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Cannabis & Sports: A Past of Prohibition to a Future of Recovery
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways:
The Early Days of Prohibition
What Do Athletes Have to Say?
The Turning Tide
Understanding the Cannabis Appeal
Key Takeaways:
The relationship between sports and cannabis has evolved from stringent prohibition to emerging acceptance, driven by changing societal perceptions and emerging research.
Numerous athletes, including former NFL players and professional cyclists, have come forward to share their personal experiences with cannabis, advocating for its benefits in pain management, recovery, and overall wellness.
Major sports organizations like NBA, NFL, MLB, and UFC have begun re-evaluating and softening their policies on cannabis use, recognizing its potential therapeutic applications.
The market has seen a surge in specialized cannabis products designed for athletes, including topicals for muscle relief and tinctures for internal recovery, highlighting the therapeutic potential of cannabis in sports recovery.
Historically, the world of sports maintained a firm stance against the use of cannabis, often backed by stringent regulations and penalties. However, with emerging research and a broader societal shift in perceptions, this stance has evolved.
The emergence of specialized cannabis products tailored for athletes highlights the shifting dynamics of this relationship. Products, from sophisticated tinctures to recovery enhancers, are entering the market, signifying a more integrated approach to sports wellness and recovery.
In this context, it becomes imperative to understand both the historical background and the promising future that lies ahead for the convergence of sports and cannabis.
The Early Days of Prohibition
In the annals of sports history, the intersection of cannabis and competition has always been a matter of intense scrutiny. Long before the recent wave of acceptance, major sports organizations globally enforced stringent regulations against the use of cannabis.
Several leading sports bodies, from the International Olympic Committee to the NFL and FIFA, imposed strict prohibitions on cannabis consumption. Athletes faced severe penalties, including suspensions, fines, and even career-ending measures if they were found using or testing positive for the substance.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been a significant player in the regulation of substance use in sports. Established in 1999, WADA's mission revolves around promoting, coordinating, and monitoring the fight against doping in sports internationally. One of its most referenced tools in this battle is the WADA Prohibited List.
For years, WADA's Prohibited List has identified marijuana and cannabinoids as substances that are prohibited in-competition. This inclusion wasn't merely an offhand decision but was based on a few critical criteria:
Potential for Performance Enhancement: There's been a concern that certain properties of cannabis might give athletes an edge in competitions. WADA's inclusion of marijuana and cannabinoids on its list is an acknowledgment of these potential advantages.
Health Risks: WADA also considers the potential health risks associated with the substance. The agency's decision to list cannabis emphasizes the potential harmful effects, especially in high-pressure, physically demanding sports scenarios.
Violation of the Spirit of Sport: One of the more abstract, yet vital, criteria WADA employs is whether a substance violates the 'spirit of sport.' This can be broadly interpreted as anything that diminishes the global ethos of fairness, camaraderie, and mutual respect in sports. In this light, the prohibition of cannabis is seen as a means to maintain this spirit.
However, it's worth noting that the stance on cannabis and cannabinoids has been evolving, even within WADA. Over the years, discussions and re-evaluations have led to modifications in the allowable limits of THC (the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis) in an athlete's system, signaling a potential shift in perspective.
Incorporating WADA's position on cannabis provides a more comprehensive view of the global sports community's outlook and the complex factors that shape it. As research continues and societal views change, WADA's stance, like many other organizations, may further evolve in the coming years.
What Do Athletes Have to Say?
When we discuss the intersection of sports and cannabis, one can't only lean on official stances and regulatory perspectives. Athletes, being at the heart of the matter, offer some of the most insightful views based on personal experience and the challenges they face daily.
So, what do athletes have to say about cannabis?
Eugene Monroe:
Former NFL player Eugene Monroe has advocated for the use of medical cannabis to manage pain and combat the opioid crisis. He has spoken about how cannabis has helped him manage pain from injuries sustained during his football career, stating, "Cannabis helps me live a more enjoyable life. The numerous injuries I sustained throughout my career took an enormous toll on my body...Cannabis has been a far safer and more effective solution".
