Last year the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made a big change: though they still do not allow athletes to utilize medical cannabis, they’re allowing for athletes to use only CBD supplements.
Though the WADA doesn’t govern all anti-doping regulations, they do set the tone, and other anti-doping authorities are likely to follow this line.
Athletes now have more freedom to access the health and wellness benefits of CBD, without being disqualified from competing.
CBD for Sports: “It Helps”
The WADA change came after MMA fighter Nate Diaz took a drag from a CBD vaporizer pen during a post-fight press conference, in direct violation of the rules, and explained the benefits he experienced from the supplement: “It helps with the healing process and inflammation and things like that, so you want to get these for before or after the fights, in training. It’ll make your life a better place,” Nate Diaz told press, potentially endangering his career.
Rather than ruining his career, Diaz opened the way for more athletes to use cannabidiol (CBD) to supplement and support their exercise regimen. CBD supplements can be great both pre- and post-workout to prevent inflammation like Diaz pointed out, but that’s not all. Research shows that CBD can improve recovery, especially after injury, reduce pain and muscle spasms, improve sleep, and stimulate appetite.