There was a time when athletes were disqualified for being detected with caffeine in their system. Fortunately, we gained sense and moved past that stage to arrive at a point where history is being made. The Tokyo Olympics 2021 is one of the first grand events where cannabis has taken a front-row seat, and nobody has a problem with it (so far). In the 125 years of modern history, this is the first Olympic event where athletes are open and honest about using cannabis products to help them reach the biggest stage in sports. 

The World Anti-doping Agency (WADA), an organization entrusted with the responsibility to monitor and fight against the use of drugs in the Olympics, removed CBD from the list of banned substances. In the world of sports, more athletes are turning away from opioids and other addictive substances to more natural ways like CBD.

What is CBD (cannabidiol)?

There are over 140 compounds in the Cannabis plant that impart the effect one feels when consuming them. However, two of the most important compounds are THC and CBD. THC is responsible for the intoxicating part, which brings on the intended 'high'. On the other hand, CBD is a breakthrough compound with no 'high' feeling.

The non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant has found itself to be the star in the fitness arena, with many people opting for the naturally occurring material rather than addictive painkillers and opiates. 

Now that we are more clear on what CBD is, let's look at the connection between CBD and athletes. 

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CBD and Sports - What is the Connection?

As more and more athletes come out to confess their long-term usage of CBD to help with the rigorous preparation, the ground for worldwide acceptance is being prepared. The U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team star and Gold Medalist, Megan Rapinoe, announced that she used CBD in her daily training routine. 

 

CBD has proved to be a natural approach for atheletes, with more study coming forward regarding its innate nature and natural properties. The recent breakthrough of the CBD which is now FDA-approved, confirmed that CBD is here to stay. 

The non-intoxicating compound of the cannabis plant was a hit among the athletes as the natural solution, which eventually led to better performance. It is only logical if atheletes are taking it everyone else should also!

It is not only now that we are seeing athletes being pro-CBD products. Retired athletes like the former NBA players Paul Pierce, John Salley, and Lamar Odom, as well as the former NFL athletes Rob Gronkowski and Tiki Barber, have also advocated for CBD publicly and openly. 

UFC star Nate Diaz also admitted to using CBD as an essential part of the training regimen, which helped him both before and after his fights and bouts of training. 

There are countless other athletes like Greg Norman, Megan Rapinoe, Bubba Watson, and even Mike Tyson who stand behind CBD and advocate using it. 

With the increasing popularity of the compound and the overall acceptance by WADA, we expect more athletes to come forward with their support for CBD.

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How did cannabis make the headlines at the Olympics?

As a debutante, CBD legally entered the Olympics for the first time, and it made a noise to celebrate its presence. 

The CBD Use made headlines when the U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team star, Megan Rapinoe, incorporated CBD in her training routine and came forward with the statement. It is the first time that such an open and public discussion has taken place, with the athletes taking up space discussing CBD advantages. 

However, even if the athletes are using CBD for their routine, they are still not able to bring it to Japan for the big performance. It is due to the strict anti-cannabis laws in Japan. 

The other controversial headline related to Cannabis was when the US sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson tested positive for marijuana during the US Track & Field trials. She would be missing the Tokyo Olympics due to this. 

"Don't judge me, because I am human. I'm you," Richardson said. "I just happen to run a little faster."

 The THC Controversy

The Richardson controversy has opened discussions among cannabis supporters to allow THC for athletes. As we see CBD under WADA rules, many athletes look ahead to the entire cannabis plant legalization. Of course, right now, any slight detection of THC in the blood can disqualify you from the game. 

It is arguable to say whether THC is performance-enhancing or not. It might be that THC may make you more focused or creative that would put one person at an advantage when compared to someone who didn't use it. Moreover, the ban also stands firm because the THC is detectable even after the effects wear out in a couple of hours. Since THC is fat-soluble, it binds to the body fat and stays detectable long after you don't feel high. 

If the athletes are expected to perform at such a huge level with so much at stake, they should be allowed to use all-natural products to recover from the hard work. The thought of the general public is to bring about a change in the reforms and address the harm these policies and laws around THC have caused.