ADHD
Marijuana and Sports News
Sports are looking up.
In the past month the marijuana community has heard some great news from the world of sports. And this news comes from around the world. The National Basketball Association (USA) has decided to soften its approach to marijuana testing. The Australian Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports (COMPPS) has also decided to take a new look at what constitutes “performance enhancing drugs” as opposed to simply “banned substances” and all of this is causing the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to also review its rules. Furthermore, UFC fighter Nick Diaz’s recent drug suspension and legal rebuttals are forcing the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) and the UFC to also address their stance on marijuana. Also, Martin Mayhew, GM of the Detroit Lions, has also spoken of his views on marijuana usage by NFL players and draftees. As these incidents move forward, the sports world is poised to make decisions that can and will have ripple effects outside of sports into the social and political fabric of the world. Although nothing has been set in stone yet, the best part is that all these associations are taking the time to look at marijuana in a methodical and scientifically informed manner to reach a proper decision. It appears that old prejudices and scare stories may be set aside with old arbitrary rulings.
The latest thunder from down under comes with quite a bang as the COMPPS has said that it believes marijuana should not be grouped with performance enhancers such as Human Growth Hormone and Anabolic steroids. Under current WADA rules a substance is placed on the banned list if it meets the following criteria: “It’s proven to be performance enhancing, it goes against the spirit of the sport, or it’s dangerous to the health of athletes.” Under those rules, anyone who tests positive for marijuana faces a two-year ban. With COMPPS’ declaration it seems that things are going to relax a bit for Australian athletes. Although, if any compete on an international level they are still subject to WADA rules. However, WADA President John Fahey had this to say, “There are those who believe our current criteria needs to be amended and that will be given appropriate consideration through this review process…Specifically to cannabis, I can only say to those, particularly in the football codes who have expressed concern that we’re focusing on an area that really isn’t about cheating in sport, I urge them to put a request up to WADA, which will be given to our list committee, who will examine it…I won’t express a view I’ll simply say it will be thoroughly examined. There are some substances today that are banned in some sports, but not in others. That may well be an option they [the WADA banned-list committee] may wish to come to the board with in due course. But I won’t pre-empt that, I’ll let them decide without any influence from me.” The sports world will have to wait a while for any final determination, as WADA’s new drug codes will not be released until November 2013.
American sports commissions are also moving in a positive direction. When the NBA restructured its labor agreement they altered their drug testing policy. As it now stands, players will only be tested for performance-enhancing drugs during the off-season. Marijuana is no longer on that list. Although illegal during the season, it means that players who use marijuana for pain or anxiety will get to medicate without fear of suspensions once that final buzzer has sounded. Inside the NFL it seems that cannabis is causing quite a stir. The Detroit Lions have made headlines as several of this year’s draft picks have been arrested for marijuana-related charges. The Lions are not the only team whose players have had troubles in the recent past (The New England Patriots and Cincinnati Bengals also made the news for their players). But it seems that the league is thinking less of this controversy as its toxicity has waned to the public eye. The Lions’ GM Martin Mayhew recently spoke out about players’ off-field actions and concerns. Although contracts will still have morality clauses, and players should think before breaking the law, it appears that league penalties may reduce in severity and clubs will have more flexibility in handling these affairs.
From the Ultimate Fighting Championship comes news concerning contender Nick Diaz. After fighting at UFC 143 in February he tested positive for marijuana metabolites, the residual compounds indicative of marijuana use. Nick has tested positive once before and this may lead to sterner reprimands for the second charge. Nick is a California native and holds a medical marijuana card from the state. However, the fight and test were conducted in Nevada, and under NSAC rules he is immediately suspended for 45 days pending a hearing. At this time, the 45 day limit has expired and Nick is suing for violation of his due process rights, concerning his rights to make a living. NSAC executive director Keith Kizer spoke about the suspension and an in-court statement that failing his drug test posed a “threat to public safety.” Kizer took the stance that marijuana is not on the NSAC approved substance list and therefore Nick is in violation. His statement did seem to leave an opening for a debate on whether or not marijuana should continue to be on the banned substance list. Diaz has stated that he medicates in order to control his ADHD which would impair his ability to focus on training, as well as for pain management. And furthermore, he does not medicate in the week prior to his fights to keep his head clear and reflexes sharp. This certainly seems unjust considering that professional ballplayers can get a shot of cortisone and take a few pain killers so they can pitch in an ALCS game, and not to be able to recall the game later.
