It’s unfortunate to be the bearer of bad news, but our favorite American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson would most likely miss the biggest game of her night, yes you guessed it… at the Olympic Games.
And all because she tested positive for cannabis!
It couldn’t be more troubling to know that cannabis is labeled in the same category as a “performance-enhancing drug.” Thus, the suspension is applied to the athlete. The suspension can range from one month – two years of not being able to participate in sports, and potentially miss the Olympics.
However, if Sha’Carri Richardson proves the use of cannabis was not related to sports performance and completes an “abuse treatment program.” Then, reconsideration will be deliberated.
“I am human”
Richardson posted “I am human” to her Twitter account shortly after finding out about the failed drug test.
Turns out, Richardson was already going through hard times before her big event. She unexpectedly found out about the death of her mother while she was in Oregon for the Olympic trials. Richardson learned the shocking news from a reporter during an interview – and called it triggering and never shocking. It would definitely send anyone into an emotional panic.
Richardson said, “I didn’t know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time.”
She apologized to her fans, her family, and her sponsors, saying, “I greatly apologize if I let you guys down, and I did.”
How Cannabis is Used to Treat Emotions
Cannabis appears to have a significant impact on the recognition and processing of human emotions like happiness, sadness, and anger, according to research published in the journal PLOS One.
We don’t blame the athlete for copying her emotions through cannabis. As we know that many people that battle with chronic pain seek cannabis.
“It shows cannabinoids might actually be an adjunct for opioids for pain relief and could potentially decrease the adverse effects of the opioids.” (Neuropsychopharmacology, Vol. 43, 2018)
Not the Only Athlete That Enjoys Cannabis
Richardson is now facing a 30-day suspension for testing positive for cannabis. However, previously Michael Phelps was also under deep water when he received a penalty from the committee after a photo leaked of him smoking a bong. USA Swimming suspended Phelps from competition for three months.
Overall, We Feel Horrible for These Athletes!
It truly is a hard job being an athlete, not only do you have to dedicate your mental and physical stamina, and devote yourself to these games. But, you also miss out on all the perks cannabis provides for the mind, body – especially after a long hard day of exhaustion.
As Cannabis is Beneficial to Athletes
The medical use of marijuana dates back hundreds of years in the treatment of a long list of ailments, including pain, neurological conditions, and anorexia. Research has led to generally accepted benefits and adverse physiological effects in acute and chronic marijuana consumption. Now, a new branch of the conversation examines how these effects may apply to athletic performance.
- Anecdotally, athletes have claimed that training and performing while under the influence allow them to enter a “meditative state” in which confidence is high and inhibition and distraction are low. Good news for those that believe in this, though, is science has some evidence to support this theory.
- Additional proposed benefits of marijuana use in athletics is its impact on pain and inflammation. Studies are varied in their conclusions, but some have shown pain relief in neuropathic pain and inflammatory conditions, such as multiple sclerosis. Sativex is a clinically approved medication in Canada and the UK composed of CBD and THC for the treatment of pain in MS and cancer patients. The verdict remains hung on the relief potential for other sources of pain, as well as appropriate formulations and dosing to control different types of pain.
- Athletes in nearly every form of sport – running, skiing, weight training, cycling, and martial arts, to name a few have reported perceived benefits from marijuana use in different capacities of their training.
What needs to be determined is whether or not cannabis can be considered a performance-enhancing, or ergogenic, substance and how this determination will influence screening procedures and disciplinary guidelines. Currently, cannabis in some dose or another is a banned substance in nearly every athletic society, but there is not a universally accepted stance on the matter. It should be vocalized and expanded further as to how cannabis is benefactor to an athlete’s overall health.
Sources:
- https://www.apa.org/monitor/2018/12/marijuana
- https://theweedblog.com/culture/athlete-shacarri-richardson-tests-positive-cannabis
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/01/sports/olympics/shacarri-richardson-suspended-marijuana.html
- https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/athletics/news/shacarri-richardson-olympics-suspension-weed-michael-phelps/ljjh84kf4jgk1qe7ql2yydxxy
