With a tentative agreement, the National Basketball Association (NBA), and National Basketball Players Associations (NBPA), are helping usher in a new era of sports and cannabis.
Although the agreement must be approved by the players and the team governors before the deal can become official, it appears that the NBA plans to remove marijuana from the banned substances list. It also intends to permit players to invest and promote cannabis businesses, according to The Athletic .
The seven-year collective bargaining deal that was reached last weekend includes these new details. This agreement codifies the league’s decision not to allow cannabis testing during the previous three seasons. It also officially removes cannabis drug testing requirements from athletes.
The NBA’s New Path Forward
This move has been a long-awaited. In 2020, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver indicated that temporary policies might one day be permanent following initial suspension of cannabis testing.
Silver stated that Silver decided, “Given all that was happening in society and the stress players were experiencing, we weren’t required to be Big Brother at this time.” I believe society has seen a shift in its views on marijuana.
Weedmaps announced its partnership in 2021 with NBA player Kevin Durant. This partnership will last for many years and is aimed to destigmatize cannabis while showcasing it’s ability to aid “athlete wellbeing and recovery.”
Although other professional leagues are moving in the same direction, the NBA is unique in its goal to allow players to promote and invest cannabis businesses. It would allow players to sign endorsement agreements with non-gambling sports betting companies and invest in NBA or WNBA teams.
The NBA Is Reigniting Cannabis and Sports Conversations
As the cannabis industry grows, so does the conversation about cannabis and sport. Ricky Williams, a retired athlete, has spoken out about his cannabis use during and after retirement. This is especially relevant to the effects of marijuana on gameplay symptoms such as chronic pain and aching joints.
Williams stated that the NFL has made progress in its cannabis policy, but they can do better.
Williams stated that the NFL was a strong corporation with a lot to offer and could change their approach in a significant way.
Sha’Carri Richardson was a notable figure who sparked interest in cannabis policies in sport in 2021 after being suspended from the Tokyo Olympics 2020 because she tested positive for THC in her blood following the passing of her mother. According to her, she’d feel proud and “blessed” if other athletes were affected by her story.
After U.S. basketball player Brittney griner was arrested in Russia for possessing a THC vape, the topic of cannabis and sport also came up.
As athletes continue to share their marijuana use in relation to their overall health, research confirms that cannabis products and cannabinoid supplements have the potential for aiding athletic training and recovery. However, more research on this topic is still needed.
The Progress of Cannabis in Sports
The NBA is leading the conversation. Other major sports leagues are following suit.
The NFL and NFL Players Association reached an agreement to change the league’s marijuana policy during the offseason 2021. According to the updated policy, players are required to test positive for marijuana only once per year at training camp. Players who fail the test used to be subject to long suspensions. Now they can only face a small fine.
The NFL approved $1,000,000 in grants to fund two research studies on cannabis and its components that could examine their efficacy in managing pain for football players as well as neuroprotection against concussions.
In recent years, MLB also took a progressive position. It stated in 2020 that marijuana use would be allowed, only a few months following ‘s removal of cannabisfrom its banned substance list. Players who had tested positive for THC received mandatory treatment. Those who did not comply were subject to a maximum of $35,000.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), in 2021, announced that it will no longer penalize fighters who test positive for cannabis.
Official Twitter account of NBPA shared the news announcement announcing the tentative agreement on April 1. This confirms that specific details “will be made public once a termsheet is finalized.”
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