Will Cannabis Be A Game-Changer For Athletes? NFL’s $1M Study Suggests It Could
The NFL and NCAA are rethinking their stance on cannabis, as groundbreaking research uncovers its potential benefits for athletes. While the NFL invests millions in cannabinoid studies, the NCAA took a bold step earlier this summer and removed cannabis from its banned substances list. Could these shifts signal a new era for cannabis in sports?
NFL’s Push For Cannabis Research
In 2022, the National Football League (NFL) invested $1 million to explore cannabinoids’ potential for athletes. This funding, overseen by the NFL’s Pain Management Committee, focused on pain management and concussion protection. A key project supported by this initiative was a clinical trial to determine the optimal CBD dosage. The trial also assessed CBD’s viability as an alternative to opioids.
Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina conducted a study funded by the NFL. Published in Sports Medicine, the study highlighted significant challenges caused by ongoing federal cannabis …