The case for marijuana has never been stronger. It’s presence abounds in state’s politics, as it jockeys for position in the national spotlight. The horrors of the failed Drug War in Mexico make headlines every week. And now it is taking over the spotlight in global sports. Many have called for national talks concerning its legality. But Marijuana.net believes now is the right time for a worldwide reckoning concerning the future of humanity and the cannabis plant. It offers so much to help mankind, and asks for so little in return; it only needs a plot of land, steady sunshine, and some water. Hey ref, put down the red card.
A Patient’s Story
Despite the advances of modern medicine, there are many afflictions that doctors still have trouble treating. Most troubles have uncertain treatments and even fewer have cures. Some of the more complex diseases involve the use of pharmaceuticals that have side effects which can be as devastating as the disease they treat. And for some people, proven medications don’t seem to work at all. Although many people tout marijuana as a “cure-all,” it just isn’t true. It can however offer great relief to patients whose experience with modern medicine and disease is less than helpful. Most states don’t offer medical marijuana programs. And in the sixteen states where it is legal, there are shortcomings in some legislation which serve to make obtaining quality medication difficult on a regular basis. Because marijuana is still a schedule 1 drug, domestic research into it is woefully inadequate. Without large-scale studies, results are often suspect and the majority of news about its helpful uses are relegated to personal stories from patients. These anecdotes rarely have any scientific backing, but their publicity can help to sway public support, or even launch new studies into treatment and relief for people who need it.
Tourette’s Syndrome is an affliction that many people suffer from. Despite the common idea that it makes people spew obscenities uncontrollably (coprolalia), those with Tourette’s suffer from a spectrum of disorders including muscular tics, vocalizations (usually not swearing) and other behaviors. Some co-occurring disorders include ADHD and OCD. Some tics are chronic, and others transient. It is shown that environmental factors and stressors lead to upswings in tic occurrence, and that relaxation techniques can help reduce overall severity at a given time. There is no one treatment for Tourette’s, as the symptoms are often varied and the patients often react differently to the many medications recommended for particular behaviors. However, some patients claim that medical marijuana is very helpful for them.
Edward Schafer is one patient who chooses to use cannabis instead of prescribed pharmaceuticals. His first symptoms manifested at age eight and progressed as he did through school. It was very difficult for him in school because of his involuntary noises (grunting) and behaviors. He was constantly moving, tapping and shuffling around in class. The symptoms got worse, to the point where he was self-injuring because of chin jerking and head slamming. Over the years his doctors had given him numerous drugs. Some helped, others did not, and the few that did help often lost potency or had awful side effects. Throughout his life he had tried antipsychotics, such as clonidine (which required steady dose increases), pimozide (Orap), and others Tranxene (clorazepate), and Haldol (haloperidol) to augment the clonidine. All of these drugs come with side effects, from drowsiness to trouble forming memories, weight gain, and the increased chances of heart disease and death.
Finally, as a young teenager, Edward was exposed to marijuana. Initially, he only used it to get high and party. He noticed how it mellowed it him out, and he was actually happy for a few hours at a time. It wasn’t until he was sixteen that he noticed that it temporarily ceased his tics, both physical and verbal. At first his parents were against marijuana (his father violently so), but as they witnessed his transformation into a calm and and functional young man they realized that the plant was indeed helpful. Since that time Edward has medicated solely with marijuana. He was able to focus better in school and brought his grades up. But it hasn’t been all easy street for him. He lives in a state without compassionate use laws and has several run-ins with the law. Because of these citations and troubles, Edward was kicked out of school two weeks before graduation. He has since gotten his diploma, but has great difficulty finding employment because he is unable to pass drug tests. He still lives with his father, and uses marijuana, but on their limited incomes he cannot always afford to medicate as much as he needs. All of this conspires to keep him on the fringe of society. He doesn’t go into public much and prefers the solitude of the country and camping.
Edward is just one of many people who are helped by the cannabis plant, but can’t benefit to fullest because of America’s outdated laws. His story highlights where we must force changes in society. Laws should be repealed or amended and studies undertaken, not for the profit of Big Pharma, but to the profit of society. People who are forced into asocial lifestyles by treatable disorders deserve the opportunity and the right to help themselves. At Marijuana.net we know there are many people who share Edward’s frustrations and have their own stories. We hope that as they step forward and share with us, that society at large will take a step back from their myopic views and share in a wider vision where anyone has the chance to get treatment and join in the wider world.