NCAA Panel Recommends Marijuana Be Removed From Banned Drug List, Testing Protocols – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

An NCAA panel recommended Friday that marijuana be removed from its banned drug list and testing protocols.

The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) said that testing should be limited to performance-enhancing drugs and found that weed does not enhance performance.

The NCAA said a final decision is expected in the fall following discussions with membership this summer. In the meantime, the CSMAS is seeking support from the NCAA Board of Governors to halt testing for cannabis at championship events until a ruling is made.

The NCAA began considering the change after last December’s Summit on Cannabinoids in College Athletics featured the consensus opinion that marijuana is not a performance-enhancing drug. If approved, the organization would adopt a harm reduction philosophy toward the substance instead of taking punitive measures, similar to its stance on alcohol. That approach includes an education campaign aimed at addressing the health threats posed by contemporary cannabis and methods of use.

The latest proposal falls in line with most major professional sports leagues in the United States. In 2019, the MLB removed marijuana from its list of banned substances. In April, the NBA announced that it will no longer test players for pot. NFL players are allowed to enjoy weed in the offseason, but they are still subject to steep fines and potential suspensions during the season.

Last year, NCAA increased the THC threshold…