For decades, professional baseball treated marijuana as a taboo subject, tucked behind closed clubhouse doors and outdated league policies. Yet a growing number of notable MLB players — past and present — have stepped into the spotlight to discuss cannabis openly, framing it not as a scandal but as a legitimate conversation about athlete health, recovery, and modern science. Their voices have helped shape the league’s evolving stance, culminating in MLB removing natural cannabinoids from routine testing and allowing clubs to partner with CBD brands that meet league standards.

Among the earliest and most influential voices was Tim Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young Award winner whose on-field brilliance often intersected with public speculation about his cannabis use. While Lincecum never positioned himself as an activist, his 2009 marijuana citation — and his calm, human response — softened the public conversation. His insistence that he was “not a criminal” and that many people used cannabis responsibly marked one of the first moments a modern baseball superstar addressed the issue without shame.

Another important figure is Álex Reyes, the former St. Louis Cardinals phenom whose suspension for marijuana in 2016 drew significant attention to the disproportionate penalties young players faced. After returning to the field, Reyes openly discussed the frustration players felt over cannabis being punished while opioid-based painkillers were commonplace in clubhouses. His comments resonated as medical experts began urging leagues to reconsider cannabis restrictions.

Retired MLB slugger Ryan Braun also helped shift perceptions late in his career. After injuries diminished his playing time, Braun spoke publicly about players exploring CBD for inflammation, recovery, and joint pain — noting that cannabinoids were becoming part of mainstream wellness routines across sports. His comments came at a pivotal moment, just before MLB formally removed marijuana from its testing panel.

Meanwhile, former big leaguer Jeremy Jeffress, a 2020 All-Star with Milwaukee, has been one of baseball’s most outspoken players on the subject. Jeffress, who faced earlier career discipline related to cannabis, has since shared how he used marijuana to manage anxiety, stabilize his mental health, and function under the daily stress of professional baseball. His transparency redefined a narrative that once painted cannabis strictly as a rule-breaking substance rather than a tool for well-being.

Another key voice belongs to David Wells, the longtime Yankees pitcher known for his honesty as much as his durability. Wells has repeatedly stated that he used marijuana during his career to treat chronic back pain and has criticized MLB’s historical policies as outdated and punitive. His willingness to speak candidly gave credibility to the argument that the league’s approach to pain management needed to evolve.

Collectively, these players helped influence a shifting cultural landscape, one that now sees MLB working with CBD brands, teams hosting cannabinoid education sessions, and players speaking far more openly about recovery alternatives. Baseball’s changing relationship with cannabis may not have one singular advocate — instead, it has a chorus of respected voices who reshaped the conversation.

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