Bandits president confirms whether Lauren Jackson will play regardless of cannabis exemption

The Albury Wodonga Bandits has clarified whether Lauren Jackson will play if she cannot get a medicinal cannabis exemption.

The Albury Wodonga Bandits have quashed rumours that new signing Lauren Jackson’s return to basketball will depend on a medical cannabis exemption.

Basketball great and Albury product Jackson announced on Wednesday she would play for the Bandits in their upcoming NBL1 season after previously retiring in 2016.

Despite reports her return would be reliant on an exemption to use medicinal cannabis, Bandits President Luke Smith confirmed Jackson would play regardless.

Since the Opals world champion was forced into retirement with chronic knee pain in 2016, the 40-year-old has found relief since trialling medicinal cannabis.

“(But) even if she doesn’t get an exemption, she’ll play. If her body feels right, she’ll play,” Smith said.

Why Lauren Jackson’s return means so much to Albury Wodonga

Jackson’s return to basketball will give the Albury Wodonga Bandits an extra edge on court.

But Smith said her signing would inspire a new generation of basketballers to shoot hoops in Albury-Wodonga.

“We’ve already had a huge spike in membership signings today which is fantastic, but I’m really hoping that basketball in general in Albury-Wodonga would gain a lot more participation in the younger age groups,” Smith said.

Smith said numbers had been declining over the past few years, with Covid border closures making it extra hard to find imports.

“We’ve always struggled with female participation in the sport, with girls going to netball and other sports. Even with our NBL1 program, we’ve struggled to fill spots with players from Sydney or Melbourne.”

Jackson’s return has reminded Albury-Wodonga the talent pathway that exists between local clubs such as Bandits, the WNBA and beyond.

Smith said he expected more fans than ever to come to Lauren Jackson Sports Centre to see the basketball great live.

“When the crowd’s on fire, it’s electric. We regularly get 600 people, but we can expect to get 1000 every week.”

The Bandits first game will be on Friday February 9 at 5pm at the Lauren Jackson Sports Centre.