Joanna Zeiger:
Joanna Zeiger, a former Olympic triathlete, had a career-ending bike crash that led her to suffer from chronic pain. After trying various remedies with limited relief, she turned to cannabis for pain management. Through experimentation, she found relief from both pain and nausea and better sleep by using cannabis. Zeiger mentions, "I had to do a good deal of experimentation...starting with small amounts of edibles" and eventually found relief from her chronic pain and other symptoms through cannabis use.
Jake Plummer:
Former NFL player Jake Plummer has spoken about using CBD (a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis) to manage his pain, and has advocated for more research into CBD's benefits for athletes. Plummer has been quoted saying, "I'll take CBD any day over opioids. With the CBD, I feel functional. I feel like I can go out and live my life and not be a damn zombie".
Riley Cote:
Riley Cote, a former NHL enforcer, co-founded Athletes for CARE, a nonprofit organization that explores treatment options for athletes, including cannabis. He has spoken about how cannabis has helped him with pain management and recovery during his hockey career. Cote mentioned, "Cannabis has allowed me to exist in a manageable state, rather than fighting the side effects of opioids and ultimately creating a bunch of other problems".
Floyd Landis:
Floyd Landis, a former professional cyclist, has spoken about using cannabis to help manage pain following a hip surgery. He mentioned in interviews that cannabis helped him get off opioid painkillers. Landis now runs a company that sells cannabis products and advocates for the use of CBD for pain relief and recovery.
Ava Knight:
Professional boxer Ava Knight has spoken about using CBD to help with recovery, inflammation, and pain management. She said, "It’s the new thing that helps with everything...I use it for everything - pain, recovery, anxiety".
Andrew Talansky:
Professional cyclist Andrew Talansky switched from common pharmaceuticals like ibuprofen to CBD in 2017 after obtaining a strained hip flexor and noticed a significant improvement. Talansky mentions, "I took it for a couple of weeks, and there was a noticeable difference immediately. And it wasn’t just that my hip was feeling better. I was less anxious, and I was sleeping better".
Thiers has also been current and past superstar athletes like Calvin Johnson, Nate Diaz, Kevin Durant, and Kareem Abdul-Jamar. Who have been open and honest about their opinions on cannabis's role in their sport.
These testimonies underscore a broader sentiment within the athlete community: a call for more open dialogue, research, and understanding of cannabis's potential benefits in sports.
The Turning Tide
As we navigate the intricate dynamics between sports and cannabis, it's evident that the rigid walls of prohibition are beginning to crumble. Once branded a pariah in the sports world, cannabis is slowly but steadily finding its footing, thanks to shifting perceptions, evolving research, and the testimonials of athletes who vouch for its benefits.
Softening Stances of Major Sports Organizations
The past decade has seen a transformative shift in the policies of several leading sports organizations. Gone are the days when a whiff of cannabis would spell the end of an athlete's career. Today, there's an evident move towards understanding, empathy, and science-backed decisions.
National Basketball Association (NBA): As of 2020, the NBA has stopped random marijuana testing for its players, citing the mental strain and challenges brought about by the pandemic. It's a significant nod to the therapeutic applications of cannabis, particularly in stress management. [Source]
National Football League (NFL): The NFL's adjusted stance is evident in its recent collective bargaining agreement. While cannabis remains on its list of banned substances, the testing window has been shortened, and the threshold for a positive test has been raised, making the penalties less severe. [Source]
Major League Baseball (MLB): In a landmark move, the MLB removed marijuana from its list of banned substances in 2019, treating it the same way as alcohol. The change came after the tragic death of a player due to opioid overdose, prompting a reevaluation of drug policies. [Source]
UFC: While marijuana remains on the prohibited list, UFC has been quite vocal about the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD, even entering partnerships with CBD companies for research. Most significantly, as of recent updates, positive tests that surpass the threshold and decision limit for THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, will no longer be counted as a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy. [Source]
The tide is indeed turning. While there's still a long way to go for cannabis to be wholly accepted in the sports realm, the journey has begun. The confluence of athlete testimonies, scientific research, and changing societal perceptions is paving the way for a more inclusive and informed stance on cannabis in sports.
