NFL Defies Prohibition to Fund Cannabis Research

A committee shaped in 2019 by the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL) and the Nationwide Soccer League Gamers Affiliation (NFLPA) introduced plans to award grants to researchers who’re researching the therapeutic advantages of cannabidiol (CBD), hashish, and different opioid alternate options for ache administration (1,2). The committee—referred to as the NFL-NFLPA Joint Ache Administration Committee (PMC)—plans to award as much as $1 million in grants.

Dr. Kevin Hill, co-chair of the PMC, commented on how the federal coverage unfavorably impacted the extent of analysis permitted within the US, particularly with the continuing prohibition of hashish as a Schedule I drug. Hill particularly acknowledged how the dearth of funding in hashish analysis additionally affected future developments in analysis and that plenty of firms and states who considerably revenue from the sale of hashish and different cannabinoids don’t contribute to science (2).

The PMC introduced it’s turning its consideration to figuring out potential analysis alternatives by a proper Request for Proposal (RFP) course of (3). The objective of this funding alternative is to request proposals from researchers who’ve the flexibility to conduct research that can assist complement the PMC’s data on athletic efficiency and ache administration in soccer gamers. The league is especially fascinated by proposals on the next areas:

• the consequences of cannabinoids on ache in elite soccer gamers (post-surgical or in day by day ache administration);
• the consequences of non-pharmacologic therapies on ache in elite soccer gamers (postsurgical or in day by day ache administration); and
• the consequences of hashish or cannabinoids on athletic efficiency (for instance, psychomotor, response time, cardiorespiratory perform) in elite soccer gamers.

The deadline for purposes to be submitted previous to proposals is July 31, 2021 (3).

In 2020, the joint panel held CBD informational boards. These discussions introduced the dedication that the nonintoxicating CBD compound, has medicinal properties within the therapy of assorted types of ache. Though, the committee agreed that there was not sufficient current analysis and knowledge on the advantages of opioid alternate options for each persistent and acute ache.

The NFL’s coverage is that gamers within the league is not going to face suspension from video games based mostly on optimistic check outcomes from any substance, together with hashish. The coverage was just lately up to date and displays a shift within the NFL’s method to using medication by gamers, with the settlement highlighting the necessity to heart on therapy and analysis reasonably than penalties. Gamers who self-refer themselves, show behaviors indicating misuse of medication, or check optimistic for drug use, are actually required to enroll in an intervention program, the place they are often evaluated and obtain a therapy plan.

With the NFL’s new stance on supporting hashish analysis, will probably be thrilling to see if different main sport leagues will observe go well with.

References

1. https://www.cannabisnewswire.com/420-with-cnw-nfl-funds-cannabis-research-despite-continued-prohibition-hindering-research/
2. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/nfl-funds-marijuana-research-saying-federal-prohibition-adversely-impacts-studies-into-opioid-alternative-for-players/
3. https://www.nfl.com/playerhealthandsafety/health-and-wellness/medical-research/nfl-nflpa-pain-management-committee-accepting-applications-for-1-million-in-rese