Martial Arts and Cannabis
There is no question that cannabis has its place in the world of martial arts. It has become more pervasive than ever in everything from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to mixed martial arts.
Benefits of Using Cannabis in Martial Arts
If you participate in martial arts, there are many benefits to using cannabis to consider.
Strong Sense of Peace
One of the reasons that so many people do martial arts in the first place is to achieve a sense of peace and tranquility. Many people claim that using marijuana just before engaging in martial arts enhances these feelings in a very significant way.
Effective Pain Management
Some martial arts are more physically intense than others. It is therefore not uncommon to get bruised up and even seriously hurt. Cannabis has been shown to help with reducing pain levels by acting as a power anti-inflammatory. This can help you to begin practicing or even competing in tournaments again with shorter recovery times.
Enhanced Performance
It is also not entirely uncommon for people who use cannabis to report feeling enhanced concentration. This could help when participating in various martial arts competitions or even just practicing. There are many different strains of marijuana that promote better overall focus.
Is Cannabis Use Allowed in Martial Arts Tournaments?
A vast majority of amateur martial arts organizations do not test for marijuana. This allows participants to use cannabis to their advantage without fear or punishment.
In professional mixed martial arts or MMA, drug testing does sometimes occur. This particular organization tends to focus on steroids and other traditional performance enhancing drugs.
Fighters are tested for drugs when weighing in the day before a fight, as well as after the fight is over.
A number of people in the UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championship have openly admitted to using cannabis for various reasons. It is therefore unlikely that those who participate in mixed martial arts on this level would ever be penalized for it.
Substances Prohibited by UFC
There are a few different categories of substances that the UFC does not allow fighters to consume, including:
- Narcotics: Some of the narcotics that are outlawed in the UFC include morphine, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, and Hydromorphone.
- Cannabinoids: The only cannabinoid that is technically not allowed is THC, which is the primary psychoactive agent in marijuana.
- Stimulants: Cocaine, methamphetamine, and a few other types of stimulants are also not allowed during competition times.
Penalties for Using Marijuana in MMA
As of early November 2019, the penalties for being caught using marijuana have been lessened. Fighters can still face penalties from failing a drug test due to cannabis use, but the length of potential suspensions will most likely be shorter.
A first time offender of the UFC’s anti-doping/drug policy could face up to a two year suspension. This, however, is unlikely to happen if the drug in question is cannabis. It seems as though the UFC is somewhat backing off marijuana users in this organization. This is probably at least partially due to how widely used it is among fighters.
Final Thoughts
Whether it is an amateur martial artist or a high-profile MMA fighter, cannabis is often used for many reasons. Professional fighters have found that it gives them a way to shorten recovery times as well as improve their focus. While there are still some penalties for using this substance at a professional level, that might eventually change. A number of UFC fighters have come out to say that they use marijuana on a regular basis. It is very likely that this will become less stigmatized as time goes on.