Cannabis in Sports
In recent years there has been a growing conversation surrounding cannabis use for athletes. While traditionally used for recreational purposes, cannabis is increasingly being recognized for its therapeutic properties and potential to enhance athletic performance.
There are a number of reasons why an athlete might want to use cannabis as well as a few reasons why they can’t.
Therapeutic Benefits
Cannabis contains a number of compounds that have therapeutic properties. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD have been known to help with things like pain perception, inflammation and more.
Many athletes report experiencing chronic pain and inflammation due to the intense training, injuries, and physical demands of their sport. Research suggests that some cannabinoids have analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, making them effective for managing pain and promoting recovery.
Similarly, cannabis may help athletes manage stress, anxiety, and improve sleep quality. It’s been shown that high-stress levels and inadequate sleep can negatively impact athletic performance and recovery.
Enhancing Performance and Recovery
In addition to its therapeutic effects, some athletes use cannabis to enhance their performance and recovery. While more research is needed in this area, some anecdotal evidence suggests that cannabis can help athletes enter a state of flow, improve focus, and enhance creativity.
Some athletes also report that cannabis helps to relax them prior to big games or competitions. It can help them to overcome performance anxiety and pre-competition jitters, leading to an overall better performance.
Additionally, the aforementioned anti-inflammatory properties can help to reduce muscle soreness and stiffness, allowing athletes to train harder and more frequently. This gives them more opportunities to improve at their sport and perhaps give them an edge on the competition.
Legal and Ethical Issues
Despite the potential benefits, cannabis use in sports is still considered controversial due to its legal status and concerns about fairness and ethics.
While some sports organizations have relaxed their policies on cannabis use, others still have strict regulations and impose penalties for athletes who test positive for cannabinoids.
For example, the World Anti-Doping Agency—who manages all of the anti-doping regulations for the Olympics—lists cannabis as prohibited substances in competition
Additionally, the legality of cannabis varies by jurisdiction, which can make it difficult for athletes who compete internationally or in states or countries where cannabis is illegal or heavily regulated.
Some organizations will allow exceptions for medical reasons but many don’t as it’s still considered performance enhancing. Even if the exemption is allowed it may not carry over into other organizations, making it difficult for athletes to compete at the local, national and international levels.
Note: The World Anti-Doping Agency and many other organizations list Cannabidiol (CBD) as an exception to their rules on cannabis usage. Using CBD-based products, especially topicals, is a great way to get some of the benefits of cannabis without breaking any rules.
The question of the usage of cannabis in sports is definitely a complex one but it’s one that we should be willing to tackle. The benefits to athletes are undeniable and as the general culture is warming to cannabis use, so might sports culture.
Any athletes, thinking of using cannabis either to help their performance or in their daily life should make sure that they are familiar with all of the rules and regulations of the organization that they’re competing in.
If you find that cannabis is something that you can and want to use in your daily life as an athlete, then stop by NatureMed and we’ll make sure that you have everything you need to have you playing and feeling your best.
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