Well, it looks like the NBA is starting to say what the NFL has been saying for a couple of years now. They would rather use the pain relief of marijuana over using opiates. Saw a show on the VICE channel called Weedequette where they interviewed players who wanted to use marijuana over pharmaceuticals.
I can see their point. It's not physically addictive, and it helps with joint and muscle pain.
Also, the true "gateway drug" is alcohol. Why? Because we all know stories of people who drank too much and did something completely out of character for them......................going home with someone they normally wouldn't, saying stuff they normally wouldn't, etc. Alcohol has been PROVEN to lower inhibitions.
Funny thing about marijuana...................it has zero effect on your inhibitions. If you wouldn't do something sober, the chances of you doing it stoned is little to none. But, you would actually have to smoke some marijuana or eat some edibles to understand that one.