GO Life

Sha'Carri Richardson was headed to her first Olympics at the age of 21, but her dream of being a competitor in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics ended when she tested positive for THC after her victory on June 19. She said the stress of her biological mother's recent death combined with the pressure of preparing for trials led her to use cannabis.

"I know I can't hide myself, so in some type of way, I was trying to hide my pain," she said on NBC's "Today" show.

Some would say a 30 day suspension is fair if these are the rules of the game whereas others would say, "Who cares it's weed?" Stoned or not, Sha'Carri single handedly proved cannabis isn't always what slows you down or hinders you from becoming a Champion unless it's based off of someone judging you for using it.

This is also a situation where cannabis was consumed in a state where it's perfectly legal to do so- Oregon. 

Olympic Champion Michael Phelps received a three-month suspension from competition and lost his Kellogg sponsorship in 2009 after a photograph surfaced online showing the most decorated Olympian of all time ripping a bong. (Difference here: he got caught being seen with it and Richardson tested positive for it-both still use it) 

The photograph was taken at a party six months after the 2008 Olympics; His suspension ended in time for the 2009 World Championships. 

Richardson received a 30 day suspension which eliminated her from competing in the Tokyo 100. Her 30-day suspension will end before the start of the relays on Aug. 5, which left open the possibility she could win a medal as part of the 4x100 relay team. 

The USATF released the roster for the relay team on July 6th but Sha'Carri was not listed. The federation had two discretionary picks beyond the top four finishers in the 100-meter final at trials, but chose not to offer a spot to the 21-year-old sprinter, who was expected to challenge for Olympic gold.

It's no secret how the War On Drugs has effected Black and Brown communities across the country. Shortly after The Marijuana Tax Act was passed in 1937, Black and Brown people made up 78% of the cannabis arrests in New York City alone.

Mayor LaGuardia, of New York, decided to appoint a committee to conduct official research on the effects of cannabis use in adults in 1939. Despite the LaGuardia Report basically stating that cannabis doesn’t cause people to commit crimes, act unruly, or leads to use of other drugs, cannabis continued to be presented in a negative light to the public by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner, Harry Anslinger.

While Cannabis was taking a hard hit in the media, jazz was becoming more and more popular among mixed crowds. This was not something Anslinger liked and the crackdown began on Jazz musicians.

A number of musicians openly sang and spoke about their love for the plant. This also made them even easier targets to be scrutinized and/or arrested for consuming cannabis. Louis Armstrong was arrested right outside of the CottonClub for smoking a joint.  Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington are among other musicians who were harassed for their cannabis consumption.

Many say that the War On Drugs was never really about the plant but more so a way to control society. Cannabis wouldn’t reach its new era to leave its mark on until the 70’s when hippies became the new wave.

Here are a list of Cannabis Documentaries that talk about this era and more:

-Grass Is Greener (Netflix)

-Smoke: Marijuana & Black America (BET)

-Weed The People

-Culture High

-Clearing The Smoke: The Science of Cannabis

Cannabis has been said to have amazing effects but who knew love could be one of them. We stopped in to chat with this amazing cannabis couple about the role cannabis has played in their relationship. Troy and Tiny both work in the cannabis industry but met way back in high school.

When the two decided it was time to make things legally official a cannabis themed wedding shoot was a must. The photos capture the bond the two of them share and their love for the plant.

Interviewer: When did you 2 meet?

They both look at each other and calculate in their mind, “2009.”

Interviewer: Was it love at first smoke or did you have to warm up to that part?

Troy: I smoked back then but I hid it from her in the beginning. We actually met in 2009, broke up and got back together in 2018 and that’s when we both discovered we smoked but didn’t tell each other.

Tiny: Yeah, one day he was like, I’m going to take a dab I’ll be back, and I’m like wait I like dabs too.

Interviewer: I bet it was over after that!

Tiny: Pretty much

Interviewer: What are your favorite strains?

Troy: Pineapple Express and Blue Dream

Tiny: Ophelia and Face Mints

Interviewer: Any shared favorites?

Tiny: 2 strains in Michigan, Mac 5 and Black Lime Reserve

The couple frequently likes to visit their cannabis haven at the lake house in Michigan. One of their favorite things to do together while under the influence is watch movies; Mexican food for Troy and fruit loops for Tiny is all it takes to put a smile on their faces when they're together.

On Halloween 2015, Nick, who was 23 at the time suffered a massive heart attack due to contracting the West Nile Virus 2 weeks prior. Nick died that day, but his mom and dad performed CPR on him right away until the ambulance came. When the paramedics arrived they shocked his heart, however Nick's lungs were filling with fluid which caused a lack of oxygen to his brain causing Nick to have a permanent Anoxic Brain injury.

Nick is now wheelchair bound and can't speak, but he's truly a miracle. His parents were told he would be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life but that didn't happen.  Nick is his own man in his own way and he communicates to his mom all the time.  Nicks parents are now his full-time caregivers and as they move through this "new normal" they are learning so many new things.

Nick has seizures and this is what led them to the medical cannabis dispensary. 

"It was trial and error to find what would be best for Nick since his options are lessened due to being fed through a gastric tube (G-tube.)" -Lisa (Nicks Mother)

Lisa discovered that Nick responds well to 1:1 (CBD:THC) Gummies which are dissolved and placed into his stomach through his G-tube. "The staff was so helpful and willing to learn about Nick's needs which was a welcomed and wonderful gift; We all learned together and we keep learning to find ways to lessen the anxiety that is a byproduct of Nick's brain injury."

"To be embraced by everyone at a medical cannabis dispensary has been a real gift and to have Nick be welcomed with open arms has really touched our hearts."  

**Thank you Lisa for sharing Nicks story and allowing cannabis to be an option.**