Pucks & Pot: How the NHL Pioneered Cannabis Use in Professional Sports

When the puck landed on Tuesday evening in another NHL season and thus the 104.

Fans may recall that during the 2020 postseason when NHL teams were forced to end the postseason in a bubble, Reports from players accessing grass rubbers for help in relaxing began to lick.

The reality is that cannabis use has never been a big secret among NHL players. If you don’t believe us, ask former Stanley Cup winner Detroit Red Wing Darren McCarty, the opened his own cannabis dispensaries across Michigan after more than a decade bypassing the league’s anti-drug program.

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These days, it seems that the NHL has evolved well beyond penalties for players who use cannabis to relax after gaming or to relax in their spare time. Here are some ways the NHL has refined its stance on marijuana and is setting the pace for other professional sports leagues.

By removing it from the list of prohibited substances

When the NHL decided to remove cannabis from its Prohibited Substances list, this was it first major sports league until the MLB followed suit in 2009. While cannabis isn’t banned, NHL players are still under two “No-Notice” tests per year, which can be used to test for all drugs, including THC.

RELATED: Using the NHL Marijuana Policy Approach as a Model for Other Professional Sports

The point of the tests is to anonymously identify players who may be struggling with their consumption habits so that the gaming association can provide players with the help they need. After a recommendation, the players have the choice, Participate in the NHLPA’s Joint Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Programbut they are not forced to do so.

By choosing not to suspend cannabis users

Since the league has chosen not to take a tough stance on cannabis, players can experiment with treatments outside of the pain relievers that they were limited to about a decade ago. Instead of being limited to opioid pain relievers, some players have reported relying on CBD to help them Overcome injuries and recover after games. Another benefit of the League’s stance on cannabis is the fact that they can do more research on it to learn more about its medicinal benefits.

By actively studying the effects of cannabis on concussions

Research that helps guide the NHL’s cannabis policy includes studies of the effects cannabis could have on concussion recovery. In 2019, it was announced that members of the NHL’s Alumni Association would be participating in a study aimed at better understanding the relationship between CBD and the Former player brain function Living with Symptoms After a Concussion. Doctors and former gamblers alike hope that research can reveal effective alternatives to traditional pain relievers.

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From removing cannabis from the banned substances list ahead of any other major sports leagues to participating in research into its long-term medical benefits, it is clear that the NHL has taken the lead when it comes to eradicating the stigma surrounding marijuana in professional sports to eliminate.

RELATED: Sports Leagues and Cannabis Testing: A North American Survey

Players and fans alike are benefiting from an evolution in the way major sports leagues think about cannabis; Players can relax on their own terms and fans can watch their favorite athletes and teams perform at their peak without worrying about bans or fines. The question now is which sports league will be the next to develop their views on the place of cannabis in professional sport.