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Inaugural Cannabis in Sports

Conference A Success

BY JEFF KONIN

The inaugural Cannabis in Sports
Conference took place in Orlando at the
Rosen Hotel on July 29-31, 2022, and did
not disappoint! Attendees were treated to
contemporary knowledge of how
cannabis use, perceptions, and science are
impacting the sports world from profes-
sionals to amateurs. This 3-day event was
filled with networking and personal
access to some of the national leaders in
the sports cannabis industry.
Without a doubt some of the highlights
included hearing the personal stories of
professional and Olympic athletes.
Kaitlyn Verfuerth, a 4-time Paralympian
who has competed in Tokyo (2020), Rio Jeff Konin with Kaitlyn Verfuert
(2016), Beijing (2008), and Athens
(2004) shared very candidly her experiences with using cannabis and how it helped
her manage her focus and injuries associated with playing wheelchair tennis at the
highest level in the world.
Mike James was another highlight of the weekend. James, a former running back
in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, is known in the
cannabis industry for filing the first therapeutic use exemption (TUE) to be allowed
to use cannabis for the treatment of his ongoing injuries. James told the audience
about how cannabis helped him overcome an addiction to the opioid painkiller med-
ications that he was prescribed for his severe ankle injury.
One of the conference’s main goals was to share the latest science and research sur-
rounding the benefits and risks associated with cannabis intervention. Panelists such
as Dr. Derrick DeSilva, Dr. Paul Borsa, Dr. Jim Farris, Dr. Anthony Ferrari, and Dr.
Michael Suk shed light on the trials and tribulations of cannabis research in the ath-
letic population and how the healthcare professionals are challenged with imple-
menting forms of cannabis as a treatment intervention given the lack of regulated
and controlled studies that are comprised of sound scientific methodology and that
meet the established rigor of research that is necessary to safely reports outcomes.
Many other presentations were delivered to introduce the audience to fascinating
topics such as How Medical Cannabis May Revolutionize Western Medicine (Dr.
Martha Rosenthal), Policies of Sports Leagues (Amanda Barton), What Athletes
Want to Know (Dr. Kevin Morley), Cannabis and Concussion (Dr. Jeff Konin), Pearls
from Clinical Practice (Dr. Barry Gordon), The Priority of Future Research (Dr.
Denise Vidot), Mechanisms of Major Terpenes and Cannabinoids in Sports Medicine
(Dr. Terel Newton), Collective Bargaining Agreements (Michael Minardi), Current
Trends in Drug Testing (Dr. Mindy Shelby), and Collegiate Sports Considerations
(Steve Walz).
Another special feature was the story shared by Josiah Hesse, author of the best-
selling book “Runners High: How a Movement of Cannabis-Fueled Athletes is
Changing the Science of Sport”. Josiah’s journey beginning as a non-athlete to his
ultra-marathon running days and his investigative reporting of cannabis research
was fascinating to learn about.
The conference was made possible by the many sponsors and exhibitors who gen-
erously shared their expertise and time with all of those who attended. Stay tuned
for the 2023 version which is anticipated to be bigger and better!

Dr. Jeff G. Konin is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Athletic Training in the
Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Florida International
University (FIU) where he directs the Global Initiative for Cannabinoid Research and
Education. To learn more about FIU’s cannabinoid research and education initiative you
can visit their website at https://go.fiu.edu/GlobalCannabis.
Views represented in this column do not reflect that of
Florida International University and are solely attributed to Dr. Jeff G. Konin.

E-mail your Cannabis news to:

carol@cannabisnewsflorida.com

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