Adesanya pulls no punches on his use of marijuana

Israel Adesanya has called for a change to New Zealand’s “backward” cannabis law ahead of this September’s referendum on the drug’s legalisation.

The Kiwi UFC champion has made no secret of his use of marijuana and unapologetically posts about it on his social media accounts.

Adesanya says he believes cannabis has been victim to generations of misinformation and

“propaganda”.

“Everyone knows I smoke,” Adesanya told Newshub. “Everyone knows I partake in the plant.

“I remember going for a walk with my dog and I counted three liquor stores within a three-block radius, and maybe five or six other bars.

“You can go into any of those places, get blatantly drunk, and get into your car, drive and crash — and that happens every week.

“So, what’s wrong with someone growing a plant that makes them happy, a little bit more relaxed, more sensitive to their feeling, more aware and alert, depending on the strain?”

The New Zealand public will be able to vote for the decriminalisation and regulation of cannabis in this year’s referendum, which will be conducted alongside the general election.

Cannabis has also been a hot topic at the UFC, where “in-competition” use is banned by the US anti-doping agency.

“I don’t think it should be banned,” Adesanya said. “Just be smart about it — in moderation with everything.

“I wouldn’t advise fighting while you’re high, but I wouldn’t advise fighting drunk either, unless you’re Jackie Chan in Drunken Master.”

The 30-year-old middleweight believes it’s about time New Zealand made the change.

“I post it on my [Instagram] story and stuff when I smoke — imagine if I got arrested right now for something like that?

“Oh, Israel had a joint on him so we had to lock him up in a cage. How stupid would New Zealand look?”