Former NBA player Al Harrington wants to get in on the marijuana industry. And it all started, surprisingly, with his grandma. “She suffered from glaucoma and diabetes...I was reading about all the medicinal benefits of cannabis, and I said that she should try it,” Harrington told Cheddar. Initially his grandmother resisted, but after her very first try she was already feeling a lot better. “She inspired me to invest in a company to get into the cannabis space.” Later this year, Harrington will release his own line of marijuana products aimed at pain relief for athletes, one he created by drawing on his own experiences. He had 14 surgeries throughout his career and told Cheddar that he suffered from chronic pain. In the next three to five years, the NBA may even remove marijuana from its list of banned substances for players, starting with CBD products, says Harrington. “Players should have access to...an alternative way of medicating themselves.” “I’m a firm believer that if I had known this information that I know now, I probably could have played another three years in the NBA,” says Harrington. Harrington spent 16 years in the league, most recently with the Washington Wizards, before retiring from the Sydney Kings in 2015. For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/how-former-nba-star-al-harrington-is-capitalizing-on-cannabis).

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