While the rules at the 2024 Olympics remain strict for cannabis use among the athletes, there has been a relaxing of the rules to some degree that allows a notorious blunt smoker like Snoop Dogg to have such a large presence in Paris. Here are seven stars who've elevated the Summer Games.
Tara Davis-Woodhall
The long jumper from California has come a long way since she was stripped of her victory at the 2023 USATF Indoor Championships and suspended (iniially three months but reduced to one) after testing positive for THC. Fast forward to Aug. 8 in Paris where she won the gold medal with a 21-foot jump.
Davis-Woodhall said after the win: "I tried so hard to just keep on being positive this year and keep on being motivated. That motivation turned to manifestation, and manifestation turned into a reality. And the reality is: I'm an Olympic gold medalist."
Kevin Durant
Competing once again for the USA Men's Baksetball squad with other NBA All-Stars, the Phoenix Suns forward was his usual sharp-shooting self during international play vs. Brazil, Serbia and France. Team USA defearted France in the Gold Medal Game, 98-87, on Aug. 10. Among four starters in double figures, he scored 15 points in the penultimate game.
Durant has said about cannabis use among NBA players: "Everybody does it, to be honest. It's like wine at this point."
He also stated: "It's a plant that was put here for a reason. It's to bring us all together."
Brittney Griner
Famously busted for cannabis possession and detained in Russia for nine months in 2022, the Phoenix Mercury center was on the USA Women's Basketball team, who with their 67-66 Gold Medal Game victory over France on Aug. 11, have now won 61 games in a row dating back to 1992.
Michael Phelps
The most decorated Olympic swimmer of all time offered commentary during the pool events. In Nov. 2008, Phelps was phototographed taking a bong hit at a fraternity in South Carolina. He called it "bad judgement" and a "mistake," was suspended for three months by USA Swimming and lost his Kellogg's sponsorship. However, Phelps never failed a drug test.
Sha'Carri Richardson
Like fellow track star Davis-Woodhall, the sprinter from Texas failed a drug test for THC (at the Olympics trials in 2021) and was banned from participating in Tokyo. Richardson cleaned up her act for Paris, where she medaled in both of her races – silver in the 100m and gold in the 4x100m relay.
Snoop Dogg
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the 2024 Olympics was Snoop Dogg's major role, from carrying the torch to cavorting with athletes (he bragged to Phelps about his lung strength) and BF Martha Stewart to performing wih Dr. Dre in the closing ceremonies. Some thought it was all in good fun while others questioned the wisdom of giving the pot-smoking former gang banger so much screen time. Snoop's Olympics gig reportedly netted him $500,000 per day from NBC. His next stop at NBC is as a coach on The Voice.
Dwayne Wade
Basketball Hall of Famer D-Wade has been announcing Team USA Men's Basketball games with Noah Eagle. The former Miami Heat guard has a line of prerolls via Jeeter as part of their Hall of Flame series.
This article has been updated.
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