University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada.
University of Regina, Regina, SK, S4S 0A2, Canada.
Sports Med. 2024 Nov;54(11):2743-2769. doi: 10.1007/s40279-024-02094-1. Epub 2024 Aug 21.
The increasing legalization of Cannabis sativa plant products has sparked growing interest in their therapeutic applications. Prohibition laws established in 1937 hindered formal research on cannabis, a plant with cultural and medicinal roots dating back to 2700 BC in Chinese history. Despite regulatory hurdles, published research on cannabis has emerged; yet elite athletes remain an underrepresented population in these studies. Athletes, known for exploring diverse substances to optimize performance, are drawn to the potential benefits of cannabinoid therapy, with anecdotal reports suggesting positive effects on issues ranging from anxiety to brain injuries. This review aims to evaluate empirical published cannabis research with a specific focus on its potential applications in athletics. The changing legal landscape, especially the removal of cannabis from drug testing programs in leagues such as the National Basketball Association (NBA), and endorsements by Major League Baseball (MLB) for cannabinoid products and the National Football League (NFL) for cannabis research, reflects a shift in the acceptability of such substances in sports. However, stigma, confusion, and a lack of education persist, hindering a cohesive understanding among sports organizations, including business professionals, policymakers, coaches, and medical/training staff, in addition to athletes themselves. Adding to the confusion is the lack of consistency with cannabinoid regulations from sport to sport, within or out of competition, and with cannabis bioactive compounds. The need for this review is underscored by the evolving attitudes toward cannabinoids in professional sports and the potential therapeutic benefits or harms they may offer. By synthesizing current cannabis research, this review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the applications and implications of cannabinoid use in the realm of athletics.
随着大麻素植物产品合法化程度的提高，人们对其治疗应用的兴趣日益浓厚。1937 年制定的禁令阻碍了对大麻的正式研究，而大麻作为一种具有文化和药用根源的植物，其历史可以追溯到公元前 2700 年的中国。尽管存在监管障碍，但已发表的大麻研究已经出现；然而，精英运动员在这些研究中仍然是代表性不足的人群。以探索各种物质来优化表现而闻名的运动员被大麻素疗法的潜在益处所吸引，有传闻报道表明，大麻素疗法对从焦虑到脑损伤等各种问题都有积极影响。本综述旨在评估具有特定重点的大麻实证研究，即其在运动中的潜在应用。不断变化的法律环境，特别是美国国家篮球协会（NBA）等联盟从药物检测项目中去除大麻，美国职棒大联盟（MLB）对大麻素产品的认可以及美国国家橄榄球联盟（NFL）对大麻研究的认可，反映了这些物质在体育运动中可接受性的转变。然而，污名、困惑和缺乏教育仍然存在，除了运动员本身，体育组织中的商业专业人士、政策制定者、教练和医疗/培训人员之间也缺乏一致性理解。此外，运动之间、比赛内外以及与大麻生物活性化合物的大麻素法规缺乏一致性，这也增加了混乱。由于职业体育界对大麻素的态度不断变化，以及它们可能提供的潜在治疗益处或危害，因此需要进行这项综述。通过综合当前的大麻研究，本综述旨在提供对大麻素在运动领域的应用和影响的全面理解。
