Can UFC fighters smoke weed? Simply put, Yes! You can.
For many years various sports councils have fought Marijuana with anti-doping laws and regulations. Mixed Martial Arts is relatively new on that list.
There was a time when cannabis was frowned upon by almost every sport. But with time this scenario has changed.
What is Marijuana and Why Does It Matter in MMA?
Marijuana usually refers to plant material that is smoked or eaten also known as “Cannabis” or “Weed”.
The Cannabi plant contains more than 100 chemical compounds which are generally called “cannabinoids”. The most notorious among these contents are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Substances in cannabis vary greatly depending on where the plant is growing. For instance, Marijuana plants from the Himalayan terrain are different than plants that are found in North American countries.
There are also differences in components like THC and CBD. There are THC-8, CBN, etc each of which stimulates the brain differently.
What these chemical compounds Do is stimulate our brain’s specific parts which are responsible for mood, movement, appetite, pain and sensation, memory, and perception.
Why Marijuana Was Banned in Sports by USADA
According to USADA, There are mainly three reasons for banning any substance:
- it has the potential to enhance performance
- it poses a health risk to athletes and
- it violates the spirit of sport.
If any substance meets at least two of these three conditions, It will be banned by USADA for sports.
USADA experts don’t have any conclusive evidence that cannabis enhances performance. However, they agreed that this substance can pose a health risk to athletes and violates the spirit of the game.
UFC’s Latest 2024 Marijuana Policy Explained
UFC’s first major update in anti-doping policy regarding Marijuana was in January 2021. This was a major shift from UFC’s long-endorsed anti-doping policy.
In that update, UFC announced that from 2021, UFC will not punish fighters for the use of cannabis.
UFC argued that THC is fat-soluble and can be in the human system for longer than expected. This means that out-of-competition uses of players can have their urine test positive for THC before their match day.
In December 2023, UFC again updated its anti-doping policy and list of prohibited substances.
The updated list excluded cannabis for the first time.
This means if an in-match fighter tests positive for carbo-THC, THC, or CBD he or she will not punished for that.
Hunter Campbell, UFC’s Chief Business Officer said earlier,
“UFC’s goal for the Anti-Doping Policy is to be the best, most effective, and most progressive anti-doping program in all of professional sports,”
Although UFC excluded this from their list, Fighters are still subject to the country law prohibiting cannabis.
Many states have their anti-doping laws for sports. California, for example still has regulations regarding the use of cannabis.
Why do so many UFC fighters are pro-Cannabis?
Even though UFC’s anti-doping regulation and state commission’s rule were against the use of weed for in-match fighters, There were lots of fighters who supported cannabis use.
Fighters like Suga Sean O’Malley, Max Holloway, and Nate Diaz have been vocal about the positive impact of cannabis. They argued that cannabis has these positive effects on them:
Recovery and Pain Management
Many fighters use cannabis as a natural alternative for pain relief and recovery. Unlike opioids or other pharmaceuticals that can be addictive or might contain prohibited contents, marijuana offers a way to manage pain without severe side effects and risk of being positive in the “No Notice Test”
Research has shown that a mixture of THC and CBD can relief a certain amount of pain, Although it varies from man to man.
Mental Health Considerations
The pressures of competition and insane weight cuts can cause a great amount of anxiety and stress for players. This can lead to a mental health issue even long after the fight.
With its physical recovery benefits, many fighters report using cannabis for mental health support. Cannabis has been used to calm nerve and give a relaxed sensation to the brain.
Although there is no conclusive scientific evidence for this, marijuana has been widely used by fighters as a mental health aid.
Famous UFC Fighters Punished for Smoking Weed
Many UFC icons have received bans and punishments over the years for the use of prohibited substances. Among them, some famous names got punishment for smoking weed before the match. Below I have listed some interesting names that might amaze you:
Chris Barnett
UFC heavyweight Chris Barnett was handed a 4.5-month ban and 1000$ fine by the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) in September 2021, Just before his debut match for testing positive for cannabis before his fight.
Although NAC revoked the rule of giving punishment for using marijuana, Chris Barnett’s case was filed before the new rule.
Nick and Nate Diaz
In 2015, UFC’s notorious welterweight fighter Nick Diaz was banned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for 5 years, for testing positive for marijuana. Many believe that it was not only for marijuana, rather it was for the behavior of Nick towards the NSAC authority.
NSAC wanted to give him a lifetime ban Instead they agreed on imposing a 5 year ban on Nick.
Nick’s brother, Nate is also a pro-marijuana and famously puffed on a CBD vape during a post-fight press conference, Both of these brothers were adamant and open about their love of weed.
Matt Riddle
Mathew Riddle also known as Matt Riddle was cut from UFC contact due to his two positive tests for Marijuana within seven months.
In 2013, before his bout in UFC 149, Matt tested positive for Marijuana and caused a rift with UFC authority. Within 7 months he again tested positive and UFC quickly terminated his contract.
However, many believed UFC was trying to cut the list of contracts and Matt made their job bit easier.
Final Thoughts
Mixed Martial Arts’ biggest promoter Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has been battling with the uses of cannabies for years. With time they relaxed their anti-doping policy for the testing of marijuana.
Finally, from December 31, 2023, UFC excluded marijuana or products that have THC, Carboxy-THC, and CBD from its prohibited substances list.
Following the footsteps of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), UFC finally made a bold move.
I feel this will help the game in the long run as there is no conclusive evidence of marijuana as a performance enhancer.
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