The National Basketball Association and its players’ union have signed an official collective bargaining agreement which removes marijuana (and other banned substances) from the list of league-wide prohibited substances and sets out rules that allow players to promote and invest in cannabis brands, with certain exceptions.
The seven-year contract was signed by the NBA and National Basketball Players Association about two months ago. It will enter into force on this weekend. The 676-page contract contains several cannabis provisions, but the one that is most significant is the removal marijuana from the list prohibited substances for athletes.
The players will be allowed to hold a “direct or indirect ownership interest” (whether controlling or not) in an entity which produces or sells CBD Products. CBD Products are defined as cannabis with up to 0.3 per cent THC by weight dry, according to the federal definition.
The player can invest in marijuana businesses, provided the investment is passive.
A section of the collective agreement states that players are allowed to “participate in the promotion, product or service of any entity that produces or distributes CBD Products as long as that entity is not a marijuana company.”
The NBA and Players Association will grant permission to players who wish to endorse or promote CBD Products produced or sold in Marijuana Companies.
The request must be made in writing, and include: (A) the complete list and ingredients of any CBD Products produced or sold by the Marijuana Company, (B), a description and summary of proposed promotional or endorsement activities between the player and Marijuana Company, and (D), a summary and detailed summary of non-financial conditions of any proposed agreement for promotion or endorsement. The NBA and Players Association must approve a player’s written request before the player can promote or endorse CBD Products produced or sold by Marijuana Companies.
Promotion requests will be denied when the CBD products are associated with marijuana businesses that “market or sell under a brand which also includes or refers Marijuana Products”, or if they create “a reasonable public risk of confusion with any Marijuana Product.”
NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement signed
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NBPA (@TheNBPA 28 June 2023
The agreement also lays down penalties for players convicted of driving while under the influence or of a controlled substance, and for those who “engaged in an offense involving marijuana distribution.”
The NBA also places cannabis use on par with alcohol use. If an NBA team believes that “the player was under the influences of marijuana or alcohol while engaging in activities for that Team or the NBA or that the Player has a dependence or other related issues involving the use or alcohol and/or marijuana, the Team can refer the player to a Medical Director for a required evaluation.”
Another section states that “a player can seek medical assistance at any time if they are experiencing any dependency or other issues related to marijuana or alcohol.”
If a player fails to adhere to a mandatory marijuana or alcohol treatment program, they will also be subjected disciplinary actions. This includes a fine of $5,000 per day. Players who fail to comply with the mandatory treatment program and display a “pattern that demonstrates a conscious disregard for his treatment obligations” or “a negative test for alcohol and/or marijuana (as appropriate) that was not clinically anticipated by the Medical director” will face increasing fines and penalties.
A voluntary treatment option will be available for players seeking help with the use of synthetic endocannabinoids such as delta-8 THC. The voluntary entry into the program will not be penalized. Non-compliance with the program after entry would result in penalties including fines, suspensions, and other sanctions.
The NBA has officially codified the league’s decision to temporarily stop cannabis testing during the last three seasons.
Snoop Dogg , a marijuana icon and NBA commentator, weighed in in April on the new policy, praising the league for its efforts to allow players the use of cannabis for medical reasons, including as an alternative opioid.
Michele Roberts, a former head of the NBPA, who also was appointed to the board of Cresco Labs, a major cannabis company, in 2020, had predicted previously that a change formalizing the policy would be coming soon.
The online marijuana marketplace Weedmaps announced a partnership with NBA star Kevin Durant in 2021. This multi-year agreement aims to destigmatize cannabis and showcase the plant’s value for “athlete recovery and wellness.”
As more states legalize marijuana, a growing number of professional sports leagues are taking steps to reform their marijuana policies.
The National Collegiate Athletics Association’s (NCAA) Committee on Promoting Health and Wellness for Student Athletes , has proposed removing marijuana as a banned substance.
In early 2018, Nevada’s sports regulators passed a resolution to protect athletes against being penalized for using or possessing marijuana as per state law.
UFC announced that in 2021 they will no longer punish fighters for positive marijuana tests.
As part of the collective bargaining agreement, the National Football League (NFL’s) policy on drug testing changed demonstrably by 2020.
The NFL and its Players Union announced this month that , they will jointly award another round of funding for independent research on CBD as an alternative pain treatment to opioids.
The Kansas City Royals have recently formed a relationship with a cannabis-brand in order to educate the public about the therapeutic potential of CBD. They are the second Major League Baseball team (MLB) to do this, after the Chicago Cubs.
MLB announced last year its league-wide collaboration with a popular CBD product . Charlotte’s Web Holdings signed a deal to become “Official Cannabis of MLB” with the league.
New Hampshire lawmakers send Marijuana legalization study commission bill to Governor, who says reform is ‘inevitable’
The article NBA Signs Official Contract Removing Marijuana from Banned Substances and Allowing Players to Invest in Cannabis Companies first appeared on Marijuana moment.
