{"id":87249,"date":"2024-07-01T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/"},"modified":"2026-08-28T13:28:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T11:28:56","slug":"cannabis-and-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"Cannabis and sports"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are an athlete, you&#8217;ll know that you have to be very aware of the substances you consume and the <strong>physical consequences they have<\/strong>. Moreover, if you are a professional athlete, you may explicitly be prohibited from taking any type of psychoactive substance. There are several substances that can give an advantage in certain sports, but what about cannabis and <strong>sports<\/strong>? What about <strong>marijuana in the 2024 Olympic Games<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the last few years, cannabis consumption worldwide has increased, and with it, the people who consume cannabis. Gradually, the benefits of marijuana are being recognized and proven. So much so that there are <strong>athletes who advocate and support its use<\/strong> in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ab249e03f669\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenido<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ab249e03f669\"  \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#Marijuana_in_sports\" >Marijuana in sports<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#CBD_and_cannabis_at_the_Olympic_Games\" >CBD and cannabis at the Olympic Games<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#Cannabis_up_to_Rio_2016\" >Cannabis up to Rio 2016<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#2018_the_year_of_change\" >2018: the year of change<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#CBD_at_Tokyo_2020\" >CBD at Tokyo 2020<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#Cannabis_at_the_2024_Olympic_Games\" >Cannabis at the 2024 Olympic Games<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#How_can_athletes_benefit_from_marijuana\" >How can athletes benefit from marijuana?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#Relaxes_muscles_and_increases_focus\" >Relaxes muscles and increases focus<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/#The_420_marijuana_games\" >The 420 marijuana games<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Marijuana_in_sports\"><\/span><strong>Marijuana in sports<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to the fact that marijuana has multiple medicinal benefits for our bodies, it&#8217;s not surprising to know that <strong>many professional athletes<\/strong> use it. It&#8217;s important to note that this is not legal in all sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Various <strong>athlete organizations<\/strong> in recent years have announced their stance on marijuana use in their sport. The <strong>NBA eliminated marijuana tests<\/strong> at the end of 2020 during the <strong>2020\/2021 season,<\/strong> marking the second time the <strong>NBA<\/strong> has done so; the first time was during the Orlando bubble in <strong>Disneyland<\/strong>. Other organizations like <strong>MMA<\/strong> allow and promote the use of <strong>CBD<\/strong> to aid their athletes&#8217; recovery post-fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CBD_and_cannabis_at_the_Olympic_Games\"><\/span>CBD and cannabis at the Olympic Games<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <strong>World Anti-Doping Agency<\/strong> removed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/785-cbd-sports\"><strong>CBD Sport<\/strong><\/a> from its list of prohibited substances in <strong>2018<\/strong>, demonstrating once again that cannabis properties extend beyond mere psychoactive effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CBD, or cannabidiol, has gained increasing interest and acceptance in the world of sports, including the Olympic Games, following the <strong>World Anti-Doping Agency\u2019s<\/strong> decision. This measure has allowed Olympic athletes to use CBD products for recovery, pain relief, and stress reduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cannabis_up_to_Rio_2016\"><\/span><strong>Cannabis up to Rio 2016<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since 1971, all cannabinoids derived from the Cannabis Sativa L. plant were banned by the<strong> WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency<\/strong>). This meant that any athlete testing positive for these compounds would be automatically disqualified from any sports competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, this prohibition was not questioned by society or athletes themselves. Nevertheless. as the research into its medicinal properties increased, questions arose about whether it should really be a banned substance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2018_the_year_of_change\"><\/span><strong>2018: the year of change<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the <strong>2008 Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt<\/strong>, two of the most prominent athletes in recent Olympic history, admitted to using cannabis, causing a major social uproar. This, along with growing scientific evidence of cannabinoids like CBD benefiting athletes, pressured WADA to reconsider its stance. Cannabidiol (CBD) is non-psychoactive, has medicinal properties, and aids athletes in recovery, presenting multiple advantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, the <strong>WHO (World Health Organization)<\/strong> also contributed to the change by stating that &#8220;CBD, a non-psychoactive molecule from the Cannabis Sativa L. plant, is not a dangerous substance. On the contrary, it has high therapeutic potential.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Further, faced with this evidence, WADA, traditionally hesitant to <strong>remove substances from its doping lists<\/strong>, had no choice but to update its regulations. Then, a few months after the WHO statement, WADA officially announced that &#8220;any type of cannabinoid, specifically THC, is prohibited, except cannabidiol (CBD).&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"CBD_at_Tokyo_2020\"><\/span><strong>CBD at Tokyo 2020<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the <strong>Tokyo 2020 Olympics<\/strong>, athletes could use CBD in their training and competition routines. However, WADA emphasized the importance of athletes ensuring that the <strong>substances they use do not contain traces of THC<\/strong> or other prohibited cannabinoids. This is because exceeding the allowed limit in any test would lead to disqualification.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/juegos-olimpicos-cannabis.jpg\" alt=\"Olympic Games and cannabis\" class=\"wp-image-165007\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/juegos-olimpicos-cannabis.