Up to 85 percent of NBA players report using canna–s during their careers, according to six unidentified active NBA players who told NBC. Yet the league still bans it.
 Matt Barnes has long called out that hypocrisy, praising w–d as a safer painkiller than opioids. But his latest confession—shared on All The Smoke—didn’t rally teammates or fans. It rallied his own kids. One twin’s off‑hand request to try it proved that even the most airtight advocacy can backfire in real life.

Recently, Matt Barnes shared a story on the All The Smoke podcast. He said, “I remember I put them to bed one time and then they looked out their window and saw me smoking….I’m like, nah, it’s a joint, and they’re like, “What’s that?” I’m just like, well, you know, Daddy doesn’t really drink. And I can’t take painkillers, but my knees and my back are always sore from basketball. So when I smoke the joint, it takes all the pain away and I can sleep.”

Matt Barnes decided to educate his kids. Candidly explaining to his children that he indulges in c****bis as a form of pain management for his recurring knee and back issues, adding that he cannot take painkillers. The move, in all honesty, can be construed as good parenting, as the kids are learning directly from a parent breaking the taboo rather than learning from other sources, with misleading information. But Barnes never anticipated what his kids had to say.

“One of the twins is like, well, Daddy, you know, I sprained my ankle. When can I smoke? Yeah, it was an instant like fire back, “ stated Barnes, in shock due to the question prodded at him. He then quelled the situation by saying, “Oh, you got to be older, 30s,” telling them that they must be older to partake.

In relation to all that has transpired, Matt Barnes has always been vocal about the way the NBA has historically dealt with the use of c****bis. He is a strong proponent of being in favor of the use of the substance.

Matt Barnes on the NBA vs “The plant”

Matt Barnes isn’t mincing words when it comes to the NBA and w**d, he’s “1,000%” in favor of taking canna–s off the league’s banned substances list. He sees the policy not just as outdated but as completely disconnected from the reality playing out behind the scenes.. Barnes says what most won’t: canna–s use isn’t just common in the NBA, it’s practically part of the culture. Players, coaches, even executives, people are lighting up, regardless of the rules.

And it’s not about getting high for the fun of it. Barnes has always been clear: w**d helped him deal with the grind. The pain. The anxiety. The mental weight of playing at the highest level for 15 years. He’s called it a safer, more natural option compared to the pills guys are often prescribed, saying, “It’s ridiculous ‘cause the league says they want what’s best for the players, but they’re pumping us full of opioids that are gonna mask one problem and cause another. Then they want to suspend us, fine us, and maybe cost us our jobs over consuming canna–s.” 

Beyond personal use, Barnes is a staunch advocate for canna–s reform in the NBA. He challenges the league’s outdated policies, highlighting the contradiction of penalizing players for canna–s use while prescribing opioids for pain management. Barnes collaborates with organizations like Eaze to promote social equity in the canna–s industry.

He also makes a solid point about the bigger picture. Canna–s is now legal in a ton of states, medically, recreationally, or both. So why is the NBA still punishing players for using a legal substance in the cities they live and work in? It doesn’t add up.

What gives Barnes hope is that the league’s starting to talk. He’s had sit-downs with Commissioner Adam Silver and sees a shift coming. But until real change happens, he thinks the current penalties, suspensions, and forced counseling are just performative. As far as Barnes is concerned, if you’re showing up and doing your job, w**d shouldn’t be a problem. Period.