Athletes Prescribed Cannabis Can’t Compete
UFC Fighter Elias Theodorou Steps Down, But BC Steps Up – LPC
Athletes prescribed cannabis can’t compete in most sports. Performance enhancing and/or illegal drugs are banned. But cannabis, which is legal in Canada and several US states, falls under “illegal” despite the fact a doctor gave it to him for pain. “Can you imagine if you couldn’t keep your job if you weren’t allowed to take blood pressure pills or cholesterol medication? It’s the same thing, really. Medicine that gives you the opportunity to live a full and healthy life.”
That’s Jeff Siegel commenting on the fact that Elias Theodorou had to step down from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Theodorou, who suffers from painful peripheral neuropathy, is one of many athletes prescribed cannabis. The BC Athletic Commission made an exemption for Theodorou. But that won’t be enough to get the professional fighter back in the UFC ring.
Aurora Cannabis has signed a deal with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to “significantly advance further clinical research” into CBD therapy. So there is hope. Right now, curling seems to be on the cutting edge of accepting legalized cannabis. At least on the non-professional level. At what point do we all start accepting the fact that athletes prescribed cannabis can and should still be able to compete?
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