Breaking Down The Cannabis Policies For Every Major Sports Organization in America

Major sports organizations in America have had a long and storied history when it comes to their cannabis policies. It’s often been an incredibly taboo subject in the past, with athletes running into trouble for so much as a single puff on a joint — but finally, the tides are starting to turn. 

As more and more sports players discover and reap the numerous benefits of the cannabis plant, these policies have continued to change and evolve over the years.

During the Olympic trials in 2021, Sha’Carri Richardson tested positive for cannabis after an outstanding performance, leading to disqualification and a huge storm of arguments around the world. It took time, but she found victory in the end and was able to rejoin the Olympic team three years later. Athletes like Richardson have helped revolutionize the way sports organizations now view cannabis, with some even removing it from their list of banned substances.

Every major sports organization has its own distinct and ever-changing policies on cannabis, so we’ve broken each down to give you an update on where they stand.

The National Basketball Association

In recent years, the National Basketball Association (NBA) made a historic agreement with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) regarding its position on athlete’s cannabis use.

It all began with the temporary suspension of cannabis testing because of the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine during the 2019–2020 season. Societal views regarding marijuana were already changing, and it was hinted that this temporary suspension could become permanent.

The long-standing ban on cannabis use by players was officially lifted and went into effect for the first time during the 2023–2024 seasons. This means the NBPA will no longer test players for marijuana use, and cannabis has been removed from the list of banned substances. The seven-year collective bargaining deal allows players to use cannabis without the fear of facing penalties or suspension for doing so.

The policy change will hopefully ease opioid, pill, and injection drug use because of the benefits players can now legally gain from cannabis use.  

The Ultimate Fighting Championship

Another significant step was taken in the sports world regarding cannabis consumption by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

On December 31, 2023, the policy was revised, and the UFC announced it would remove cannabis from its list of banned substances. As a result, fighters are no longer penalized if they test positive for THC.

The UFC marks yet another sports organization that has acknowledged the changing stigma surrounding cannabis use. They are now committed to reforming international regulations and have a more contemporary understanding of cannabis.

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball (MLB) used to test for THC in the same way they tested for “hard” drugs like cocaine and opioids.

However, in December 2019, the MLB made a big move when it dropped cannabis from its banned substance list. This much-needed change means marijuana is treated the same way as alcohol when it comes to player consumption off the field.

This also means that the MLB treats issues like violence, or accidents involving players under the influence of cannabis, like it does alcohol. If cannabis use leads to these issues, it can result in possible penalties, rehabilitation, and drug courses, which will help keep players responsible when using cannabis.

When cannabis was dropped from its banned substances list, the MLB players were now able to use this natural, alternative substance to alleviate pain should they choose. It’s the hope that this gives players options instead of using the prior go-to solution of pill-popping, which holds risks of overdose or dependency on pills. 

The National Hockey League

The National Hockey League (NHL) consists of 32 teams across both the United States and Canada.

To some degree, cannabis is legal in the majority of the cities that have an NHL team. In fact, cannabis is legal in over 90% of the cities where these teams play.

However, the NHL does test for cannabis, and NHL players are subject to a no-notice drug test during the regular season and training camp. Random testing can also happen during the pre-season and the playoffs.

But technically, cannabis is not considered a banned substance, meaning NHL players who test positive for even high levels of THC are not punished.

If a player does have an abnormally high level of THC in their system, they are instead offered admission to the NHL’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. Players are not required to join the program, however. If a player joins the program, the NHL is notified, and an individual treatment plan is developed for that player.

It’s the goal of the NHL to help players who have a substance abuse problem, while not punishing players who are consuming cannabis responsibly.

A player for the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid, has spoken publicly about how CBD and cannabis can be an alternative to taking pain medication when they are sore or injured.

The National Football League

For the National Football League (NFL), cannabis use policies for its athletes are a bit more complicated. The NFL is one of the more restrictive major league sports associations regarding cannabis use, despite becoming more progressive in recent years.

Officially, the NFL still bans the use of cannabis. But thanks to NFL players who have become the subject of controversy surrounding cannabis use, these policies have evolved over time.

Currently, anyone employed by the NFL must take a mandatory drug test per the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). However, the drug test that occurs between April 20th and August 9th does not include THC. During game season, though, there is a once-a-year test that does include THC.

In 2021, the NFL began to relax its policy surrounding cannabis and decreased to only annual testing at the beginning of training camp. It also increased the threshold for testing positive for THC, going from 35 nanograms of THC to 150 nanograms. In addition, if players were to test positive, they would no longer be suspended. Instead, they now have a fine of up to three weeks’ pay.

Ricky Williams is one of the most significant former NFL players who has helped set in motion the loosening of these cannabis policies. During an interview with USA Today, he publicly discussed how prevalent cannabis use was in the NFL and how he hoped players would no longer need to hide their cannabis use from the NFL. He also spoke openly about his belief that cannabis could be the healthier alternative to the rampant prescription painkiller problem within the NFL.

Travis Kelce is one of the most notable NFL players who have pushed the boundaries of cannabis use when speaking out about their use of the substance. In his sophomore year at Cincinnati, he was suspended the entire year because of a failed marijuana test.

When he joined the Chiefs and rose to fame, he continued to speak out and draw attention to his cannabis use. Kelce has said the majority of players use cannabis — an estimated 50% – 80% of them, according to his June 2023 interview with Vanity Fair.

It’s the hope of these pro-cannabis athletes that the lessening of testing and penalties in recent years will eventually lead to the removal of marijuana testing altogether.

Thanks to the precedent set by many of the other major sports organizations, it seems much more likely that the NFL might eventually follow in their footsteps.

The Future of Marijuana in Professional Sports

So many dramatic changes are occurring within the policies of numerous sports organizations concerning cannabis.

With the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Biden Administration recently starting the process of reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug, it’s the hope sports medicine will continue to evolve its policies in favor of cannabis use. They are finally recognizing how marijuana can positively change the well-being of these athletes, and it will hopefully only continue to get better from here.