9 February 2013 - Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Matt Riddle gave his outspoken opinion on marijuana-use in sports during an appearance on MMAmania's Verbal Submission podcast last Wednesday.
The American mixed martial artist has been on the sidelines for the past 90 days after testing positive for marijuana following the UFC 149 pay-per-view (PPV) event, held at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Canada. Riddle had smoked marijuana two weeks before and the metabolites were still in his system. His victory at the event was overturned and changed into a "No Contest."
In MMAmania's Verbal Submission podcast Riddle, a professional MMA competitor since 2008, said: "I've been smoking weed since I was 13 and look at me. I'm in the UFC and I smash people with a smile on my face. It's not a performance enhancing drug. It makes me relax. It makes me happy."
He also tells what he believes are the reasons that marijuana use is illegal in the United States: "Let's be honest. It's White America, it's the Big Man, it's the Guy with the Money, it's the pharmaceutical companies, it's the alcohol companies that don't want want marijuana legalized and they'll do anything. They'll ridicule it, they've already had slanderous campaigns about it."
26 November 2012 - American singer Rihanna, performing at the E-Werk in Berlin, Germany last weekend, was again sporting weed-themed attire in honour of the green herb. Following numerous other outfits that were marijuana-minded, the star is clearly not ashamed of her love for cannabis.
On Hallowe'en she joined Lady Gaga in dressing as the plant itself! Her popularizing of the plant has been seen by some as an attempt to attract attention to herself, rather than a political statement or just plain old pop-star cheekiness.
The weed emblem on her black mesh top was coupled with thigh-length boots and some barely-there shorts. But what else is there in the career of a young pop-star other than attracting attention?
November 13 - As news of the successful ballots to legalize marijuana in US States Washington and Colorado were heard around the world, well known American stoners expressed their appreciation for the potentially game-changing development in the fight to end the 'War on Drugs'. After Colorado confirmed the positive vote, Rihanna retweeted a breaking news story about the event:
"@9News: Colorado becomes the first state in the country to legalize marijuana. #Amendment64" #catchup,"
Seth Rogen and Snoop Dogg, two names that are never shy to voice their love for marijuana from the rooftops, were the next to let their excitement for the passed legislation be known. Seth Rogen, star of the archetype modern weed-flick 'Pineapple Express', tweeted what is surely on the minds of smokers all over the US, if not the world:
"I'm moving to Colorado".
29 August 2012 - Singer and fashion-icon Rihanna caused a scene in style circles this week when she landed in Heathrow Airport, London, wearing a t-shirt depicting a man rolling a joint. The "Umbrella" star has long been open about her passion for cannabis, and it's not the first time she has paired it with her interest in fashion: she was pictured last month in L.A. wearing a shirt with instructions for rolling in 6 easy steps!
Although she has never admitted fully to being an avid smoker, she tweeted earlier this year (after photo's appeared on the internet of her rolling at the Coachella Festival) that "Bob Marley is my HERO #that is all". The outfit was chosen for the journey to a meeting with relatively-reserved high-street fashion chain River Island - but we probably shouldn't expect to find and ganga-leaves emblazoned on any frilly blouses any time soon.
