Sports Medicine: How Cannabis is Revolutionizing Sports

The cannabis and sports relationship has been a rollercoaster— from a hard “no” to a “let’s talk about it.”

The establishment of sports medicine as a recognized medical specialty has been key to the development of sports medicine in different countries. Even Medicare recognizes sports medicine as a medical subspecialty. One of the most exciting fields in medicine that sports will continue to follow is cannabis.

Athletes, from pros to weekend warriors, are curious about how cannabis can help with recovery, focus, and the physical demands of their sport. Thanks to changing laws, cultural shifts, and emerging research the conversation around cannabis in sports is getting louder and more complex.

The founders of 3CHI are big sports fans, to say the least. Here’s why we are excited about the future of hemp-derived cannabis, like THCA flower, and sports medicine.

A History: Cannabis and Sports

Athletes using cannabis isn’t a recent thing. In the 1970s, long-distance runners, surfers, and bodybuilders were using the plant to ease pain and sharpen their mental focus during training. One iconic moment was in 1975 when Arnold Schwarzenegger was photographed smoking a joint after winning Mr. Olympia.

That image didn’t just break the stigma—it started the conversation about whether cannabis could be more than just recreational.

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Extreme sports—snowboarding, skateboarding, rock climbing—require not just physical skill but mental composure. Cannabis has found a home here, helping athletes stay calm and focused in high-pressure situations.

Ross Rebagliati: The Snowboarding Legend

In 1998 snowboarder Ross Rebagliati tested positive for THC after winning gold at the Winter Olympics. His medal was reinstated because of the grey area at the time but it started a global conversation about cannabis in sports. Was it a performance enhancer, a recovery tool, or just part of the culture?

Skateboarding and the Chill Factor

Icons like Tony Hawk have acknowledged the connection in the past. Many skaters use cannabis to stay relaxed while doing tricks. For some, it’s the perfect way to combine creativity with focus—two major cornerstones of extreme sports.

Ultra-Endurance Athletes, Sports Injuries and Pain Management

Ultra-endurance athletes, Ironman competitors, and 100-mile runners often use cannabis for pain management and recovery. Many also use pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs as part of their pain management strategy. Instead of prescription opioids, they use cannabis to ease aches and repetitive strains so they can get through training sessions.

Pro Tip: If you’re on your feet for hours cannabis might help you stay mentally relaxed and physically loose making those long miles more bearable. For targeted relief, 3CHI’s CBD Relief Cream can be applied directly to sore muscles and joints.

Modern Acceptance: Professional Athletes and Trainers Speak Out

The stigma around cannabis in sports is finally breaking down thanks to athletes and trainers speaking out. They’re sharing their experiences with recovery, sleep, and pain management—the key factors for anyone who’s pushing their body to the limit.

Certified athletic trainers are part of the multidisciplinary team in sports medicine working with other healthcare professionals to develop recovery plans for athletes and active individuals.

NFL Players and Pain Relievers

The NFL has always been strict on cannabis but they’re starting to loosen up.  In 2020, the NFL changed its stance on cannabis policy through the league’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Four-Time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski has spoken out about using cannabis and CBD products to manage the long-term effects of their careers.

For 2025’s Super Bowl 59 favorites, Kansas City Chief’s tight-end Travis Kelce told Vanity Fair that anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of the league’s more than 1,600 players currently use cannabis.

NBA’s New Policy

The NBA stopped random testing for marijuana in 2021. High-profile players like Kevin Durant are now openly talking about using cannabis for recovery, it’s a sign of the times.

Certified Athletic Trainers and Recovery Experts

Trainers and recovery specialists are also chiming in. Physical therapists are key in diagnosing and treating sports-related injuries and their role in the rehabilitation process can’t be overstated. In interviews with Men’s Health and Runner’s World, they’ve mentioned how cannabinoids like CBD and THC can help with pain and support muscle recovery making cannabis a part of the recovery toolkit.

If you want to add cannabinoids to your routine 3CHI’s Delta 8 THC Gummies are a convenient and precise way to dose.

Points of Contention

Cannabis in sports is still controversial, especially in competitive environments.

Note that while THCa is non-psychoactive it can convert to THC and can produce a positive result on a drug test. So if you’re subject to drug tests exercise caution when using THCa products and consider a waiting period before testing.

THC as a Banned Substance

WADA and other organizations still ban THC during competitions because of concerns about reaction time, increased heart rate, and coordination.

Expert Take: Cannabis isn’t a one size fits all solution. For some athletes it’s great. For others it’s a distraction. It all depends on how you use it.

Fairness Advocates

Supporters say cannabis should be treated like other performance tools like caffeine or compression gear. They believe athletes should have the freedom to make their own choices without fear of consequences.

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Cannabis Outside of Competition

For non-competitive athletes cannabis is about recreation and therapy, not performance.

Under the 2018 Hemp Farm Bill cannabis flower must have less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight to be considered hemp, a big deal for legality and accessibility. Cannabis buds with high levels of THCA and low levels of delta-9 THC are legal under this bill, so THCA hemp is not the same as psychoactive THC products.

If you want to try hemp-derived cannabis 3CHI has a range of products including THCA flower products, which have the therapeutic benefits of THCA without the psychoactive effects of THC.

Yoga and Cannabis

Yoga is all about calming the mind. It’s no surprise that yogis and instructors say that cannabis helps many people with meditation. The calming effects of THC can deepen the mind-body connection making it easier to stretch, breathe, and relax.

Casual Runners

A 2019 study in Frontiers in Public Health found that over 80% of cannabis users who exercise believe it makes physical activity more enjoyable. Casual runners may use cannabis to manage minor sports injuries and make physical activity more enjoyable.

The Future: Research, Stigma, and Policy

As the conversation around cannabis in sports unfolds we should be paying attention to:

• Research: More studies need to be done to understand how cannabinoids affect recovery, pain, and focus. This will help athletes use cannabis better.
• Policy: Sports organizations need to reevaluate their rules as evidence of cannabis’s benefits grows. A more nuanced approach will give athletes the freedom to make their own choices.
• Stigma: High-profile endorsements from athletes like Megan Rapinoe and Ricky Williams are helping to break down the stereotypes.

Sports medicine professionals are at the forefront of treating and preventing sports-related injuries. They work with orthopedic surgeons, athletic trainers, and other experts to get athletes and active individuals back to optimal recovery and performance.

3CHI’s Athlete Relationships

Cannabis and sports have come a long way. What was once a taboo topic is now a space to explore and talk about. Athletes from all disciplines—including NASCAR drivers (like Kyle Busch’s Kyle Kush pictured above)—are finding out that cannabis may have a role in recovery, focus, and overall wellness.

While overuse and impairment are valid concerns, the conversation is changing. More research and better policy mean the future of cannabis in sports is looking bright.

Curious to start? 3CHI has a range of products to help you get started, including new product deals to try things out. Remember to start slow on dosage and keep an open mind, the game is changing and it’s going to be fun to watch!

Subscribe now, and as a new customer, you’ll get 20% off your first order, plus a free 2-pack of Delta 8 gummies!