Life is beautiful.
The UFC 196 medical suspensions have been issued by the Nevada Athletic Commission, and Diaz received a medical suspension for 45 days. It ends on 20 April 2016, or 4/20.
According to Wikipedia, 420, 4:20, or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) is a code-term that refers to the consumption of marijuana and by extension, as a way to identify oneself with cannabis culture. The term dates back to 1971, when a group of friends made a plan to meet at 4:20 to go search for a lost marijuana crop. April 20 has become a counterculture holiday in North America, where people gather to celebrate and consume cannabis.
Thus it would not be a surprise if Diaz celebrates the end of his medical suspension by legally partaking in the demon weed, perhaps even at 4:20.
The intersection of marijuana and MMA is not always a laughing matter, unfortunately.
Last year Nate’s older brother Nick was subjected to what was nearly universally called an injustice. He received the longest suspension in the entire history of MMA, a five-year suspension and $165,000 fine, for repeatedly violating prohibitions against marijuana. Further, his latest test “failure” wasn’t a failure at all.
That suspension was eventually reduced to 18 months, which is of course an improvement, but remains an injustice.
In this video, the UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey argues that marijuana should not be tested for at all.
Full list of suspensions:
Nate Diaz: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days for right eye laceration
Ilir Latifi: Needs X-ray on left toe, if broken then suspended 180 days, or until cleared by doctor
Valentina Shevchenko: Suspended until 30 days with no contact for 21 days for left eye laceration
Siyar Bahadurzada: Must have jaw cleared by doctor or suspended 180 days; minimum suspension for 21 days with no contact for 14 days
Brandon Thatch: Needs X-ray on left foot, if broken then suspended 180 days, or until cleared by doctor; minimum suspension 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Nordine Taleb: Needs X-ray or MRI of left knee and must be cleared by doctor, or suspended 180 days
Erick Silva: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Marcelo Guimaraes: Needs X-ray or MRI of left knee and must be cleared by doctor, or suspended 180 days; minimum suspension 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Chas Skelly: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
Justin Salas: Suspended 30 days with no contact for 21 days for right eye laceration
Julian Erosa: Suspended 45 days with no contact for 30 days
