UFC allows cannabis for MMA athletes

The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) voted Wednesday to lift its long-standing ban on cannabis for athletes, paving the way for free and open cannabis use by boxers and mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes competing in Nevada.

How about that! NSAC no longer sanctioning for marijuana. Crazy that in my tenure with UFC I've seen NSAC try to suspend Nick Diaz for life for marijuana, to this. Big credit to Exec Director Bob Bennett for spearheading this change. Just don't show up to fight impaired!

- Jeff Novitzky (@JeffNovitzkyUFC) July 7, 2021

The commission, which regulates combat sports in the state and sets the rules for boxing matches and the’Ultimate Fighting Championship which takes place in Las Vegas, has voted unanimously to change its cannabis policy, after years of debate and discussion about the impact of the drug on fighters prior to competition, and whether or not it has any beneficial effects on performance.

For many years, the commission took a hard line on cannabis, banning the substance in and out of competition, and punishing fighters who claimed to use cannabis to relieve the drudgery of training and combat. The NSAC suspended Nick Diaz, for five years in 2015, before the suspension was reduced ahead of his scheduled return later this year.

Following this historic decision, NSAC Executive Director Bob Bennett explained his reasoning: «According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, the’AMA considers cannabis a substance of abuse, not as a performance-enhancing drug,» said Bennett. «I think our goal is to test performance-enhancing drugs to ensure a level playing field. The fact that it's not a performance-enhancing drug, I don't think we should test it any longer.»

This decision will allow fighters in boxing and MMA in Nevada to test positive for cannabis during pre-fight doping controls and not be penalized for it. They will only be penalized if they are «intoxicated» on fight night, based on visual checks.

The commission will continue to test for cannabis for at least the next six months, as part of its investigation into head injuries, but will not punish fighters who use it in training.

UFC had lifted its own ban in January of cannabis use in the sport, but since Nevada sports officials hadn't followed suit, fighters still had to pass a test.