New Research Highlights Cannabis Positive Role in Pain Management for NCAA Athletes

A new presentation reviewing research on student athletes’ use of cannabis finds that marijuana “has demonstrated positive findings as an alternative for pain management among NCAA athletes.”

Research Presentation by Jacksonville State University Student

The conference talk, by Jacksonville State University master’s student Aquriya Muller, drew from published studies into marijuana among athletes and for pain management.

NCAA’s Policy Shift on Cannabis Use for Athletes

Notably, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) last year removed marijuana from its list of substances banned for Division I athletes, emphasizing that cannabis is not a performance-enhancing drug and that it should be treated the same way as alcohol.

Potential Benefits of Cannabis for Athletes’ Health and Recovery

“Evidence indicates that marijuana use among athletes can improve oxygenation of tissues, reduce muscle spasm, and enhance pain management,” the new research paper says. “For patients with fibromyalgia, marijuana use displayed benefits in alleviating symptoms such as pain and stiffness, while enhancing relaxation and sleep.”

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabis Aid Post-Exercise Recovery

It further found that “marijuana’s anti-inflammatory properties also contribute to recovery and post-exercise treatment.”

A Study of a Division I Basketball Player’s Experience

Her presentation pointed to the example of a Division I basketball player who used marijuana to treat muscle spasms and pain as well as improve sleep.

Call for Continued Research and Awareness Among Trainers

Muller’s report encourages trainers and care providers to stay up-to-date on relevant findings and work to incorporate alternative and conventional treatments.

Review of Research Sources and Limitations in Studies

In all, the report reviewed 94 total articles, though it excluded 90 of those for not meeting the study criteria.

Need for Further Studies and Stronger Evidence

And while Muller noted the positive apparent benefits of marijuana, she identified a need for further research. The bulk of the studies, she noted, had a “lower level of evidence” and were “less reliable” overall.

Role of Healthcare Providers in Adapting to Cannabis Research

“Athletic trainers and healthcare providers should remain informed about evolving policies and evidence to provide tailored, evidence-based care to their athletes and patients,” it continues. “This knowledge supports developing treatment plans for athletes that incorporate alternative and traditional pain management methods.”

NCAA’s Evolving Approach to Cannabis Regulations

Last year’s NCAA vote to remove marijuana as a banned substance built on a 2022 change that increased the allowable THC threshold for college athletes, a change meant to align NCAA’s rules with those of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Shifting Focus from Punishment to Well-Being

Historically, college athletes have been subject to testing during postseason play. Positive tests could mean an entire season of lost eligibility. Officials have said the changes are intended to focus more on problematic use than penalizing players for a single mistake.

NCAA’s Position on Cannabis as a Non Performance Enhancing Drug

“The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage,” Josh Whitman, chair of NCAA’s Division I council, said last year. “The council’s focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.”

Formal Recommendation for Policy Shift in NCAA

When an NCAA committee formally recommended the policy shift in September 2023, it said ending the cannabis ban “acknowledges the ineffectiveness of existing policy (banning, testing and penalizing),” affirms the body’s belief that cannabis is not a “performance-enhancing drug” and promotes the “importance of moving toward a harm-reduction strategy.”

Broader Changes in Cannabis Testing Policies Across Sports

Multiple sports organizations have moved to amend their marijuana testing policies for athletes amid the state legalization movement.

NFL’s Evolving Cannabis Policy and Opioid Alternative Research

For example, the NFL and its players union agreed to end the practice of suspending players over marijuana or other drugs as part of a collective bargaining agreement in 2020.

UFC’s Removal of Cannabis from Banned Substances List

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) announced in late 2023 that it was formally removing marijuana from its newly modified banned substances list for athletes, also building on an earlier reform.

Nevada’s Protections for Athletes Using State-Legal Cannabis

Nevada sports regulators voted in 2023 to send a proposed regulatory amendment to the governor that would protect athletes from being penalized over using or possessing marijuana in compliance with state law. Last October, regulators officially adopted the rule change.

Ongoing Debate Over WADA’s Stance on Cannabis Use

While advocates have welcomed these changes, there’s been criticism of WADA over its ongoing cannabis ban. Members of a panel within the agency said in a 2023 opinion piece that marijuana use by athletes violates the “spirit of sport,” making them unfit role models whose potential impairment could put others at risk.

Research Linking Cannabis to Pain Management and Reduced Opioid Use

As for marijuana and pain, a study earlier this year found that cannabis and its constituent cannabinoids could be useful treatments for various types of chronic pain, in some cases helping to reduce the use of other medications.

Findings on Medical Cannabis’ Effectiveness Compared to Opioids

Research published earlier this year in the journal Pain, for example, found that marijuana was “comparatively more effective than prescription medications” for treating chronic pain after a three-month period, and that many patients reduced their use of opioid painkillers while using cannabis.

State-Level Data on Cannabis and Opioid Prescription Reductions

A separate federally funded study found that legalization of marijuana in U.S. states is associated with reduced prescriptions for opioid pain medications among commercially insured adults—indicating a possible substitution effect where patients are choosing to use cannabis instead of prescription drugs to treat pain.

Broader Implications for Cannabis Legalization and Public Health

Other recent research also showed a decline in fatal opioid overdoses in jurisdictions where marijuana was legalized for adults. That study found a “consistent negative relationship” between legalization and fatal overdoses, with more significant effects in states that legalized cannabis earlier in the opioid crisis.

The Growing Acceptance of Cannabis in Sports and Medicine

With increasing research supporting marijuana’s role in pain management, combined with evolving sports policies, the perception of cannabis in the athletic world continues to shift toward acceptance and integration into broader healthcare strategies.