Understanding the Cannabis Appeal
In the ever-evolving dialogue surrounding sports and wellness, cannabis has been making waves, promising solutions where traditional remedies sometimes fall short. The allure of cannabis in the realm of sports wellness can be broadly classified into two categories: topicals designed specifically for muscle relief and non-topicals targeting general recovery and pain relief.
Topicals: More than Just Skin-Deep
While the term 'topical' might make one think of a superficial remedy, the reality is far more profound. Cannabis-infused topicals are designed to provide targeted relief right where it's needed. So, how do they work?
When you apply a cannabis-infused topical, the active compounds of cannabis, primarily CBD, are absorbed through the skin layers. They then interact with nearby cannabinoid receptors, which are part of our body's endocannabinoid system, providing localized relief without entering the bloodstream. This ensures that athletes get the therapeutic benefits without the unwanted effects associated with THC.
Benefits in Sports:
Quick Relief: Cannabis topicals often bring about rapid alleviation from soreness, making them an ideal choice post-training or game.
Localized Application: Athletes can apply the product directly to the pain point, ensuring targeted treatment.
Product Spotlight: Dr. Solomon's Roller Ball:
For athletes on-the-go, Dr. Solomon's Roller Ball is a game-changer. This product offers the therapeutic benefits of cannabis in a convenient roll-on format, making the application mess-free and precise. The unique blend ensures deeper penetration for faster relief, proving invaluable for athletes dealing with muscle strains or sore joints.
Non-Topicals: Recovery from Within
While topicals tackle pain from the outside, there's a growing interest in solutions that promote healing from the inside out. Enter tinctures.
Tinctures, essentially concentrated herbal extracts, provide a potent dose of the beneficial compounds found in cannabis. Administered sublingually (under the tongue), they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream, ensuring a quicker onset of effects compared to edibles.
Highlighting the Benefits:
Fast Absorption: Given their method of administration, tinctures promise faster relief, making them a favorite among athletes.
Versatility: They can be taken directly or added to food and beverages, making them a versatile solution.
Product Spotlight: Dr. Solomon's Rescue
For the athletes who continually challenge their limits, Dr. Solomon's Rescue is a beacon of relief and recovery. More than just a tincture, it embodies a promise of wellness and resilience. With its potent blend, Dr. Solomon's Rescue facilitates rapid recovery after strenuous activity, ensuring athletes are always geared up for the next big challenge. Beyond mere pain relief, it also adeptly aids in curtailing inflammation and fostering overall muscle well-being, solidifying its position as an essential component of any athlete's wellness toolkit.
From the stringent days of outright prohibition to the current wave of promotion and acceptance, the trajectory of cannabis in the sporting world has been nothing short of transformative. The early reservations, based on performance-enhancing fears and potential detrimental effects, now seem to be gradually ceding ground to an era of informed choices and therapeutic application.
The horizon looks promising. As more research unravels the mysteries of the cannabis plant, its potential applications in the domain of sports recovery and performance enhancement will only get clearer. Moreover, as sporting organizations continue to reevaluate their stances, the stage seems set for a flurry of product innovations tailored specifically to cater to the unique needs of athletes.
Your health, recovery, and performance are paramount. In the evolving landscape of sports wellness, cannabis promises a spectrum of benefits that could be the game-changer you've been looking for. Dive deep, educate yourself, and discover the myriad of cannabis products meticulously crafted for athletic recovery and wellness.
Find your go-to recovery aids and performance enhancers at the nearest RISE dispensary. For those who prefer the convenience of online shopping, the digital shelves of RISE are stocked with the best, just a click away. It's time to rise to the occasion and embrace the future of sports wellness.