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/juegos-olimpicos-cannabis-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/juegos-olimpicos-cannabis-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Therefore, athletes had to be cautious with broad and full spectrum products combining CBD with other cannabinoids to enhance effects. Nevertheless, the decision was well-received as a significant step towards full legalization of the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cannabis_at_the_2024_Olympic_Games\"><\/span><strong>Cannabis at the 2024 Olympic Games<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks to the legalization of CBD, the next goal for cannabis advocates is to demonstrate that THC does not enhance athletic performance and therefore should not be considered a doping substance. This<strong> issue gained prominence after the case of Sha\u2019Carri Richardson<\/strong>, disqualified from the Tokyo Olympics for testing positive for THC, which dashed her chances of winning gold in the 100 meters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scandal led WADA to convene an expert committee to study, in 2022, the<strong> effects of THC on athletic performance<\/strong>. Following this study, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) updated regulations on THC for the 2024 Paris Olympics. While THC remains a prohibited substance, WADA increased the <strong>THC detection threshold from 15 ng\/mL to 150 ng\/mL in urine<\/strong>. This means that only test results exceeding this level will be considered positive for THC, allowing more leeway for athletes who may have been exposed to <strong>small amounts of THC<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_athletes_benefit_from_marijuana\"><\/span><strong>How can athletes benefit from marijuana?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the main reasons marijuana is used in sports is its anti-inflammatory ability.  Particularly effective in contact sports, many athletes use cannabis after matches to alleviate pain and facilitate quick recovery. <strong>Conor McGregor<\/strong>, the former Irish MMA fighter, publicly disclosed his marijuana use after <strong>CBD was legalized in the UFC<\/strong>. He has also been observed in Coffee Shops in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other athletes, such as <strong>marathon runners<\/strong>, use marijuana to maintain focus. Running long distances releases substances in the brain remarkably similar to cannabinoids from cannabis. Some runners confirm experiencing a kind of <strong>&#8220;runner&#8217;s high&#8221;<\/strong> after a marathon, and thus consume cannabis before running to enhance concentration and enjoyment, thereby improving performance.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/deporte-y-cannabis.jpg\" alt=\"Sports and cannabis\" class=\"wp-image-165002\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/deporte-y-cannabis.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/deporte-y-cannabis-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/deporte-y-cannabis-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Relaxes_muscles_and_increases_focus\"><\/span>Relaxes muscles and increases focus<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Moreover, marijuana acts as a muscle relaxant. Many people worldwide use cannabis after sports or exercise to relax their muscles and accelerate recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Furthermore, several studies have shown that marijuana can significantly enhance concentration and performance in certain sports, such as running. Its ability to relieve muscle pains, typical among athletes in contact sports or intense activities like rugby, has also been scientifically validated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, it&#8217;s essential to note that marijuana may impair hand-eye coordination. Therefore, it is not recommended before activities requiring focus and coordination. Despite this, several retired NBA players attest to playing most of their games after consuming marijuana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_420_marijuana_games\"><\/span><strong>The 420 marijuana games<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s a <strong>special event<\/strong> held annually since <strong>2016<\/strong> across various states in the <strong>United States<\/strong>. It&#8217;s an occasion featuring cannabis-infused sports, educational talks, live music, and, of course, paraphernalia booths. Among the most visited events are the <strong>4.20-mile running track<\/strong>, their &#8220;beer garden,&#8221; and prominently, various stalls for cannabis-related products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Jim McAlpine<\/strong> created this event with the aim of <strong>raising awareness about responsible cannabis use<\/strong> and breaking the stereotype that cannabis users cannot lead an active and enjoyable life.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.growbarato.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/la-marihuana-y-el-deporte.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-165027\" title=\"Sports and cannabis - 420 games event\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/la-marihuana-y-el-deporte.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/la-marihuana-y-el-deporte-300x135.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/la-marihuana-y-el-deporte-768x346.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><div style='text-align:center' class='yasr-auto-insert-visitor'><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you are an athlete, you&#8217;ll know that you have to be very aware of the substances you consume and the physical consequences they have. Moreover, if you are a professional athlete, you may explicitly be prohibited from taking any type of psychoactive substance. There are several substances that can give an advantage in certain\u2026 <span class=\"leermas\" onclick=\"window.location.href='https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/cannabis-and-sports\/'\">Continue reading<\/span ><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":155044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","yasr_overall_rating":0,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[256],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-marijuana-news"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":1,"sum_votes":5},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87249","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87249"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87249\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":243369,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87249\/revisions\/243369"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/155044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87249"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87249"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gbthegreenbrand.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87249"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}