Can we justify the use of marijuana in sports? Many athletes use it as pain relief. Let’s talk about the benefits and potential side effects of weed in sports.
The World Anti-Doping Code is strictly against the use of marijuana and cannabinoids in competition. If an athlete has an approved TUE (therapeutic use exemption), they will be allowed to use the substance. Although cannabis is being decriminalized at a face pace across the world, the anti-doping rules haven’t changed in that department.
Still, we’ve witnessed many athletes smoking weed. Some of the most famous ones, who publicly talked about the positive relation between weed and sports, include: Matt Barnes, Shaun Smith, Al Harrington, and more. Martellus Bennet, who was a significant figure in the NFL, made a bold statement on Twitter: about 89% of NFL players use weed. Chris Barnicle, known as the “world’s fastest stoner” is another proponent of using weed to cope with the demands for better performance. One can get the right supplements that their body needs from https://www.numan.com/
According to useful source, this is an issue we should talk about. How does smoking weed affect cardio performance? Is it good or bad for athletes?
Why Is Weed Used in Sports?
Martellus Bennet gave us a great explanation for the reason why athletes use and need cannabis. They put their bodies through a pressure that non-athletes cannot imagine. We only see their formed figures in top shape all the time. What we don’t know is that their entire bodies hurt really bad after training and games. The usual way of dealing with pain? Prescription anti-inflammatory drugs. Most professional athletes have been taking them for a long time, and they are dealing with their side effects. Weed gives them relief without damaging their kidneys and liver.
Pain management is the major reason why cannabis is respected in the world of sports. But those who compete in contact sports (such as football, ice hockey, boxing, wrestling, soccer, and rugby), frequently suffer from CTE, too. The condition is known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy under its full name. Due to repetitive blows to their heads, athletes are prone to brain damage. Low doses of cannabis can help them recover from brain injuries. More research is needed on the matter, but the current findings look promising.
Yes; athletes are being tested for the presence of THC in their bodies. The urinary threshold is set at 150 ng/mL. This means that they can consume weed in minimal doses, without surpassing that threshold. All other cannabinoids are strictly prohibited in competition, without a threshold limit.
There’s a strategy that professionals in sports use to pass the tests: they use weed when they train, but stay clean for a certain period of time before the testing. During that time, they turn to anti-inflammatory drugs.
The time that the body takes to eliminate this substance from the body depends from case to case. For a moderate user, it usually takes a week after the last use for the urine test to come out clean.
Is Smoking Weed Bad for Athletes? Do the Side Effects Overcome Potential Benefits?
Cannabis may not be the best choice before a workout or a game. Depending on the strain and dosage, it may increase the heart rate and cause the athlete to get tired more quickly. The last thing you want is an impairment in your executive functions and alertness, no matter how briefly it lasts.
Smoking cannabis also carries risks for developing lung problems. An increased mucus production, breathlessness, and wheezing can be serious issues for someone whose career depends on their physical stamina. Edibles can provide the benefits of weed without those serious side effects. However, they should be taken very carefully. Their effects are delayed, so it’s easy to go overboard with the consumption. Cannabis edibles can also hit the system harder, and their effects can last for up to 10 hours.
Overview: Is the Use of Marijuana in Sports Justified?
Before an athlete starts using cannabis with the intention to alleviate pain and improve performance, they should get informed about the benefits and potential side effects. If they use edibles, they should choose a product with the right strength and consume it in a very low dose.
Cannabis is not necessarily a performance-enhancing drug. This is the only safe way that’s proven to boost performance: good nutrition. The compounds of weed are prohibited in competition for a good reason: their psychoactive effects may disturb the competitor’s focus.
The bottom line is: each league has its own rules and thresholds for testing. Those who plan to start using weed should be aware of these policies, so they wouldn’t put their careers at risk. Cannabis can be safely used, but we need to get informed about it.
The debate continues. If countries around the world liberalized the use of weed, why shouldn’t sports leagues loosen up their restrictions?
Here’s the problem: most sports leagues do not test for alcohol, anti-inflammatory injections, and opioid painkillers that are often prescribed to athletes. Opioids are commonly misused over one’s career. Marijuana is being overlooked as a potential medicine that can provide safer pain relief when consumed responsibly.
written by Tia M., Editor and Contributor at AskGrowers
