A review found no evidence that cannabis enhances athletic performance, but noted promising potential for pain management and concussion symptom relief in athletes that warrants further investigation.
Athletes, sports medicine physicians, anti-doping policy makers.
Zero evidence for cannabis as a performance-enhancing drug, but potential benefits for pain management and concussion symptoms deserve investigation.
What the researchers found
There is no direct evidence of cannabis as a performance-enhancing drug. Evidence for serious health harms in athletes is limited but potential for abuse and mental health issues should be considered. Cannabis use is associated with certain high-risk sports. The potential role of cannabis in pain management and concussion-related symptom relief deserves further attention.
Why it matters
Cannabis is prohibited in competition by WADA despite no evidence of performance enhancement. As legalization expands, athletes and sports medicine providers need evidence-based guidance rather than policy-driven assumptions.
The numbers in context
Cannabis use prevalence among elite athletes is not well-known. No evidence for performance enhancement. Limited evidence for both serious harms and benefits. Associated with high-risk sports.
How the study worked
Non-systematic literature review of Medline and PubMed for articles on cannabis/marijuana and sports/athletic performance.
What this study cannot tell us
Non-systematic review may miss relevant studies. Limited evidence base across all areas. Cannabis products vary enormously in composition. Athletic populations are understudied.
How to read the evidence
Preliminary - non-systematic review of a sparse evidence base.
When this study was published
Published in 2018. WADA has since raised the THC threshold and cannabis in sports remains under review.
The bigger picture
The shifting cultural and legal landscape around cannabis is creating pressure to re-evaluate its place in sports. This review highlights that the evidence gap is large and cuts both ways - neither harms nor benefits in athletes are well-documented.
Questions still open
- Should WADA reconsider cannabis prohibition given no evidence of performance enhancement? Could CBD products benefit athlete recovery without performance concerns? What are the risks of cannabis use for concussion management?
Common questions
Does cannabis help or hurt athletic performance?
Why is cannabis banned in sports?
Read the original research
Cannabis and the Health and Performance of the Elite Athlete.
Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, 28(5), 480-484
Citation
Ware, Mark A; Jensen, Dennis; Barrette, Amy; Vernec, Alan; Derman, Wayne. (2018). Cannabis and the Health and Performance of the Elite Athlete.. Clinical journal of sport medicine : official journal of the Canadian Academy of Sport Medicine, 28(5), 480-484. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000650
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