Soaring above the rim for a dunk isn't the only time NBA players get high.

During a recent interview with Fox Business, former NBA guard Jay Williams estimated that 75 to 80 percent of current players in the league smoke weed, adding that many use it for medicinal purposes.

Williams says marijuana's use is so widespread in society that the league should strongly consider being more acceptive of it.

“I’m not condoning for anyone under 18 to use cannabis or marijuana, but from a medical perspective, it’s about time some of these brands like the NBA and MLB become a little bit more progressive and start thinking forward instead of being held captive in the past,” Williams told Fox Business.

While 23 states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, the NBA has banned its use. If a player tests positive for marijuana and convicted, he must enter the league's marijuana program. Getting caught a second time results in an automatic $25,000 fine and a third offense lands that player a five-game suspension.

Williams' sentiments come two months after another former NBA player, Cliff Robinson, announced plans to open a marijuana dispensary, telling the Portland Business Journal in January that he's trying to “distill the stigma around cannabis and the mis-perception that athletes and cannabis are incompatible.”

That and he feels it's important to take the edge off sometimes.

"When you talk about guys playing at a professional level, there's a lot of physical and mental stress that comes with that," Robinson said. “To have something available to you that has health benefits, I don't see the issue with it myself."

Williams added that weed isn't the only thing athletes are using, although it seems marijuana is always being demonized by sports leagues.

“I know so many athletes that play on Percocet. Have you ever taken Percocet by the way? It makes you way more groggy than rubbing cannabis oil into your skin,” Williams said. “It’s demonized in society too. Oh, he’s a pot head. No, I actually just use cannabis oil because it helps with inflammation and takes away some anxiety.”

Williams hopes the NBA changes its tune towards weed. The question is, will the league do just that?

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(Photo: Ray Tamarra/GC Images)