With the World Series of Poker's $10,000 entry Main Event starting today, the world is buzzing with chatter about poker. The thousands of players playing in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) are vying for a first place prize higher than last year's $8 million dollars.
With this much at stake, it is no surprise people are looking to stay in the zone and get any advantage they can to have a better chance of placing and/or winning. People are now discussing cannabis as a possible performance enhancing substance.
The recent legalization of recreational cannabis in Nevada this past week has brought the discussion of cannabis into the mainstream. This has caused more attention to WSOP officials and players to the possibility of cannabis being used as way to survive the long grueling tournament.
A recent WSOP article quoted WSOP veteran Bryan Micron as deriving some of his poker success from the fact that he uses cannabis before, during, and after tournaments. Bryan is known most for his 15-seconds of fame moment back in 2006 when on ESPN he did the Michael Jackson Thriller dance after winning a huge late hand in the '06 WSOP.
He said that that dance and his professional poker success was due in fact that he smoked cannabis.
So while Bryan Micron may be open about cannabis use while playing poker, some of the poker community including players are not happy about it. It has been reported that there are players reporting other players for smelling like cannabis after tournament breaks. They say its a distraction. I personally believe they are just afraid or unfamiliar with a different playing style.
It is such a big issue now that the WSOP officials at the Rio are on watch for players going back to their cars and smoking cannabis on the Rio's parking lot. Players have already been kicked out for this.
The cultures of poker and cannabis have long been intertwined and has been an open secret among poker professionals that cannabis helps some players performance.
What do you think? Are the WSOP officials at the Rio taking this too far?
I know personally smoking cannabis definitely helps me perform better in poker tournaments because it helps me stay in the moment during sometimes several hour long tournaments.
I know we have a large poker and cannabis community here on Steemit so I am interested so what the community thinks.
SOURCE:
https://www.leafly.com/news/pop-culture/secret-history-cannabis-world-series-poker
Thank you as always for your time and attention
Namaste
I think it depends on the player in general. Some can handle it well and stay relaxed and smooth while using it. But some may have a negative effect or even that calmness would influence a difference game altogether. It sucks to think people would need to relay on it to play. If it allows someone to play the same game as you would play off it but maybe just an added calmness then its perfect.
Here is the real big issue that is close to coming to a head I believe. While its now legal in a couple areas for rec... it is not in a larger area of the US. Poker is considered a sport and its likely to eventually require drug testing or abstinence. I personally do not think its necessary but it is likely to happen or be brought up at least.
O wow I did not even think about that. Thanks for bringing that up and for your comment.
I look at it like if a player wants to smoke and lose his money I don't see a problem with that. And if the player wants to smoke and try and win some money and not harming anyone in the process I don't see a problem with that either.
I think only time will tell my friend and now you got me wondering abut the WSOP drug testing :)
I do not care nor think it is bad b/c I know how I am when smoking. I guess tolerance plays a part as well. Whether or not they ever consider drug testing is iffy. The only thing I can think of that held them back thus far is the fact that no one can get hurt from the intoxication while playing. Time will tell as you say. :) Namaste
ayyyyy exactly my friend your words are so spot on o weeeeee
Namaste :)
Really great post dude. It makes me think about @bigpchef. :D
hahahaha righttttt him tuck and the whole poker gang hahaha :)
Haha, exactly :)))
what do you know about cryptocurrencies. We all know that the cannabis industry has been thriving but has a hard time with the feds and the whole banking debacle. The world of blockchain and social activity networks like www.peerity.io with their own cryptocurrency could change this business. By using cryptocurrencies to pay for cannabis and bypass the banks all together thus removing the need for cash all together.
Seems reasonable to me. and i dont think you have any idea what I know and what I dont know buddy :)
There are a lot of possibilities but also a lot of junk in the crypto world. As far as weed and cryptos who knows. I think there are a lot of areas where these digital currencies can make a huge difference in the world. Maybe in the delivery aspect.
haha combines my favourite passtimes well....thanks
Hahaha right. Two of my current times thankfully :)