Last Updated on 19th September 2020

Aurora Cannabis has partnered with the UFC for a clinical research project that could soon provide professional fighters with hemp-derived products specifically tailored for them and their medical needs.

Is CBD the future of athlete medical care?

The partnership is the first of its kind between a professional sports organisation and a cannabis company, with Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White calling it “the future” of athlete medical care.

“We believe in the science, we believe that this is the future of athlete health and safety,” White told reporters Friday.

The research will take place over the span of eight years, and will involve a large number of mixed martial arts athletes under the UFC banner. The study will focus on typical ailments that plague UFC fighters, from pain and inflammation to insomnia problems CBD can help and anxiety, and how hemp-derived CBD can offer relief.

A ground-breaking deal for sports and humanity in general

“This is a ground-breaking deal, not just for the UFC but for sports and humanity in general.” Terry Booth, Aurora’s CEO, said the end goal of his company’s partnership with the UFC is the eventual development of a CBD treatment line that is certified for use by athletes, but could also be beneficial for the average person dealing with pain or using CBD for anxiety. UFC athletes make great test patients, he added, because of their athleticism and consistency.

“They’re in top-notch shape, they fight, they train, and they recover.”

Booth said Aurora Cannabis is looking at developing a topical CBD balm for UK athletes derived from the research that could be placed on the market in as soon as six months time. The company said in a release that it hopes its new products will combat a “rapidly growing market of untested CBD treatments” that are currently being used by professional and non-professional athletes alike.

The research will be based in Nevada, which is home to UFC Headquarters. Aurora Cannabis is already involved with over 40 clinical trials that are researching the effects of hemp and cannabis on patients. This partnership with UFC presents a unique opportunity to propel that science even further, for athletes and CBD’s growing devotees.