Cannabis and sports

The use of cannabis by athletes has been banned by many sports commissions. However, some have relaxed their policies as societal attitudes towards its use have shifted. The prohibition "is one of the most controversial issues in anti-doping".[1]

There is no scientific consensus regarding the performance-enhancing effects of cannabis, with one 2018 paper reporting "there is no evidence for cannabis use as a performance-enhancing drug".[2][3] Other reasons cited for banning its use include an increased risk of injury in-competition and the view that users of cannabis are not good role models.[1]

Calls for eliminating cannabis testing have come from the perspective of better pain management and reducing usage of opioids.[4][5] Athletes such as Eugene Monroe and Derrick Morgan have called for further investigation into its potential for treating and preventing concussions.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b Huestis, Mazzoni & Rabin 2011.
  2. ^ "Sha'Carri Richardson's Olympic drug ban: Why is marijuana a prohibited substance?". Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  3. ^ Ware, Mark A.; Jensen, Dennis; Barrette, Amy; Vernec, Alan; Derman, Wayne (September 2018). "Cannabis and the Health and Performance of the Elite Athlete". Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. 28 (5): 480–484. doi:10.1097/JSM.0000000000000650. ISSN 1050-642X. PMC 6116792. PMID 30153174.
  4. ^ Ellis, Lisa D. "Could Medical Cannabis Be a Game Changer for Treating Athlete's Pain?". Practical Pain Management. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  5. ^ "Why marijuana could be key to athlete pain management". www.medigroup.com. Archived from the original on July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  6. ^ Kilgore, Adam (June 5, 2016). "Ravens lineman pushing marijuana on the NFL". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  7. ^ Korman, Chris (June 27, 2016). "Derrick Morgan doesn't want to get high, he wants to save his brain". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 12, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2021.