?
Walton was known as the ultimate hippie in the NBA. He was a vocal Deadhead, would dress in vibrant outfits during his broadcasting career, and was very open about his previous marijuana usage.
He passed away in 2024, but his legacy will live on forever.
