Marijuana use in soccer has been a hot button issue, especially in the last several years as legalization has caught on throughout the U.S.
Current Rules on Marijuana
U.S. soccer players are still not allowed to consume any amount of marijuana. Cannabis makes up over forty percent of all positive drug tests. While officials recognize that this drug is not used to enhance performance, it is still not tolerated within this sport. Officials have called marijuana a “social problem” as opposed to one of doping.
Players can only face penalties if they test beyond 15 ng per milliliter. This rule was established to prevent false positives caused by passive inhalation of marijuana. A standard urine test may be administered to determine how much THC is a player’s system, if any.
FIFA officials define marijuana as “the dried leaves and flowers of the Cannabis sativa plant”. Hashish, which is the dried juice from the plant’s leaves, is also banned in this sport. This is because it contains THC, which is a psychoactive compound.
CBD Usage in Soccer
While marijuana remains on the list of banned drugs for soccer players, CBD is allowed. Players can only use hemp-derived CBD that does not contain any THC.
The primary reason that hemp-derived CBD is allowed in soccer is because it is not psychoactive due to the lack of THC. It also has the potential to speed up recovery times for players. This could reduce the number of injuries for players, allowing them to avoid missing being excluded from games.
No soccer players have come out and admitted to using CBD as of yet, but it is expected that many of them use it on a regular basis.
Benefits of CBD for Soccer Players
Some of the reasons that soccer players have cited for using CBD include:
- Pain relief: The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD are one of the main reasons that so many professional athletes use it. While soccer might not be a contact sport like American football, it can take a physical toll on players. It has the ability to ease muscle aches and pains quite effectively.
- Anxiety treatment: The anxiety that some soccer players suffer from can be intensified by the pressure to perform in front of thousands of people. Studies have shown that CBD can be very effective for treating anxiety. It creates a relaxed sensation that can be extremely beneficial for people with this condition.
- Reduced stress: Engaging in physical activity tends to release certain hormones that are associated with stress. These hormones include adrenaline, aldosterone, and cortisol. The release of these hormones can be quite taxing on the body. CBD has been shown to reduce the production of certain stress hormones related to physical activity (like soccer).
Final Thoughts
It is unclear as to whether or not marijuana will be allowed in soccer, but it doesn’t seem like this policy will change in the foreseeable future. CBD or Cannabidiol remains legal for players, and offers a wide range of very real benefits.
