CBD for Athletic Performance: The Rise of Cannabinoids in Basketball

CBD is becoming increasingly popular among consumers with various medical conditions across the USA and beyond. This compound found in the cannabis plant can make a real difference in one’s health and wellness due to its impressive anti-inflammatory, soothing, and painkilling properties. Thus, CBD application is rising and expanding, with many populations embracing its value for their unique health issues. 

Athletes are one such group benefiting from CBD consumption in many ways. Overall, with the reputation of cannabis stained with the intoxicating effect of THC, many sports organizations still keep CBD banned for athletes’ use. However, the situation is gradually changing, and one of the major moves toward CBD recognition as a valuable herbal remedy was its removal from the WADA list of prohibited substances. Other sports entities are to follow the lead shortly, so the use of CBD in professional sports settings is generally promising. 

Let’s consider why athletes take CBD during their regular training routines, and what recommendations they should observe to ensure CBD use is safe and legal. 

Why Use CBD in Sports? 

CBD has various natural healing properties that make it highly beneficial for athletes. CBD is applied in professional sports in the following ways: 

• Inflammation and pain relief. Basketball can be really traumatic, as athletes collide on the battlefield and traumatize each other. Thus, it’s common for athletes to have bruises and inflamed joints after the competition. This problem can be addressed with a cooling CBD roll-on, lotion, or a relaxing bath bomb. You can learn about the variety of these products and their selection tips at askgrowers.com/cbd/cbd-topicals/cbd-bath-bombs-salts. 
• Anxiety relief. It’s typical for athletes to feel anxious and stressed before a competition. Too much is at stake, and there is no chance for mistakes. Thus, most professional players feel the burden of their position and can get depressed or overly anxious before the event. Taking some CBD before the match is a great option to calm down and restore a good mood, which is vital for outstanding performance. 
• Muscle recovery and protection. Basketball players train very much and spend hours running on the field, so their muscles are naturally strained and overloaded. CBD topicals can help address this persistent problem by preventing serious injuries resulting from muscle overload. CBD also reduces the level of cortisol associated with suppressed muscle recovery, thus helping the athlete’s organism get back to normal much faster. 

Stance of International Sports Organizations on CBD 

Next, it’s vital to consider the legal landscape for CBD use among professional basketballers. We’ve already discovered that WADA has no ban on CBD use, allowing CBD consumption for athletes without restrictions. Interestingly, the NBA has no clear stance on CBD; its regulations claim that CBD oil is generally legal. However, its use may still cause anti-doping rule violations and ban the player from the competition. It is a matter of the players’ own discretion on whether to use CBD or not and which products to choose. Besides, it’s widely known that the NBA doesn’t test the players for marijuana or CBD use; the only exception may be a decision to conduct randomized drug tests among players in case any suspicion of grave violations surfaces. 

Which Basketball Players Are Known to Use CBD? 

Now, let’s talk about several NBA celebs who openly report their CBD use and advertise its benefits for professional athletes. Their position on the matter is interesting for all current and aspiring professional sportspeople who may consider using CBD for wellness and muscle recovery but doubt the legality and propriety of this practice. 

#1 Jamal Mashburn 

Mashburn, well-known in the NBA world under the nickname “Monster Mash,” is an avid advocate of CBD use among basketball players. Now retired from professional sports, this athlete was one of the first to talk about CBD benefits publicly, attracting people’s attention to the fact that CBD can address many chronic health problems athletes encounter throughout their careers. Mashburn believes CBD is ideal for athletes since it provides optimal pain management and ensures sustained well-being for people under chronic pressure and stress. 

#2 Al Harrington 

Harrington is a true legend of basketball, a star who managed to contribute to the glorious track record of seven teams, including the Warriors, Pacers, and Knicks. After ending his 16-year NBA career, Harrington remained in basketball by joining the Big 3 basketball entity. His acquaintance with CBD started in 2011, after a serious botched knee surgery following a trauma. Harrington used CBD products to speed up his recovery and return to the field, which he found highly effective. Since then, Al Harrington has become a keen advocate of CBD advantages for athletes. He continues praising the value of CBD for professional athletes in need of pain management, muscle recovery, and trauma recovery. 

#3 Rick Barry 

Golden State Warriors will never forget the contribution of their star – Richard Francis Dennis Barry III, called “Rick Barry” among fellow athletes. Barry was the only player who managed to have an NBA and ABA career at the same time, which caused pretty much pressure on his sports routines. After he retired from professional basketball, Barry became an ardent advocate of CBD product use in the NBA, and he spoke about the benefits of CBD at the 2017 O’Cannabiz Cannabis Expo in Toronto. Thus, one of the brightest stars of the NBA is on the side of CBD introduction into basketball players’ recovery regimens. 

Precautions in CBD Product Selection for Professional Athletes 

With that information in mind, you might grow more positive about using CBD for athletic performance enhancement or addressing your anxiety and pain. However, we would like to caution you about selecting the right CBD products. Quality and purity of ingredients, as well as the brand’s reputation, is key in this regard, and you may be sure about CBD’s benefits for your health and wellness only if you check: 

• THC presence. Athletes must use THC-free products, as THC is psychoactive and can show up in the drug test. Besides, THC can slow your reaction and impair judgment, which is hazardous in many traumatic sports. 
• CBD extraction method. It’s better to choose products with CBD extracted via safe and ecological methods, such as supercritical CO2 extraction. 
• Synthetic or toxic components. Even if your CBD is of high quality, the brand may include dangerous additional ingredients in the mix. So, check the label to avoid artificial elements that may cause allergies or side effects.  
• Accurate dosing. Mind the dosing recommendations and be careful about consuming too much CBD; it can also cause unpleasant side effects, such as dizziness or nausea. 
• Brand reputation. Look for CBD product reviews and customer testimonials to ensure you buy a high-quality, workable remedy. 

Final Word 

As you can see, CBD use in basketball and other kinds of professional sports is pretty commonplace today. Athletes are a specific population category that can benefit from CBD in many ways, such as reducing pain and inflammation, battling stress and anxiety, and improving emotional balance and well-being during recovery from trauma. Thus, the landscape for CBD adoption is improving in the professional athletic arena, with many ways for athletes to reap the benefits of CBD application for health and wellness. 

The author of this article is Lana Braslavska, a cannabis industry expert and a full-time writer at AskGrowers. Lana works with various populations of CBD consumers to educate them on the safe use and legal landscape of CBD consumption. She is passionate about sharing CBD benefits with people and helping them pick the right products for better health outcomes.