If Michael Phelps smoked weed and won a ton of gold in the Olympics—it can’t be that bad. Many current and former professional athletes have admitted to consuming marijuana during their careers. Whether they consumed it specifically as a medicine or just to have a little fun, they were experiencing the effects described above. Professional athletes, especially football players, put their bodies through intense rituals to stay ready to play, the healing qualities found in cannabinoids can be invaluable.