Discoveries continue to be made about CBD and its impact on the human body, but a widespread fan base, from MMA fighter Gina Mazany to professional surfer Brett Simpson – whom uses Elixicure 😉 – to maybe even your grandma, has been rooting for CBD wellness products. Experiences with CBD focus on its ability to balance and soothe the body while maintaining total mental clarity.

Read on to learn about how CBD is changing the way athletes perceive wellness and how regulations of CBD usage at the professional athlete level are being reshaped.

Let me CBD what you’ve got!

Cannabidiol is one of more than 115 identified cannabinoids produced naturally by the cannabis plant. It’s difficult to extract CBD alone so many hemp extract products are what we call full spectrum, meaning they have the entire spectrum of chemicals present in the hemp plant, leaving out only inert plant matter like cellulose.

Establishing regulations around CBD is a bit complex as most products contain trace amounts of THC, less than 0.3% by dry weight per federal law. This is important to note for professional athletes or civil servants who regularly undergo rigorous drug screenings. So, with the potential risk, why are athletes turning to CBD? Because it works.

Athletes are using these products to help speed up recovery and alleviate/combat:

Back pain Sore muscles pain Joint pain Inflammation Oxidative damage Stress Restricted blood flow

It may also:

Speed up recovery and fight fatigue* Promote optimal mood so that you get more out of your exercise efforts* Help get you a good night’s sleep* Help you lose weight*

Athlete Advocacy

While much remains to be learned about the potential benefits of CBD oil, athletes across the board are incorporating CBD into their health and wellness routine. Thanks to how CBD interacts with vertebrates and the endocannabinoid system, it has the potential to help balance several of the body’s systems, including reducing post- exercise inflammation. This is crucial for athletes who consistently push their bodies to the limit.

Athletes put stress on their bodies to build muscle mass, improve speed and endurance and continue to enhance their ability to excel in their respective sport. Always pushing often results in injuries from prolonged exercise-induced inflammation making it even more important to keep an effective health and wellness regimen.

In 2017 big progress was made when the World Anti-Doping Agency announced it would be updating its rules to explicitly include CBD, but certain sporting leagues continue to be against all cannabis products.

With support from athlete advocates like retired NFL linebacker David Ahrens, the needle keeps moving in favor of CBD. In March 2019, the NFL announced the organization may reevaluate its policy on CBD and other cannabis products.

Some athletes are such strong supporters of CBD they’ve moved from personal use to focusing on efforts to expand access to CBD for all athletes. Athletes for Care is a nonprofit founded by former professional athletes including NHL player Riley Cote, that advocates for research, education, and compassion when addressing health issues important for players. This type of grassroots advocacy has proven to be a key component to shining a light on the CBD conversation within athletics, and the industry is poised to undergo a major overhaul as more research is conducted on how CBD can impact homeostasis.

The Future is CBD

Cannabis industry analysts estimate the CBD market could hit $22 billion by 2022.

Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, which made hemp federally legal for the first time in over 40 years, some of the regulation hangups facing the CBD industry have relaxed, allowing this budding industry to undergo transformative growth we are currently experiencing.

Acting fast can save you a lot of headaches and money, since there’s currently 20% off all products on the BWell website for a limited time!

The newness of the CBD industry means that most companies are operating in largely unregulated spaces. This has led to some companies even boasting CBD as a cure for all kinds of diseases and ailments. Not that they’re allowed to: the FDA has issued numerous warning letters for this sort of behavior because it’s illegal to advertise that CBD treats diseases or illnesses.

These limitations from the FDA also mean that it is somewhat difficult for consumers, especially those like athletes who may be seeking CBD for a very specific use, to find and select an appropriate product. But The BWell Market is continually following the work of organizations like the U.S. Hemp Authority to lobby for improved industry regulations and enhanced transparency.

And that means, as research into CBD continues and the legal landscape continues to shift, we’ll be better able to guide customers to the perfect CBD product. And that’s a reason for everyone, not just elite athletes, to jump for joy.

Think CBD could be the move for your sore muscles but not sure how to get started? We’ll get you soaring with a bath bomb, oil drops or balm from the market.

*The above statements have not been approved by the FDA, although there are first hand experiences and medical studies to support