Darryl Strawberry believes marijuana is DANGEROUS -- telling TMZ Sports it should NOT be used as pain management because it's a gateway drug that can ruin lives.
... and Strawberry says he's living proof.
Of course, the ex-MLB superstar battled addiction himself -- he was suspended 3 times for cocaine during his baseball career.
Now, with so many pro athletes calling for the legalization of marijuana for pain management, Strawberry says it's the WRONG thing to do.
"Most people don't understand marijuana is a drug," the 56-year-old tells TMZ Sports .