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The NCAA has decided to eliminate cannabis from its list of prohibited substances for Division I players, effectively immediately.
The move comes approximately five months after the NCAA’s Division I Council initially suggested the change. On June 25, the organization formally adopted the new policy, emphasizing that cannabis is not considered a performance-enhancing drug and should be regulated similarly to alcohol.
“The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on the integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage,” Josh Whitman, chair of the council, said in a press release. “The council’s focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.”
The decision marks a continuation of reforms initiated in 2022 when the NCAA increased the allowable THC thresholds for athletes—aligning its policies more closely with those of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The newly adopted rule represents a comprehensive overhaul of the NCAA’s drug testing policies, particularly affecting student-athletes participating in championships and postseason football. Additionally, any penalties currently being served by student-athletes who previously tested positive for cannabinoids will be discontinued, according to the association’s announcement.
Cannabis and Sports
The role of cannabis in the world of athletics has been a subject of ongoing debate, with many misconceptions often overshadowing its actual impact. Contrary to popular belief that cannabis might act as performance-enhancing, research and anecdotal evidence suggest otherwise. Rather than boosting physical prowess or competitive edge, studies show its effects are more aligned with relaxation, pain relief, and stress reduction. For athletes who regularly endure physical exertion and psychological pressure, these benefits can be invaluable in managing the rigorous demands on their bodies and minds.
Cannabis may provide a natural alternative to traditional methods of managing these stresses—such as prescription medications, which may have their own set of side effects and dependencies.
Take Sha’Carri Richardson, for example; the sprinter whose suspension from the Olympics due to a cannabis violation sparked widespread debate. In a poignant statement, she expressed how cannabis had helped her both professionally and personally.
“To put on a face to have to go in front of the world and put on a face and hide my pain, like, who am I to tell you how to cope when you’re dealing with a pain or dealing with a struggle that you’ve never experienced before,” she stated, according to Insider.
Richardson’s experience highlighted broader questions about the fairness and evolving perception of cannabis consumption amongst athletes. The broader discussion also highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of cannabis’ role and impact on athletes’ health and performance. As public attitudes continue to shift and more research emerges, there is growing momentum to reconsider and potentially reform regulations even further.
Impact on Recruitment and Player Diversity
Historically, strict cannabis policies have deterred some athletes from pursuing opportunities in NCAA programs. By eliminating cannabis from its banned substances list, the NCAA may open doors for a more diverse pool of talent to participate in collegiate sports. The shift could be particularly significant for athletes from regions or backgrounds where cannabis consumption is culturally accepted or legally regulated.
In terms of professional sports, in April, the NBA and its associated players announced they had reached a tentative agreement to eliminate THC testing and penalties for players. Previously, the NBA’s policy mandated players undergo treatment after a first offense, fined them $25,000 for a second violation, and imposed a five-game suspension following a third violation.
In 2022, the NFL announced it was putting forward $1 million in funding to investigate the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of concussions and for alternative pain management. The MLB removed cannabis-derived compounds from the banned substances list in 2020.
Shifting Paradigm in College Athletics
According to self-reports, the NCAA says that cannabis use by student-athletes within the last year increased slightly from 25% in 2017 to 26% in 2023. Cannabis consumption was highest among student-athletes competing in men’s sports at the Division III level and those who identified as “attending college in a state where personal and medical use are legal.”
Advocates of the policy change argue that it reflects evolving societal attitudes toward cannabis and recognizes the need for fair treatment of athletes. By removing cannabis from its prohibited substances list, the NCAA acknowledges the distinction between substances that enhance performance and those that do not. The decision is expected to have a profound impact on collegiate sports culture, promoting greater transparency and equity in how substance use is regulated among athletes.
I wholeheartedly support the NCAA’s recent decision to remove cannabis from the Banned Substances list for college athletes. This move marks a critical step toward aligning sports policies with modern understandings of health and wellness. Drug testing and bans should fundamentally aim to protect the integrity of competition, distinguishing between substances that enhance performance and those that do not. Cannabis, now widely recognized as a non-performance-enhancing substance, falls firmly in the latter category.
As someone who has personally experienced the limitations of traditional pain management, I can attest to the profound impact cannabis can have on relieving pain and anxiety. Following multiple spinal surgeries after a car accident, I suffered from chronic back pain. As a law school graduate, cannabis was not even considered an option for my pain management. Today, however, it plays a vital role in my wellness routine, helping me where other treatments fell short. This transformation has led me to become a cannabis educator and the founder of a platform dedicated to dispelling myths and empowering informed choices about cannabis.
The focus must shift toward the health and well-being of student-athletes. Many are turning to cannabis as a healthier alternative to prescription pain relief and anti-anxiety medications, which often carry severe side effects and addiction risks. There is a growing body of both anecdotal and research evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, a fact that professional leagues like the NBA and NFL have already acknowledged. As we come off the Olympics—a global stage where the physical and mental demands on athletes are at their peak—it’s clear that policies should be centered on supporting athletes’ health rather than punishing them for making informed, safer choices. This decision by the NCAA is a necessary and commendable evolution in sports policy, reflecting a broader societal shift toward more compassionate and scientifically grounded approaches to cannabis use.