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In sports, evolution is inevitable. Whether it’s the shift from mid-range jumpers to three-point barrages or the rise of data-driven strategies, the game is always changing. However, some revolutions have taken place off the court. In 2023, the NBA made a landmark move by removing cannabis from its anti-drug program, signalling not only a shift in league policy but a cultural reformation in how athlete recovery is perceived. Driving this transformation is a man who once thrived in the paint and now plants seeds in a different arena—former NBA star and Viola Brands founder, Al Harrington.

Drafted straight out of high school in 1998, Al Harrington carved out a 16-year NBA career through grit, versatility, and endurance. It was after hanging up his sneakers that Harrington’s most impactful chapter began. Following a career-altering knee surgery and a debilitating battle with painkillers, Harrington discovered cannabis, not as a recreational vice, but as a therapeutic revelation.

“The surgeries are what ultimately ended my career,” Harrington shares. “Vicodin and other pain meds didn’t agree with my body… Eventually, I was introduced to CBD and THC. From that point on, cannabis became my go-to for recovery. It changed my life.”-A Harrington.

What began as personal healing became a professional mission. Harrington launched Viola Brands, named after his grandmother, who found relief through cannabis after years of suffering. More than a company, Viola is a movement—dedicated to social equity, empowering Black and Brown entrepreneurs, and reshaping access and opportunity within the cannabis industry.

While Harrington’s entrepreneurial impact is profound, his advocacy’s reach into professional sports may be even more lasting. In 2023, the NBA, long known for its rigid stance on substance use, made headlines by eliminating cannabis from its banned substances list in its new Collective Bargaining Agreement. The move followed years of increasing dialogue, scientific research, and the unrelenting efforts of pioneers like Harrington, who refused to let the conversation die in the shadows.

“It’s a good thing the NBPA was the first to allow this to happen. It opened doors for players to now have access to CBD and, eventually, THC products.” – A Harrington.

Today, that narrative is evolving. With the help of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), cannabis is no longer taboo in pro basketball. The NBPA’s partnership with RE+PLAY, Harrington’s performance-based wellness line, marked the first time a players’ union has officially embraced a cannabis-derived brand. It’s a groundbreaking move with ripple effects well beyond the hardwood.

“We’ve been working on this for years,” Harrington says. “The support from the NBPA—starting with Michele Roberts and now Tamika Tremaglio—has been incredible. It’s a monumental step, not just for my brand, but for the future of athlete care.” – A Harrington.

While cannabis remains in the gray area across various leagues and countries, the NBA’s shift signals a broader acceptance of plant-based recovery, wellness, and mental health management. It’s no longer about hiding usage—it’s about leveraging it, studying it, and making it accessible to those who need it most.

The NBA’s decision to pivot from penalization to progress isn’t just a win for cannabis—it’s a win for athlete autonomy, innovation, and wellness. It validates the decades of lived experience athletes like Al Harrington have endured in silence and ushers in a new era where plant-based therapies aren’t stigmatized—they’re prioritized.

The game has changed, and thanks to trailblazers like Harrington, the next generation of athletes won’t have to choose between performance and pain—they’ll have better options and a better playbook.