It’s been the subject of professional sports arguments for years – does the use of cannabis aid in the healing process? Should athletes be allowed to use it in professional sports and/or sports entertainment?
Last week WWE suspended both Adam Rose and Konnor for 60 days following their second violation of the company’s Wellness Policy. While cannabis was not the reported reason why the two WWE stars were suspended, the punishment made me recall the age-old argument of the benefits of cannabis use in the professional sports world.
The health benefits of Cannabis are more and more appreciated after some long period of stigmatization of any use of the plant. Of course it is difficult for many of us out there to even imagine an athlete having any relation with the “evil drug”, as for many years it has been described in the media. But things are not what they seem to be.
On a daily basis, athletes push their bodies to the limits, and very often they face muscle stiffness. Many of these muscle pains turn into injuries and often cause chronic pains adding problems to the careers and daily lives of many sportsmen. It’s now being theorized that cannabis might be a better alternative to all the painkillers and drugs many athlestes are prescribed to reduce the pain. Athletes who chose to use cannabis against the traditional painkillers are turning the stereotype of the unhealthy cannabis smoker upside down.
Many studies have shown that the human body contains a whole system (endocannabinoid system) with special receptors for cannabinoids like CBD. Our body produces CBD naturally, and interacts with any cream or oil infused with CBD oil to an area that has been wounded or injured, and the human organism is working so that heals the particular location. The herb is also effective for treating pain, muscle spasticity, and is proven to be able to heal broken bones. That is one of the reasons many people grow their own plant from medical cannabis seeds. Needless to say, the compound CBD that can stimulate the growth of bones is separated from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – psychoactive component, that is responsible for getting people “high”.
Compared to opiates, cannabis is a much more natural pain reliever. Athletes prefer to use topical cream infused with cannabis that actually helps heal an injury — not just trick the body into not feeling that pain. Instead of popping pills, that would make you groggy maybe is better to try something more natural-but still effective.
A major concern for many professional Athletes is if the use of Cannabis shows up in drug tests. Some studies have shown it does not in fact show up on a drug test.
Additionally, using Cannabis for pain relief does not have the side effects that all these opiate narcotics, analgesics, muscle relaxants. Opiates and pain killers are a big health problem for the modern society, they can get people addicted and they can cause damages to the liver. Cannabis infused creams or sprays provide better comfort against inflammation and pain.
A new study, published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, conducted by Yankel Gabet of Tel Aviv’s Bone Research laboratory, says that “While there is still a lot of work to be done to develop appropriate therapies…We found CBD alone to be sufficiently effective in enhancing fracture healing. Other studies have also shown CBD to be a safe agent, that leads us to believe we should continue this line of study in clinical trials to assess its usefulness in improving human fracture healing.”
