The Sports Cannabis landscape is evolving at a rapid pace with states adopting new policies and pushing for acceptance. On Thursday July 07, 2021 – the Nevada State Athletic Commission declared Cannabis is not a performance enhancing drug, officially legalizing cannabis for MMA Athletes. Voting to lift a lifelong ban on Athletes using Cannabis, the state of Nevada is opening their doors to boxers & mixed martial artists competing at the highest level on the biggest stages.
For decades the Nevada State Athletic Commission that regulates combat sports in the state, has taken a hardline approach to cannabis, banning it entirely from all competitive use. The strict rules and policies have sidelined many Pro MMA Careers and pushed them into pharmaceuticals, opioids and painkillers to deal with the demanding seasons. For years athletes have advocated for clean alternatives to help cope with recovery and relief, citing Opioids/Painkillers as addictive and blanket solutions for their injuries. The commission will continue to test for cannabis for the next 6 months without penalty as a part of a study into head trauma.
“We should always be at the forefront of these issues, I believe it’s warranted and merited since it is legal in this state. … I think we need to jump forward, being the leader as we’ve always been.”
-NSAC Chairman Stephen J. Cloobeck
In recent years we have seen Pro MMA Athletes like Liz Carmouche & Angelina Blessed advocating for cannabis on their platforms to shed light on the pivotal role it’s played for recovery, relief, inflammation and sleep.
Athletes Advocating for Change;
Liz Carmouche
Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche currently competes in the Bellator MMA with career highlights that include; competing for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Women’s Flyweight and Women’s Bantamweight divisions.
Before Liz turned her attention to MMA, she spent five years in the Marine Corps as an aviation electrician and completed three tours of duty. Today, Liz is a Professional MMA Athlete and Cannabis Advocate, using her platform to promote education, awareness and amplify the CBD movement.
Liz talks about the pivotal moment that led to her incorporation of Cannabis CBD for recovery, relief as well as the help it can provide for anxiety and individuals suffering from PTSD.
Listen to her Entire Interview Today :
Angelina Blessed
Angelina Blessed is a Pro MMA athlete, cannabis advocate and entrepreneur. Pushing for normalization on a number of fronts, Angelina has created Blessed Edibles, a unique product line geared towards every athlete.
“You know, we think that martial arts is this you know, or MMA or more Thai or whatever is this brutal sport of but it’s, you know, it’s not to me it’s become this really beautiful dance and shows the grades and movement of being a martial artist and you can’t really find that until you slow it down. So through cannabis and definitely through the pandemic. I’ve fallen in love with shadowboxing and I’ve fallen in love with movement and it saves me like if I didn’t have that movement. “
-Angelina Blessed
Listen to her Entire Interview Today :
Nate Diaz
Nate Diaz made history in early June, coming back to the UFC as well as lighting up and enjoying a few puffs at the UFC-2f63 pre-fight press conference. During the press conference, amidst the fan hysteria and report questions, Nate took a moment to shed light on a plant that’s played a profound role in his life, taking a few puffs – putting Cannabis on the front stage of the UFC.
“You know what’s crazy to me, the best part about the whole thing is…I got kicked out of school for fighting and selling weed. And now for a professional career I’m fighting and selling CBD…It all worked out, I never thought it was bad to begin with. I thought it was all positive, productive. I don’t think people should be going out and smoking weed. I don’t want to put that look out or anything. But as an athlete, I think you should be smoking marijuana, if you choose to do something to help you get through the day, instead of sticking a bunch of steroids in your ass and taking a bunch of faulty supplements.”
-Nate Diaz
Mike Tyson
Earlier this year prolific professional boxer, megastar and cannabis advocate, Mike Tyson alluded to smoking cannabis before his fight with Roy Jones Jr. The Voluntary Anti-Doping Association tested both fighters for performance-enhancing drugs prior to the fight, however Cannabis was not on the list of banned substances.
“Listen, I can’t stop smoking… I smoke during fights… I just have to smoke, I’m sorry. I’m a smoker… I smoke everyday. I never stopped smoking.”
-Mike Tyson
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