Page 35 - South Florida Hospital News Nov 2021

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Back Cover: NCAA Drug Testing

for Cannabis – Why Does It Matter?

Continued from page 36 tices and habits. At the recreational level,
short-term memory impairment and a the estimated 1/5 million NCAA athletes
decreased focus on goals and personal come from a pool of millions of athletes.
achievement. Cannabinoids are banned by Therefore, the policies that the NCAA
the NCAA and can result in suspension.” embraces will be essentially adhered to
The changes in policy coincide with an by many others in preparation for their
increased acceptance within our society next steps in sport participation.
of cannabis use and a relaxation of policy It is essential for the NCAA to address
within other organizations such as Major this topic sooner versus later so that they
League Baseball (MLB), National apply best practices and standards that
Football League (NFL), and the National are in line with the federal and state (as
Basketball Association (NBA). What well as International) legislation and
remains puzzling is the language being guidelines, clarify their language to accu-
used that bans all cannabinoids, especial- rately test for and ban what is intended
ly CBD, since there is not a specific test to be screened for, and update their
sensitive to detecting anything other stances based upon the current literature
than THC in the urine samples. Since relative to what the different cannabi-
CBD is now legally sold over the counter noids function to do and if/how testing is
almost everywhere and has been reclassi- used for detection. Any penalties that
fied as a federally scheduled 5 drug, it is remain in place should reflect a reason-
a mystery why it remains banned by the able rationale that would support unfair
NCAA. play. Otherwise, testing need no longer
Despite the elevated threshold and be performed for such a purpose, and if
reduced penalty, the NCAA made it very testing is continued it should be done for
clear that these changes are not an the sole purpose of detecting cannabis
endorsement of cannabis use. The use disorders and left to the respective
Association also didn’t want to place the medical staffs of each school to intervene
threshold too high and imply that the with a student-athlete’s health and well-
NCAA condones cannabis use and did being.
not cite any performance enhancing
effects of any cannabinoid. Dr. Jeff Konin is a Clinical Professor in the
It is estimated that there are nearly Department of Athletic Training in the
500,000 student athletes playing an Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing and
NCAA sport each year. The purpose of Health Sciences at Florida International
the drug testing program is to ensure University (FIU) where he directs the
equitable competition among the partici- Global Initiative for Cannabinoid Research
pants so the playing field is even and and Education. To learn more about FIU’s
undo any enhanced supplementation cannabinoid research and education initia-
that would benefit one’s performance tive you can visit their website at
above and beyond natural training prac- https://go.fiu.edu/GlobalCannabis.

E-mail your Cannabis news to:

carol@cannabisnewsflorida.com

Cannabis News Florida cannabisnewsflorida.com November 2021 35