In the wake of the opioid crisis, any drug or compound that can reduce pain without having addictive properties and negative side effects is crucial in sports recovery. In 2017 the World Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from its banned substances list. Shortly after that the NBA commissioner David Stern fought to change its policies to let players use medical marijuana. The NFL Players Association then set out to study cannabis and CBD as an alternative to other pain therapies.
New England Patriot Rob Gronkowski, Boston Celtic Paul Pierce, and New York Giant Tiki Barber all have their own CBD Companies and promote their products as an alternative healing method. Lots of athletes also use CBD for anxiety. Ricky Williams once stated that his “personal goal is to elevate the legitimacy of cannabis as a medicine and the respect of medical professionals for cannabis users.” Williams was suffering from sever social anxiety and had once been a spokesperson for Paxil (a pharmaceutical drug for anxiety and depression). He is quoted saying “cannabis was 10 times better than Paxil for my personal condition.”
Not only is CBD a much healthier option than opioids, it also can help symptoms of brain injury. Athletes aren’t the only ones with traumatic brain injuries. An estimated 4 to 6 million Americans are on disability because of them. CBD has neuroprotective, properties making it an ideal form of treatment for those suffering from any type of head injury. In 2014 an American Surgeon study article was published explaining how cannabis use affected people with traumatic brain injury. “A positive THC screen is associated with decreased mortality in adult patients sustaining TBI.” Another report by UCLA Medical Center Scientist showed that “TBI-afflicted individuals who consume cannabis are more likely to live longer than those who abstain”.
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