CBD: Is It Beneficial?
In sports, athletes are constantly looking for strategies to reduce muscle soreness and accelerate recovery. Cannabidiol (CBD) is becoming a popular method to reduce pain and may even help with sleep. CBD is no longer prohibited; however, most CBD products contain at least trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is a prohibited substance in sport.
CBD products include oil tinctures, capsules, edibles (e.g., gummies), beverages, topical creams, gels, sprays and vaping. To date, CBD products have not been approved by the U.S. FDA, except as a prescription drug to treat rare and severe form of epilepsy.
CBD and THC are naturally occurring compounds, called cannabinoids, that are extracted from the cannabis plant. Cannabis plants have over 100 cannabinoids and are mainly grown to produce a variety of concentrations of THC or CBD. According to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp, which produces CBD, is defined as a cannabis plant that contains less than 0.3% of THC, and if greater than 0.3% it would be considered marijuana.
THC = marijuana and intoxicating
CBD = industrial hemp and non-intoxicating
The legality of Cannabis including CBD and THC vary by state and countries. In the United States as of November 2020, 47 states have legalized CBD products. There are 36 states and 4 U.S. territories that allow the medical use of marijuana, while adult recreational use is permitted in 15 states. Refer to picture below, taken from National Conference of State Legislatures.
With cannabis being legalized and becoming more widely available, it is confusing and difficult for athletes to determine if they can use CBD.
CBD has been sought out by athletes as an alternative strategy to relieve pain and muscle soreness. This is most likely due to wanting to reduce the use of pain medications, which are commonly used to alleviate pain and inflammation in sports, as chronic use can have negative side effects.
CBD is primarily known for its effectiveness against seizure disorders. There have been studies report CBD provides pain relief, helps with muscle spasms, and reduces anxiety and insomnia.
A recent study (Kasper et al., 2020) showed athletes reported CBD helps alleviate pain, enhances recovery and promotes sleep. While athletes reported benefits of CBD, the data was subjective. Also, CBD research is usually performed in combination with THC, which raises doubts on the effectiveness of CBD alone. Although studies have suggested CBD may help with falling asleep and staying asleep, the research is not conclusive. CBD may aid with inflammation, but most studies have been in rodents. The evidence is limited for cannabis being a performance enhancer.
For those wanting to take CBD, it is important to consider that CBD could contain amounts of THC, which for an athlete could increase the risk of a positive drug test. The amount of THC in your system must be at or below the urinary threshold of 150 ng/mL.
Currently, there is no effective therapeutic dose for CBD nor CBD dosage recommendations that will ensure a negative drug test.
Is CBD Safe to Use?
Though its often well-tolerated, CBD may cause side effects of nausea, diarrhea and fatigue. More research is needed to determine the safety of CBD. The U.S. FDA has not concluded that CBD is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for the use of food nor considered a dietary supplement.
Should I use CBD?
Most sport governing bodies recommend not using CBD as it is very difficult to obtain CBD without a mixture of other cannabinoids, including THC. Athletes should assume that CBD products probably include some amount of THC. Furthermore, all cannabinoids, except CBD are prohibited in sport and do not have a threshold besides THC. This means any level of other cannabinoids detected in your system will result in a positive test.
How long does it take CBD or THC to leave my body?
It depends on many factors such as the particular cannabinoid, the dosage used, how often its used, your body weight, your overall metabolism, liver function, general health and medication use. Many cannabinoids accumulate in fat, and for chronic users, they can take weeks or months to clear completely from the body.
While CBD could be beneficial, under the current legislation and available research, athletes are at their own risk and should talk to their doctor before taking CBD products.
Reference:
Kasper, A. M., Sparks, S., Hooks, M., Skeer, M., Webb, B., Nia, H., Morton, J. P., & Close, G. L. (2020). High Prevalence of Cannabidiol Use Within Male Professional Rugby Union and League Players: A Quest for Pain Relief and Enhanced Recovery, International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, 30(5), 315-322.