The NFL introduced on Tuesday that it has licensed $1 million in grants for a pair of research wanting into the efficacy of marijuana and its elements in managing soccer gamers’ ache and offering neuroprotection from concussions.
A fee of the NFL and the league’s gamers union first previewed the funding plan in June, emphasizing the robust curiosity amongst gamers and different stakeholders in exploring the therapeutic advantages of cannabinoids, notably as a substitute for opioid painkillers.
Right this moment, the @NFL introduced $1 million in analysis funding to researchers at @UCSanDiego and @UofRegina to review the impacts of hashish and CBD on the ache administration of elite athletes. Be taught extra: https://t.co/riWoOQWYNe
— NFL345 (@NFL345) February 1, 2022
There have been greater than 100 purposes from researchers to hold out the research, and the fee chosen two: the College of California San Diego and College of Regina in Canada.
“As with the league’s broader strategy to well being and security, we wish to make sure that our gamers are receiving care that displays probably the most up-to-date medical consensus,” NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills said in a press launch. “Whereas the burden of proof is excessive for NFL gamers who wish to perceive the influence of any medical choice on their efficiency, we’re grateful that now we have the chance to fund these scientifically-sound research on using cannabinoids which will result in the invention of data-based proof that would influence the ache administration of our gamers.”
Kevin Hill, a hashish analysis who serves as co-chair of the NFL-NFLPA Joint Ache Administration Committee (PMC), told The Related Press that there are a number of causes that research into the ache administration potential of marijuana has been restricted, together with the truth that it stays a Schedule I federally managed substance.
That “makes it tougher to do that analysis,” he mentioned, echoing some extent he made in response to a question from Marijuana Moment during a press briefing last summer. However he additionally blamed business “stakeholders” who he alleged don’t wish to assist extra research as a result of hashish merchandise are already extensively obtainable and getting used.
“The NFL-NFLPA Joint Ache Administration Committee is thrilled with the outcomes of this course of,” Hill mentioned in a press launch. “We acquired over 100 proposals from prime clinicians and researchers from around the globe. The NFL is raring to advance the science of ache administration and efficiency in an effort to enhance the well being and security of the gamers.”
Mark Wallace, co-principal investigator and director of the Middle for Ache Drugs at UC San Diego Well being, mentioned that his group is “excited to obtain this funding to conduct a scientific, ‘real-world, real-time’ examine with skilled athletes, and which ought to shed additional mild upon the various anecdotal studies that hashish is useful in decreasing post-competition ache.”
The newly funded analysis initiatives will take three years to finish.
When the grant alternative was first mentioned final yr, NFL mentioned it was primarily excited about three areas of analysis:
- the consequences of cannabinoids on ache in elite soccer gamers (post-surgical and/or in day by day ache administration)
- the consequences of non-pharmacologic remedies on ache in elite soccer gamers (postsurgical and/or in day by day ache administration)
- the consequences of hashish or cannabinoids on athletic efficiency (e.g., psychomotor, response time, cardiorespiratory operate) in elite soccer gamers.”
The joint NFL-NFLPA committee held two informational forums on CBD in 2020, and whereas their preliminary findings weren’t definitive, PMC decided that the non-intoxicating hashish compound exhibits promise within the remedy of some types of ache, however the science doesn’t presently reside as much as the “hype.”
“The prevention and remedy of concussions is on the core of my analysis,” Patrick Neary, an train physiologist and professor within the School of Kinesiology and Well being Research on the College of Regina, mentioned. “That’s why I’m excited to have the assist of the NFL on this challenge.”
“Our interdisciplinary analysis group believes that totally different cannabinoid formulations present in medical hashish have the potential to profit athletes affected by the acute and long-term persistent results of concussions,” he mentioned. “Our analysis will even work to indicate that cannabinoids can be utilized as a substitute for opioids for ache administration.”
There’s no assure that optimistic findings that affirm the ache relieving qualities of hashish would lead the league to carry its ban on gamers utilizing marijuana regardless of its rising authorized states in quite a few states. However following NFL’s drug testing policy already changed demonstrably in 2020 as a part of a collective bargaining settlement.
NFL gamers now not face the opportunity of being suspended from video games over optimistic assessments for any drug—not simply marijuana—below a collective bargaining settlement. As an alternative, they’ll face a fantastic. The brink for what constitutes a optimistic THC take a look at was additionally elevated below the deal.
Drug testing insurance policies have been revised in different sports activities leagues too lately.
The NBA introduced late final yr that’s extending its coverage of not randomly drug testing players for marijuana via the 2021-2022 season. The affiliation received’t be subjecting gamers to random drug testing for THC; nevertheless, they’ll proceed to check “for trigger” instances the place gamers have histories of substance use.
In an analogous vein, the MLB determined in 2019 to remove cannabis from the league’s list of banned substances. Baseball gamers can devour marijuana with out threat of self-discipline, however officers clarified final yr that they can’t work while under the influence and might’t enter into sponsorship contracts with hashish companies, a minimum of in the interim.
Drug testing athletes turned a difficulty that made worldwide headlines final yr following the suspension of U.S. runner Sha’Carri Richardson from taking part within the Olympics over a optimistic THC take a look at.
The World Anti-Doping Company later introduced that it will be conducting a scientific review of marijuana this yr to find out whether or not it ought to proceed a global ban on hashish use by athletes.
Marijuana icon Snoop Dogg additionally lately argued that sports leagues need to stop testing players for marijuana and permit to them to make use of it as a substitute for prescription opioids.
Picture aspect courtesy of Marco Verch.
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