The World Anti-Doping Agency recently stated that their governing body will look at changing the regulations for Cannabis use amongst athletes. This isn’t the first time the issue has been brought up, but it is the first time that it is being seriously considered for review. This most recent call for the change came from several Australian sporting groups. However in Australia is ILLEGAL to use, possess, grow or sell the drug.

The biggest argument for removing cannabis from the WADA’s list of game day performance enhancing drugs is cannabis provides no enhancing qualities after its use. Also an athlete who tests positive can receive a two year ban, which would undoubtedly end most careers from a sponsorship perspective.

Any lift of the cannabis ban would not be universal throughout the whole sporting community. Sports such as shooting and golf would still possibly be under the original criteria since cannabis can help to steady an athletes hands. The process of any changes may be a fairly lengthy one but could come into effect in early 2013 and impact the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Sorry Micheal Phelps, maybe you can smoke during the 2016 games.

Any changes to the current standards may cause issues within the United States sporting bodies due to the generally not accepting nature of the drug that persists throughout much of the States. Even with the current laws in respect to cannabis, it is becoming more accepted in its potential medical uses. Some of these include treating glaucoma, nueropathic pain, aspects of multiple sclerosis, and helping to mitigate the side-effects of chemotherapy.

What are your thoughts on the WADA removing cannabis from the banned substance list? What are your beliefs on cannabis use? Medical or Recreational?