Cannabis and Sports: What You Really Should Know

The sports nutrition market worldwide reached sales of over US$52.5 million in 2020[1]. It is one of the markets that will benefit the most as cannabis regulation moves forward in various countries because some cannabinoids, like CBD, can improve how athletes train. Moreover, CBD or cannabidiol is not considered a forbidden substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). 

Acceptance of CBD has gone to such an extent that the most renowned sports leagues have accepted its usage or research. For example, Major Baseball League recently announced its openness to sponsorships from CBD brands. In addition, in February of this year, the National Football League announced an investment of US$1 million to research the impact of CBD in pain treatment. But unfortunately, there are a lot of myths and fake news around cannabis and sports, and we must address those to allow people to access safe, efficient, and above all, legal cannabis-derived products.

Let's start with the history of cannabis as a plant with multiple advantages to improve people's health and life quality. Since medieval times, cannabis plants brought from Asia to Europe caused fascination for their different uses. Over centuries, people used the fibers of cannabis plants to create ropes, garments, and textiles in general. In addition, the flowers and their extracts were ideal for alleviating specific ailments, such as pain, dizziness, and even sleep disorders. During Spanish colonization, Native Americans considered marijuana as a medicinal plant with multiple uses. Still, all these positive perceptions around hemp and marijuana changed during the end of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century when international authorities defined the effects caused by smoking or eating these plants as psychoactive and dangerous for all of  society. This is how the war on drugs started, lasting until a few years ago. As a result of this ban, planting and use of non-psychoactive cannabis was also banned in almost the entire world, leaving behind the industrial advantages of its fiber and the therapeutic and nutritional benefits of the flowers, seeds, and extracts.

An essential part of cannabis prohibition ended in 2017 when the World Health Organization (WHO) Committee of Experts on Drug Addiction recommended that cannabidiol, one of the chemical compounds of both psychoactive and non-psychoactive cannabis plants, not be included on the lists of prohibited substances, because it possesses more therapeutic qualities than risks of being an addictive substance. In this way, international regulatory entities started opening the doors for researching the effects of cannabidiol and its impact on people's health. As a result, today, CBD is a substance that competes to a greater extent in the sports nutrition market because it bases its entire value proposition upon scientific research, and it is the main reason behind the increasing number of followers and adherents, both for therapeutic purposes and for those who simply seek a better life quality or to modify the way that athletes train.

CBD has been subject to an enormous quantity of scientific investigations. Since 1940, its physicochemical properties have been studied. We can summarize some of its advantages as a palliative for neuropathic pain, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic, in addition to helping regulate many body functions, such as sleep and hunger.

To honestly address the use of cannabinoids in sports first, we need to answer the following simple questions:

Is cannabis legal or illegal? This might be the most straightforward question to answer or the most difficult one because it depends on the country where you are and the regulations of each sport, but above all, the type of cannabis product you want to use.

For example, in 2019, WADA removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances. And in 2020, WADA endorsed CBD status in its banned substances list, but it is the only cannabinoid allowed by this global agency. Last year, we heard the case of Sha'Carri Richardson, who was eliminated from the Tokyo Olympics because she consumed a product that contained THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of cannabis, and this is a prohibited substance according to WADA's list. Please remember that THC is considered illegal in several countries.

Based on the previously mentioned points, we can say that cannabidiol is allowed for athletes, but we shouldn't forget the regulations in each country. This particular topic leads me to address the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar because although FIFA and WADA allow the use of CBD, Qatar's government considers it an illegal substance with severe penalties for its consumption or transportation.

What are the benefits of CBD for athletes? CBD is a substance with several advantages. Nonetheless, this substance won't improve athletes' performance, so WADA decided to withdraw this substance from the prohibited substances list. We can see the benefits of CBD in training sessions and not in competencies. It helps athletes to regulate their sleep cycles, allowing them to have more energy while training; it is also an excellent anti-inflammatory that will allow any athlete or sports fan to reduce recovery time and train harder. Thus, CBD's advantages for athletes do not relate to their performance during competitions but help them prepare more and better before matches.

Which type of product should athletes use? Bear with me because this is the only question I cannot answer. Still, if I can recommend something to those who decide to enjoy the benefits of cannabidiol, I would advise them to look for reliable sources. A reliable source means a company that makes you feel safe about the rules and regulations that govern the area or the country. For example, suppose you live in California. In that case, you can buy a CBD product in nearly any store and choose between different brands, concentrations, and even the content of other cannabinoids. But for instance, if you want to use CBD during the Qatar World Cup, it will be impossible and a huge risk because that nation has stringent legal prohibitions regarding cannabis and its derivatives.

If you are in Mexico, the easiest way is to resort to a company with all the permits to import these products. However, keep in mind that producing cannabis-derived products in Mexico isn't allowed yet; for any product that claims to be 100 percent Mexican, either the company is lying or it is a product of illegal origin. Another factor to evaluate is the table of contents; since psychoactive substances, such as THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, are forbidden, if any product contains THC, it's considered illegal.