Nevada’s sports regulators are looking at amending their rules in order to protect athletes who use or possess marijuana in accordance with state law.
On April 24, the Nevada State Athletic Commission will hold a public hearing to hear feedback about proposed regulations changes, including new language regarding cannabis policy. This is part of a comprehensive review all state agencies are required by executive order to complete.
This is two years after the commission , which regulates unarmed fighting sports in the state, voted unanimously not to penalize professional fighters who test positive for marijuana. The body appears to be moving to incorporate specific language into its code in order to formalize this policy.
The regulations still state that the commission adopted the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA), banned substances list for athletes. This list continues to include marijuana after the scientific review last years. However, they are looking to add language to allow for cannabis fighters to be included in the regulations.
“The Commission does no classify cannabis and cannabis-derived products as banned or prohibited substances under its program of drugs testing and antidoping. These publications are listed in subsection 1. Provided such substances are legal for consumption or use under the laws of Nevada,” says the amendment. This report was made by Bloody Elbow.
Regulators also plan to add another section to the code. It will say that “possession, consumption, or use of cannabis or cannabis-derived products shall not constitute an anti-doping violation pursuant to this Chapter regardless of the laws in the jurisdiction where such possession or use occurs, provided such possession or consumption is legal according to the laws the State of Nevada.”
This would imply that any athlete who uses marijuana in any state, regardless of its laws, will not be subject to sanctions, as long as it is legal under Nevada’s legalization policies.
The public hearing will be followed by a meeting of the commission. It is not clear if the members will vote to adopt the changes or work on a final report that all state agencies are required submit to the Gov. Joe Lombardo (R), under his executive order before May 1. This report should include suggestions for amendments that will streamline and clarify policies.
In recent years, professional athletics organizations of all levels have been reviewing and reforming cannabis policies amid state-level legalization.
The National Basketball Association (NBA), for example, is reportedly considering removing cannabis from its banned substances list for players. They also plan to allow them to invest and promote the industry.
The Chicago Cubs became the first Major League Baseball (MLB), team to partner with a CBD company. This follows the league’s partnership with a well-known CBD brand last year.
MLB stands out from other professional sports leagues in being more open to changing marijuana policy. It clarified, for example, in a 2020 memo, that players won’t face any penalties for using marijuana when they’re not working. However, they can’t be sponsored personally by a marijuana company nor hold investments in the industry.
UFC stated in 2021 that they will no longer punish fighters for positive marijuana tests.
Separately, NCAA student athletes would not lose eligibility to play if they have a positive marijuana test according to rules that were recommended last year by a key committee.
As part of a collective bargaining deal, the drug testing policy for the National Football League (NFL), was already modified in 2020.
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The post Nevada Sports Regulators Take Steps To Stop Formally Penalizing Fighters over Marijuana was first published on Marijuana Moment.
