Cannabidiol (CBD) is just one of the many cannabinoids that are naturally occurring within a cannabis plant. The cannabis plant may have gotten a bad rap in the past, but CBD is a non-psychoactive component of the plant, and it offers plenty of health benefits.
So, does CBD has a place in the world of basketball? Are there any side effects? And is it okay to use when competing in basketball and sporting events? UK based company Mission C who are official sponsors of the Manchester Giants basketball team have developed a premium range of CBD sport products and in this article, they explain the answer to these questions and more.
CBD In Basketball
Perhaps the best place for CBD in basketball is in the pain management department. The research indicates that CBD may help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. While it is true that THC may also be used to relieve post-match muscle pain, but it comes with a side-effect that may strongly affect the performance of a player.
For example, a 2004 study that THC may cause short-term memory loss. Such a side-effect is non-existent with CBD.
THC also has the potential to be misused, which may then cause dependency. This is especially true for anyone using opioids as a means of relieving pain. On the other hand, even the WHO indicated that CBD may offer pain management benefits without the potential dependency of using THC and opioids. In fact, studies suggest that CBD may be used to treat people who have addiction problems with opioids and other substances that may cause dependency.
In medical circles, there’s a debate when it comes to the non-psychoactive label that comes with CBD. CBD interacts with the cannabinoid type 1 receptors in the brain, which makes it psychoactive in technical terms. However, in practical terms, psychoactive means it can make you “high” or alter your normal brain function, which CBD won’t.
Keep in mind that there are maybe a few side effects that come with CBD. According to research the most common side-effects are:
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in weight
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
Keep in mind that a tiny percentage of society will experience CBD side effects. Thankfully, the severity of the side effects is relatively mild for the unlucky ones.
Is CBD Legal in Basketball?
There’s good news for basketball players that would like to try CBD. The World Anti-Doping Agency de-listed CBD from its official list of prohibited substances back in 2018. The same can’t be said for THC, which athletic organizations and major sporting leagues still prohibit. Perhaps the only exception is Major League Baseball.
Keep in mind that although CBD is part of the cannabis plant, most athletic organizations will only test for THC. Hence, there’s very little chance that you will test positive for cannabis use. If you use a CBD isolate instead of a full-spectrum one, then the chances are even lower.
Having said that, there are reports about people who tested positive despite only using CBD. This could be caused by using a different kind of testing method. Or, the person may have used a contaminated CBD, which likely resulted from getting his or her product from an unreliable source.
Generally, the common method for testing THC should not give you a positive result for using CBD. However, if you are a serious athlete participating in a major athletic organization that requires regular drug testing, you might want to be cautious. Some Important Things to Keep in Mind
Although CBD’s side effects are mild and only affect a small number of people, you still may want to consult with a medical professional. If you have a medical condition or take regular medications, you definitely need to talk to a professional about it. It’s possible for CBD to interact with other forms of medication, which may alter how the medicine is broken down and absorbed by the body.
If you are starting out with CBD, you may want to start with a low dose. Only increase the dosage if you know that you won’t have negative side effects. Also, it’s not advisable to use CBD before a workout session or athletic event.
Wrapping It All Up
CBD is a relatively new product from the cannabis plant. It offers more or less the same health benefits of using the plant without the psychoactive effects. For athletes, CBD may be used as an excellent way of managing pain and inflammation. Lastly, it’s unlikely that you will test positive for THC when using CBD, but it’s best to clear things out first and make sure you get your products from a reliable source.