"Cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage"- NCAA DI removes marijuana from banned drug class for all championships

In a historic move, NCAA Division I has announced the removal of cannabinoid products from the banned drug class for college athletes. The decision was made following a vote by council members this June. The rule change comes into effect immediately and any athlete who has been serving a ban over marijuana use is also now eligible to compete again.

Over the past decade, several college athletes have received month-long bans over marijuana use. The biggest suspension came in 2014 when Michigan basketball player Mitch McGary was banned for an entire season over a positive marijuana test. Although the NCAA later lessened the penalty to half a season, McGary ended up in the NBA draft in the same year and was selected by The Oklahoma City Thunder.

Recreational marijuana is now being rapidly legalised in the US, with 24 states currently allowing cannabinoid products. The country’s biggest sports league, the NBA, removed marijuana from its drug testing program in 2023, Now college athletes will be judged by the same rulebook.

NCAA Division I council members voted to remove marijuana from its drug testing program on June 26, 2024. It will apply across all championships including track and field, swimming, gymnastics and wrestling. Chairman of the Council, Josh Whitman, said this while making the announcement:

"The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on the integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage. The council’s focus is on policies centred on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.” (via SportsCenter)

Consistent discussions over marijuana testing have happened since last year. In November, the vice chairman of the college sports body stressed focusing on students with cannabis use disorders instead of conducting random tests at national championships.

Three NCAA athletes were banned for six games over marijuana usage in 2019

This historic decision from the NCAA comes after a year of discussions (IMAGE: GETTY)

The NCAA banned three Oklahoma football players after they tested positive for a marijuana drug test in December 2019. Defensive end Ronnie Perkins, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and wide receiver Trejan Bridges had received six-game suspensions, which included a playoff match against LSU.

The suspensions came after the college sports body had revised the THC threshold for the marijuana testing rule. The threshold was raised again in 2022 It has now been completely removed from the prohibited substance list. It now has stimulants, anabolic steroids, narcotics, diuretics, drug masking agents and growth hormones.