Sha’Carri Richardson banned from the '21 Olympics? The Greenhouse says they should #LetHerRun - Fox2
Sha’Carri Richardson is one of the fastest athletes in the world. While Richardson won a spot on the U.S. Olympic Women’s Track team, she was banned from competing due to a 30-day suspension after testing positive for THC, the main psychoactive component found in marijuana. Though marijuana is legal in Richardson’s home state of Oregon, where she qualified, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency bans athletes from using the substance during or outside of competition.
Jerry from The Greenhouse joins our friends from the FOX 2 Detroit morning team to talk cannabis use amongst athletes and why it should be allowed.
Greenhouse of Walled Lake displays banner in support of Sha’Carri Richardson
We're happy to see we're helping raise awareness for Sha'Carri Richardson and the ridiculous rule preventing her from participating at this Summer's Olympic Games. Hopefully this will be the last year that the Olympics considers cannabis as a "banned PED." Thanks to our friends at The Oakland Press for covering this #LetHerRun
By DREW ELLIS | dellis@medianewsgroup.com | The Oakland Press
PUBLISHED: July 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. | UPDATED: July 17, 2021 at 2:07 p.m.
WALLED LAKE – Sha’Carri Richardson had hopes of fulfilling a dream and winning a gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
After winning the 100-meter dash in the U.S. Olympic trials in June with a time of 10.86, Richardson appeared to be well on her way toward achieving that goal.
However, a positive test for cannabis during the trials wiped out her results and will keep her from competing in the Olympics.
Cannabis is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, labeled a performance-enhancing drug.
That decision doesn’t sit well with Jerry Millen, owner of the Greenhouse of Walled Lake, which sells recreational and medical cannabis.
“I know, plenty of professional athletes that use cannabis. They don’t use it for performance. They use it for things like inflammation, relaxation and anxiety,” Millen said. “I feel that the (WADA) is probably filled with a bunch of people that don’t understand cannabis, and they’re more archaic than the law itself.”
To show support for Richardson and raise awareness against the stigma of athletes using cannabis, Millen has put a 25×8-foot banner across the outside of the Greenhouse of Walled Lake with Richardson on display.
“They’re not gonna let her run, but what does that mean? Do we stop trying to spread that message? Absolutely not. Because to me, cannabis should be federally legal,” Millen said. “The Olympics should take it off the banned substances. Alcohol used to be banned in the Olympics. Caffeine used to be banned in the Olympics. Now, you can use caffeine and drink a pot of coffee before you’re going to run a race. For me, caffeine is more of an enhancement than cannabis.”
The Greenhouse of Walled Lake displays a banner outside their shop in support of Sha’Carri Richardson. Richardson won the U.S. Olympic trials in the 100-meter dash, but will not be able to compete after testing positive for cannabis during the trials. Cannabis is considered a performance-enhancing drug by the World Anti-Doping Agency. (DREW ELLIS – MediaNews Group)
Richardson stated that the stress of her mother’s recent death, combined with the pressure of preparing for the Olympic trials, led her to using cannabis.
“Miss Richardson, I think she is going to be, fortunately or unfortunately, the catalyst to change that rule,” Millen said. “I guarantee you the Olympic Committee is embarrassed now because they’ve been exposed for this stupid rule. Forty-seven countries have legal medical cannabis, and 19 states plus Washington DC has legal recreational cannabis.”
Millen has offered Richardson $20,000 to make an appearance at the Provisioning Center in Walled Lake, but he has not heard a response to the offer.
“I feel bad for her. She’s in a tough position. The rule needs to change. Olympic athletes, unless you’re Michael Phelps or Flo Jo, it’s hard to make money being an Olympic athlete,” Millen said. “They sacrifice a lot and they don’t make much money. This was her chance to maybe make a career out of this. But now, because she used cannabis, and it’s deemed a performance-enhancer, her career could be done.”
Millen has been researching the medical benefits of cannabis for 17 years, and his website www.greenhousemi.com provides informational videos for anyone looking to learn more about cannabis.
“I grew up a child of the D.A.R.E. program and was always told about how bad cannabis was because it was a drug. But, over the last 17 years, I’ve been working on promoting cannabis as a medicine and trying to convert a lot of naysayers. I think we’ve done a great job of that across the United States of showing the medical attributes. Now that it’s recreationally legal here in Michigan, I just think it’s time that these archaic laws and rules are rolled back to fit our modern-day society,” Millen said.
“Just do your research. Go to our website. We have videos out there that explain what THC is, what CBD is, how you can use it for your benefit. The only thing I ask is if you’re against cannabis, or you’re curious, just do your research. Maybe cannabis isn’t for you to use, but there may come a time in your life where your loved one might need it. So just get educated now.”
Greenhouse of Walled Lake is located at 103 E Walled Lake Dr. in Walled Lake.
#LetHerRun Banner at The Greenhouse
Sha'Carri Richardson is probably the fastest woman in the world.
Not the fastest in her neighborhood. In her city. In her county. In her state. In her country.
The World.
The amount of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice it must have taken her to achieve these heights is staggering. And all of it is for naught because there are still too many people in this world who have demonized cannabis.
They say it is a performance enhancer. They’re right. It enhances creativity, anxiety, introspection, focus, personal connection, patience...It reduces pain, both physical and otherwise. Cannabis does not make you run faster. Sha'Carri Richardson will not run this summer, but hopefully her tragedy will open the door for others and get these archaic anti-cannabis regulations changed so people will not be punished for cannabis use in the future.
Sha'Carri Richardson is probably the fastest woman in the world. Unfortunately we will not know. #LetHerRun