Clifford Robinson goes into cannabis

For a player who averaged 14.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game over his 18-year career, Clifford Robinson has always been a cut above the rest. Now that he's retired, he's finding new ways to stay in the game—though not quite the same one.

Read more: Should the NBA allow marijuana use?

Clifford Robinson has announced his plans to work with a group of partners to establish a cannabis farm in Oregon and market the product under his nickname: Uncle Spliffy. The announcement is brand new, and the website is still having some glitches, but his approach follows that of Snoop Dogg and Willie Nelson, who market their products alongside their names.

Uncle Spliffy

Before that, he will speak at the Cannabis Collaborative Conference which is taking place on February 3 and 4 in Portland. «I’ve always been a supporter of cannabis,» he explained. Robinson has, in fact, already taken a stand in support of medical cannabis, especially for athletes, back when he was still a player.

«Cannabis is definitely a more positive alternative to medication,» he told reporters. «Those are synthetic. I’m talking about something that’s natural and can provide the benefits you’re looking for, whether it’s for muscle tension, relaxation, or preparation.».

Robinson’s suggestion to explore the potential of medical cannabis comes at a time when many athletes have been «caught» using cannabis. Robinson is speaking out as someone concerned about the lack of available treatments for players, who see cannabis as an attractive alternative to standard prescriptions.

In late 2015, former players from The NFL called for the removal of medical cannabis from the list of banned substances.