Sports medicine providers “generally have favorable views of CBD and cannabis,” according to a new survey of 333 doctors released this month, according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Most believe marijuana should be removed from the list of banned substances.
The study also found that most participating sports medicine physicians support legalizing cannabis for recreational and medical use.
That said, the authors found that there are still “various views” about cannabis in the field, which “appear to be heavily influenced by age, type of practice, and gender.”
Population groups less likely to support allowing recreational cannabis use include women, older doctors and rural respondents, according to the study, published in the journal Trans Published in Rational Sports Medicine.
“Similarly, these three factors were associated with the likelihood that WADA would not agree to remove cannabis from its prohibited substances list or that the NCAA would agree to allow CBD use by college athletes.” The book says:
On the other hand, men and younger doctors were less likely to perceive marijuana as a “performance enhancer.”
Although WADA removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances in 2018, marijuana is still prohibited in competition by international organizations and many other professional and international sports bodies.
New study finds 72% of sports medicine doctors support World Athletics’ move on cannabidiol, and 59% want to go further by removing cannabis itself from the banned substances list There was found.
Meanwhile, in September, the NCAA Committee recommended that the association’s governing bodies remove marijuana from the list of prohibited substances for college athletes.
Another study published earlier this month found that while college basketball recruiting improved significantly in states that legalized marijuana, results for football teams worsened.
When it comes to recommending CBD to their patients, a new study found that pediatricians, rural physicians, and academic physicians were less likely to recommend the use of the cannabinoid than other physicians in the field.
“Many sports medicine providers recommend CBD and cannabis products,” the study concluded, and physicians primarily recommend these products for chronic musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain. It pointed out. However, this study is also “the first to find that a very small number of health care providers also recommend these products for sports-related concussions and sports performance anxiety.” It is also claimed that
“This evolving cultural shift is motivating sports medicine providers to continue research and education to better answer questions about the safety, dosing, and potential effects of CBD and cannabis in sports. “There is,” the team of three authors wrote.
Among study participants who were American College of Sports Medicine physician members who responded to an email survey, more people said they would recommend CBD (40.8%) than marijuana (24.8%).
“The reason is not entirely clear from this study,” the authors write. “However, given CBD’s overall safety profile, CBD’s lack of ‘intoxicating’ effects, and CBD’s general penetration into mainstream consumer products, suppliers consider CBD to be highly safe.” may be. It is a safer option for patients compared to products containing cannabis or THC. ”
Similar differences were observed in doctors’ views regarding the potential disadvantages of CBD and THC in terms of physical performance, although the authors attribute these differences to marketing and cultural changes rather than scientific discoveries. That’s what I think.
“Only 9.9% of respondents believed that CBD had a negative impact on performance or sporting integrity, compared to 39% for cannabis,” the report said. “Although the reasons for this discrepancy are not clear from this study, these perceptions may influence how sports medicine providers counsel athletes using CBD products.”
“It is important to note that the ergogenic and ergolytic effects of CBD compared to cannabis are still poorly understood,” the authors continued, “thus, these perceptual differences may be Furthermore, the seemingly ubiquitous addition of CBD to countless consumer products also contributes to this evolving discrimination. We need to be aware that we may be contributing to ”
The study acknowledged that its sample was relatively small, comprising only about 7 percent of the American College of Sports Medicine’s membership. Also, because this is a single point in time study, we cannot explain how opinions change.
“Finally, although this survey was conducted anonymously, this is still considered an unrelated topic by many in sports medicine and medicine in general, and therefore may not reflect the actual behavior and attitudes of respondents. “Exposure may be limited,” the report said.
WADA has decided to keep marijuana prohibition in place in 2022 after a year-long review, but in August a position paper from members of the association’s Prohibited List Expert Advisory Group said the international body should raise the amount of cannabis. He noted that he has made other cannabis reforms, including: THC that may be present in athletes’ urine to account for consumption outside It is not prohibited by competition rules.
“These high thresholds will primarily detect chronic, frequent cannabis users or athletes who consume high doses during competition. Therefore, this limit will generally limit the legal use of cannabis outside of competition. “This does not affect the freedom of athletes who wish to consume cannabis,” the organization said. “Athletes who require medical cannabis must apply for a therapeutic use exemption.”
Advocates urged WADA to enact reforms after American track and field athlete Shakari Richardson was suspended from Olympic competition in 2021 after testing positive for THC.
In response to the suspension, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said international rules on marijuana “need to change,” and the White House and President Joe Biden himself suggested it was time for a new policy. Lawmakers amplified that message.
USADA previously expressed sympathy for Richardson and suggested it might be time to reevaluate marijuana prohibition, but the group later issued a further statement explicitly calling for policy change. Announced.
“President Joe Biden has best explained the way forward,” the group said, noting that “rules are rules,” but that regulations may need to be reevaluated.
As more states move to legalize marijuana, sports organizations at various levels are working to enact reforms.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and its players’ union recently signed a collective bargaining agreement that removes marijuana from the league’s list of prohibited substances and establishes rules that allow players to invest in and promote cannabis brands, with some exceptions. did.
Earlier this year, Nevada sports regulators voted to send a regulatory amendment to the governor that would formally protect athletes from penalties for marijuana use or possession under state law.
The UFC announced in 2021 that it will no longer punish fighters who test positive for marijuana.
The National Football League’s (NFL) drug testing policy was apparently changed in 2020 as part of the collective bargaining agreement.
In June, the NFL and players union also announced new joint funding to support independent research into the effectiveness of CBD as an alternative pain treatment to opioids for players with concussions.
The New York Media Softball League (NYMSL), which includes teams representing The Wall Street Journal, High Times and BuzzFeed, announced in July that it would begin a sponsorship deal with a Kentucky-based CBD company.
The idea behind this collaboration was inspired by Major League Baseball (MLB) and the moves of certain teams, such as the Kansas City Royals and Chicago Cubs, who have recently partnered with CBD businesses.
MLB itself announced a league-wide partnership with a popular CBD brand last year. Charlotte’s Web Holdings, one of the nation’s most well-known hemp-derived CBD companies, has signed an agreement with the league to become the “Official CBD of MLB.”
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