Casual Conversations #34 Sports
Christine Goedhart, PhD moderates an Association of Cannabinoid Specialists panel with Dr. Adam Abodeely and Dr. Tishler on why athletes use cannabis and how clinicians should counsel them.
Abodeely describes athletes seeking cannabis for qualifying medical conditions, focus and mental resilience in endurance sports, altered perception of pain, fatigue and time, anxiety reduction, sleep, pain management, and as an alternative to alcohol; he notes exercise-related endocannabinoid “bliss” effects may be amplified by THC.
Tishler adds that studies generally show cannabis is not performance enhancing on measurable metrics and can be performance degrading, influencing leagues to relax prohibitions, and cautions against use by minors due to legality and development concerns.
They discuss counseling similar to other patients but incorporating sport rules, WADA urine metabolite thresholds, abstinence timing, and ensuring CBD products are THC-free.
Both call for better research on performance, health risks, and anti-inflammatory effects.
Casual Conversations is made possible by the generosity of our supporters. Your donation helps us keep these conversations going. Please consider giving today.