ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith is reigniting calls for the NBA to reinstate a ban on marijuana, asserting that the substance should be classified as a performance-enhancing drug. This stance contrasts with the league's current policy, which removed marijuana from its list of banned substances.

The NBA officially removed marijuana from its prohibited substances list in conjunction with the ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the 2023-24 season. Prior to this, the league had temporarily suspended marijuana testing during the 2020 NBA Covid Bubble.

Smith articulated his position on 'The Culture Table' podcast, suggesting that marijuana's ability to reduce anxiety constitutes a performance enhancement. He explained that while athletic ability is crucial, poise under pressure and managing nerves are equally important aspects of competition.

"If you go out into the streets of America, believe it or not, these NBA players they next level, please don't get me wrong, but you got some cats on the street, bad motherf ckers, they can really, really ball, they can play right? There's two things they're lacking that the professionals don't. The level of discipline, night in, night out, based on committing yourself to whatever, and nerves. You can be a bada** player, but the moment you get fidgety, weed helps subside that. Calms the nerves. No, those nerves are a part of it. It ain't just your athletic ability, it's your poise under pressure, it's your nerves," Smith stated.

He further elaborated that by using marijuana to calm nerves, players can become less susceptible to pressure from opposing crowds or tense game situations. "So, to me, if you are using a drug that helps you calm your nerves, and to elevate your poise, that's a performance-enhancer. You are immune to the pressure," he added.

Smith's comments have drawn criticism on social media, with many users questioning his understanding of marijuana's effects and its role in athletic performance. Some pointed out that the drug's effects might not be conducive to in-game performance and that anxiety-reducing substances do not automatically qualify as performance enhancers.

Despite Smith's arguments, it is unlikely that the NBA will revert to testing players for marijuana given the league's recent policy change.