The popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) — one of the nonpsychoactive components of cannabis and hemp — has exploded in recent years. While the widespread availability of CBD oil across the U.S. would make you believe it’s legal everywhere, a recent consumer update from the Food and Drug Administration clarifies the issue, noting that CBD is not recognized as a nutritional supplement.
![nfl]()
This mass emergence of CBD products came on the heels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s downgrading of CBD products from cannabis that contain no more than 0.1% tetrahydrocannabinols (THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis) from Schedule 1 to Schedule 5 at the end of 2018. Schedule 5 drugs are considered to have a lower potential for abuse than other controlled drugs.
A growing body of research has highlighted the benefits of CBD for pain management, and many athletes have noticed. In 2017, CBD was removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances. This year, the NFL partnered with the National Football League Players’ Association to take a closer look at CBD and marijuana as alternatives to opioids and other therapies for pain management.
While league policies are one hurdle that pro-CBD athletes face, national drug policies are another. CBD is still illegal in many states. But based on research, at least 50 conditions are believed to be improved by CBD, including pain, seizures, muscle spasms, nausea associated with chemotherapy, digestive disorders, degenerative neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, mood disorders, anxiety, PTSD and high blood pressure. CBD has also been shown to provide valuable benefits for those struggling with opioid addiction.
What do you think? Should athletes be permitted to use CBD?