Athletes, Medical Marijuana, and CBD: It’s Complicated Pt. 1
For most professional sports, marijuana, and its chemical components, or cannabinoids, is a restricted substance. But what if one of those cannabinoids, specifically CBD, is found to have tremendous benefits in terms of an athletes health, recovery, and longevity? Should it then still be restricted? This is a current and important issue, and topic of discussion for athletes, coaches, and sports governing bodies, especially those involved in contact and combat sports.
With the growing body of research supporting the use of CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana and hemp plants, and its use as a neuroprotectant, anti-inflammatory, and pain control measure, there is an increasing interest into its efficacy and potential benefits of its use for athletes training and competing in contact and combat sports.
Why? Because athletes competing in combat and contact sports like football, boxing, hockey, and MMA are at particular risk for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition affecting those with a history of repetitive brain trauma. As a neuroprotectant, CBD has the potential to combat the effects of this repetitive trauma!
So what’s the problem? On a cursory examination of the issue, the short answer is...its complicated. Not enough research? Federal scheduling? State marijuana laws? Athletic performance? Different rules for different sports? These are just some of the findings on initial search, which points to the need for further exploration.
This next series of blogs will explore some of issues or barriers to the use of medical marijuana and its cannabinoids for athletes competing in contact and combat sports, who are especially at risk for CTE and who would most benefit from CBD. Stay tuned...
Copyright and Disclaimer
This website is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice, legal advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on NMMCS’s website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Neither the Company nor its employees, nor any contributor to this web site, makes any representations, express or implied, with respect to the information provided herein or to its use.
All copyrights to the NMMCS web site and its contents are the property of NMMCS unless otherwise noted. No commercial uses are allowed without the prior express permission of National Medical Marijuana Card Services.