With over five-thousand professional athletes in only four of the largest North American sports leagues, it is no surprise that many of them have taken to CBD in an effort to find relief. The strain of intensive training schedules and the physical demands associated with playing a professional sport can take a toll on a professional player. With injuries ranging from sprains, concussions, sciatica, tennis elbow, shoulder injuries, and knee injuries, CBD could help with those injuries. With CBD growing more popular, it’s safe to say that in 2020, CBD and sports could go hand in hand, but not without hesitation.
What is CBD?
As discussed many times throughout our blogs, CBD is short for Cannabidiol; the non-intoxicating cannabinoid found on all cannabis plants. There are over 113 cannabinoids found on cannabis plants, but according to the 2018 Farm Bill, “hemp, including hemp plants and cannabidiol (CBD) preparations at or below the 0.3 percent delta-9 THC threshold is not a controlled substance.”
Legalities of CBD (Federal VS State)
Since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp is a legal cannabis plant to consume, extract cannabinoids from, and sell at a federal level. However, since each state has their own say on the plant, there are some states where it is actually illegal to possess cannabis plants, including hemp. It is important to know where your state laws stand on the matter before trying to possess, grow, or sell hemp plants.
Is CBD Legal in Professional Sports?
It depends on the sport. According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), they removed cannabidiol from their list of banned substances. Unfortunately, CBD is not legal in every professional sport. Some leagues allow players to use CBD (and even THC) while others are not as lenient. Most sports organizations have common concerns about players testing positive for THC, and the amounts of the high inducing cannabinoid allowed on a drug screen. Just like in most professions, some sports organizations allow for a small percentage of THC, to be present on the testing that they do, but that does not apply for all sports.
When Should Athletes Take CBD?
If an athlete decides to take CBD, and it is approved through their organization, it can be beneficial before, during, and after workouts, training, and games. CBD can help with healing and post workout stresses placed on the body. The most important thing to remember, is that there is no reason to worry about combining CBD products.
Each product is going to be aimed at a certain method of intake. For example, a tincture could be used before strenuous workouts or games. This method can help with fatigue, and muscle soreness.
A topical such as our CBD Freeze, or Relief Body Lotion may help with recovery from sprains, pulled muscles, and inflammation.
A vape product such as our Premium Cartridges or Vape Juice could help with stress and anxiety from an intense game.
A capsule geared towards rest can also be very important. Our Night (Rest) Capsules are beneficial, as an athlete’s career depends on their ability to rest and recover.
Dosage
The amount of CBD an athlete (whether professional or amateur) will need is going to vary person to person. This is all going to depend on a persons Endocannabinoid System (ECS). Your ECS regulates nearly every essential function in your body such as, muscle function, emotional and psychological processes, perception of pain, and so much more. For this reason, the amount that each person may need is going to vary. However, there are a couple tips for dosaging CBD.
- Start with a small serving size – Also known as microdosing, it is best to start low, and work your way up until a milligram amount is found that provides the relief that you are looking for. Typically, when CBD is used, relief can be found in 30 minutes to one hour after consumption for oral products. Topical products may take less time, or longer depending on the strength and type of product you are using.
- Keep Track of How CBD Makes You Feel – It is important to see how CBD affects you. Since everyone’s reaction to CBD is different, some find it helpful to keep track of their progress. Make notes of what kind of relief you want to find, when you took CBD, how much you took, and how long those effects lasted. This will help if any adjustments need to be made based off of your observations.
- Increase Servings – If you take CBD, and you do not find the relief you are looking for, do not be afraid to increase your dosage. Most consumers increase in 5-10MG’s every 30 minutes to 1 hour until relief is found. If you’ve been tracking your progress, it will be easy to see at what milligram amount you found the best relief. The following day take that same amount and see if you find the same relief.
While the lifestyle of an athlete may vary slightly or significantly compared to yours, that does not mean CBD can’t help you. If CBD is something that you have considered for some time, or something new you’re considering for your health and wellness needs, there is sure to be a product for you. Check out our full line of CBD products here.
Read our previous blog: CBD – Growing in Popularity by clicking here.
