When you think of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), substances like testosterone and anabolic steroids likely come to mind. However, cannabis products have also faced scrutiny and negative stigma in the world of sports. Athletes have been suspended and even stripped of medals due to positive cannabis tests at both collegiate and professional levels. But on June 25, the NCAA Division I Council made a groundbreaking decision to remove cannabis from its list of banned substances officially.
“The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on (the) integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage,” stated Division l Council Chair and Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman. “The council’s focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.”
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances that alter the body’s biological output and, in the case of athletes, enhance athletic performances. Some PEDs that people are familiar with include testosterone, human growth hormone, and anabolic steroids.
In contrast, the side effects commonly associated with cannabis include altered senses, impaired body movement, and difficulty thinking and problem-solving—conditions far from ideal for athletic performance. While research presents both positive and negative aspects of cannabis use, the question of whether they qualify as performance-enhancing drugs remains a topic of debate.
This new policy could reshape the conversation around cannabis in sports, fostering a more open dialogue about its effects and benefits. However, the contrasting regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and individual school policies will continue to pose challenges. As societal attitudes towards cannabis evolve, so too will the policies governing its use in athletics.
The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) rationale on cannabinoids heavily influenced the council’s decision. Last year, CSMAS recommended that each division council remove cannabinoids from the list of NCAA-banned drug classes after conducting a study in the 2022 Summit on Cannabinoids in College Athletics, which provided insights on how best to support young athletes.
“One of the things we know about college students specifically is that treatment and education strategies work better than penalties,” said CSMAS member Nadine Mastroleo, an associate professor in the department of psychology and faculty athletics representative at New York’s Binghamton University.
However, the new ruling does leave some student-athletes in a sticky situation who are subject to parallel rules of the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA). The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) identifies marijuana and cannabinoids as substances that are prohibited in competition and have a threshold for a positive test set at 150 nanograms per milliliter– roughly three times more than the old NCAA policies of 50 ng/ml.
The NCAA testing, standards, and penalties only take full effect during the postseason and championships. College athletic departments have drug testing policies during the regular season, giving them more flexibility when testing and monitoring athletes. However, societal pressure may certainly influence how individual schools handle these tests, considering 27 states across all levels of legalization have decriminalized the recreational use of cannabis.
The 2024-2025 season is approaching, and the NCAA’s decision marks a significant shift in the collegiate sports landscape. As Division II and III councils observe the impact of this change, it remains to be seen whether they will follow suit. CSMAS has recommended that all divisions remove cannabinoids from their banned substances lists to ensure consistency across collegiate athletics. This recommendation aims to create a unified approach to student-athlete health and well-being, minimizing punitive measures for cannabis use.
Ultimately, this decision underscores a broader trend toward re-evaluating the role of all cannabis in sports and highlights the importance of balancing competitive integrity with the overall wellness of athletes.
Written by Jessie Tobin, MA, BA
After receiving her master’s in professional communication, Jessie began her professional career at a healthcare technology startup, where she managed all content writing, paid media, email marketing and partner relationships. She is deeply passionate about using storytelling to build strong emotional connections between brands and their audiences, a skill she has refined through her YouTube channel, which has over 17 million views. Aside from copywriting, she shares her writing expertise teaching night courses as an adjunct professor at The University of Tampa.