Warriors Coach Steve Kerr Says He Used Marijuana to Help Treat His Chronic Back Pain

Steve Kerr sought relief for his chronic back pain and briefly turned to using marijuana.

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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr took an indefinite leave of absence last year after going under the knife to repair a ruptured disc, in addition to a follow-up procedure to alleviate pain from the initial surgery. During those nearly four months away from the game of basketball, Kerr looked for answers when it came to addressing his lingering chronic back pain and admits to trying marijuana. 

“I guess maybe I can even get in some trouble for this, but I’ve actually tried it twice during the last year and a half, when I’ve been going through this chronic pain that I’ve been dealing with,” Kerr said on The Warriors Insider podcast. “(After) a lot of research, a lot of advice from people and I have no idea if maybe I would have failed a drug test. I don’t even know if I’m subject to a drug test or any laws from the NBA.”

 

Even though Kerr says using marijuana didn't agree with him, he does see how weed could be a good option for NFL players seeking relief from pain. “I’m not a pot person; it doesn’t agree with me,” Kerr said. “I’ve tried it a few times, and it did not agree with me at all. So I’m not the expert on this stuff. But I do know this: If you’re an NFL player, in particular, and you’ve got a lot of pain, I don’t think there is any question that pot is better for your body than Vicodin. And yet athletes everywhere are prescribed Vicodin like it’s Vitamin C, like it’s no big deal.”

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