Cliff Robinson AKA Uncle Spliffy

Cliff Robinson played for 5 different teams after getting drafted into the NBA in 1989. In 2007 he was one of only two players still playing since the 80’s, and was even played on Dennis Rodman’s team during an exhibition in North Korea for Kim Jong-un. He ended up earning the name Uncle Cliffy during his time in the NBA because of his longevity.

Today he is working on running a recreational dispensary in Oregon called Uncle Spliffy. He hopes to have the doors open and serving Portland sometime in the second half of 2016. He wants to ‘distill the stigma around cannabis, the misperception that athletes and cannabis are incompatible.'

Mike Ditka

This stoic and vulgar sports legend was born near Pittsburgh in 1939 and joined the NFL in 1961. While he played his first season for the Chicago Bears, he led them to a Super Bowl victory. Over his career in football, Ditka earned a place in both the College and Pro football halls of fame. He transitioned from player to coach and lead the Bears to win the Super Bowl again in 1985.

After playing for the NFL, coaching the Saints and Bears, and later being a TV commentator, this 1961 UPI NFL Rookie of the Year joined as a director of the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition. He has been known to say "Success isn't permanent and failure isn't fatal." And “You're never a loser until you quit trying.”

Today Mike Ditka is helping spread awareness for medical cannabis by being a director of the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition. The Gridiron Cannabis Coalition is made up of retired NFL players and is fighting to get medical cannabis use cleared by the League.

Ricky Williams

A veteran running back of 12 seasons in the NFL, Errick Lynne Willians Jr. or simply ‘Ricky’ brought a spotlight on off-season use of cannabis with him publicly using cannabis on film. After choosing to exit the NFL over losing his safe medicine, he made a stand that got him expelled from many of the circles he had come to feel were like family. Instead of buckling under the pressure, he only became more dedicated to making sure that other players would be able to find relief of their health issues,

Since the time that he left the NFL, he has shown a talent in everything from sports broadcasting to Tai Chi and everything in between. One thing he has shown special interest in has been cannabis cultivation. When asked, he said ‘I’m interested in the therapeutic benefits for retired football players.’ 

After joining the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition in 2015, Ricky is planning to open Power Plant Fitness (a weed friendly gym) in late 2016. As the first cannabis friendly gym in San Francisco, there has been a lot of red tape and challenges to overcome but Ricky just keeps running with it.

Kyle Turley

A former tackle for the Saints, Rams and Chiefs, Kyle Turley is an outspoken proponent of cannabis treatment for chronic conditions like pain and depression. He played in the NFL for 10 seasons after his days playing college ball at San Diego State. He was even recognized as an All-American. He even finds time and energy to pursue his love of music.

As one of the nearly 50% of retired football players living with chronic pain according to a 2007 study by the American College of Sports Medicine, Kyle has a major stake in making cannabis a sanctioned medicine within the NFL. Kyle credits cannabis with helping him kick a dangerous pill addiction and work past thoughts of suicide.

Kyle has lobbied to change the way the NFL handles head injuries and deal with retired players suffering health problems from their time in the league. He even won a $765 million settlement in 2013 which he called a “big win for everybody” playing in the game. He has continued to keep injured players from being ignored.

Michael Phelps

The Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps, made extra headlines when he lost a major sponsorship deal and was suspended from competition for three months for being photographed inhaling from a marijuana pipe. The Kellogg food company, did not renew its contract with Phelps when their deal expired. It would not disclose the value of its contract but shortly after being dropped by Kellogg, USA Swimming suspended Phelps for three months. USA Swimming publicly reprimanded Phelps, who won eight medals at the Beijing Games, temporarily withdrawing its financial support to him and barring him from competition through early May 2009.

Phelps weathered the firestorm of social and political backlash to his smoking but maintained that he accepted and understood the decisions. “He feels bad he let anyone down,” his agent said in a statement. “He’s also encouraged by the thousands of comments he’s received from his fans and the support from his many sponsors. He intends to work hard to regain everyone’s trust.”

Michael Phelps has made the US Olympic team for the fifth time. In preparation for the Rio, and putting some more medals around his neck, he has released a new exercise book and DVD, revealing how cannabis helps him become a champion.

Tim Lincecum

If you spend any time down at AT&T Park, you’ll see plenty of “Let Timmy Smoke” t-shirts. Hell, the guy is from the Pacific Northwest, what do you think he does during the offseason?

In 2009, the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner was caught with 3.3 grams of marijuana on his person when he was stopped for speeding four miles north of the Oregon border.

The native of the Seattle suburb of Bellevue went 15-7 with a 2.48 ERA in 32 starts and 225 1/3 innings in 2009, his third season in the major leagues. He is 40-17 with a 2.90 ERA in his career and could be getting a huge, multimillion-dollar raise from salary arbitration this offseason.

Teammates consider the smallish right-hander a quirky perfectionist. They also consider him the "Franchise," the nickname they gave him when he broke into the big leagues only a year out of college. Others see his boyish face, shaggy dark hair, diminutive frame -- and his dominance -- and call him "The Freak."

San Francisco chose him 10th overall in the 2006 draft out of Washington, and he instantly became the organization's top pitching prospect since Hall of Famer Juan Marichal signed with the New York Giants as an amateur free agent in 1957.

Stephon Marbury

In 2009, gossip site TMZ posted a video of (then free-agent) Stephon Marbury smoking a joint. When quizzed about the video later, Marbury wasn't exactly filled with regret. Marbury later told TMZ ‘I smoke marijuana ... yep ... you saw me. I'm not under contract ... I smoke weed occasionally. ... I'm not driving ... I'm following the rules.’

Stephon Marbury is so big in China that he's been immortalized with his own statue and postage stamp. Now a museum dedicated to the former NBA star is set to open next week. Marbury attended the grand opening for the 300-square foot museum in Beijing.

Marbury has led the Beijing Ducks to three of the past four Chinese Basketball Association championships, including last season, when he was named finals MVP for the first time. He averaged 29.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2 steals over the best-of-seven series, which Beijing won 4-2.

A college standout at Georgia Tech, Marbury was a first-round pick in the 1996 NBA draft by Milwaukee, but he was traded to Minnesota. He also played for New Jersey and Phoenix before joining the New York Knicks amid high expectations that were never realized, partly because of the team's dysfunction. His last stop in the NBA was with Boston in 2009.