Ringside Doctors – Don’t Fight High But Cannabis Drug Testing Also Divorced From Reality

Earlier this year the Association of Ringside Physicians released a position statement on cannabis in combat sports. This week the position was published in the peer reviewed journal The Physician and Sports Medicine. In short the doctors say that fighters should not compete while high. After the fact drug testing does nothing to address this … More Ringside Doctors – Don’t Fight High But Cannabis Drug Testing Also Divorced From Reality

Ringside Doctors Publish Position Statement on Cannabis in Combat Sports

Today the Association of Ringside Physicians published a position statement on the use of cannabis in combat sports. (disclosure, I co-authored the paper contributing to the section discussion regulatory issues surrounding cannabis). In short the ringside doctors note that medical literature supports more potential harm from short term and long term cannabis use than benefits. … More Ringside Doctors Publish Position Statement on Cannabis in Combat Sports

A Sensible Solution to the Marijuana Issue in Combat Sports

Lost in the discussions of the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s draconian punishment of Nick Diaz and the far from ideal circumstances of his hearing is the fatal flaw in modern day athletic commission testing for marijuana. Marijuana is, by WADA and by most athletic commission standards, only banned in competition (as opposed to steroids and … More A Sensible Solution to the Marijuana Issue in Combat Sports

Welcome Vice Readers – A Sober Look at the Nick Diaz Saga

Today I had the pleasure of sharing my thoughts on the NSAC’s 5 year suspension of Nick Diaz with Michael Martin, JD, Content Manager at DTLA’s Strong Sports Gym at Fightland.com and ViceSports. For those visiting for the first time welcome!  You can click here to read my previous discussion on Diaz’s run ins with the NSAC for … More Welcome Vice Readers – A Sober Look at the Nick Diaz Saga

More on Medical Marijuana TUE’s in Combat Sports

Earlier this year I canvassed the possibility of obtaining Therapeutic Use Exemptions for medical marijuana users licensed to compete in combat sports. The Association of Boxing Commissions Medical Committee has now addressed this issue, noting that “there are no good data at present to suggest that marijuana acts directly as a performance-enhancing drug” and confirmed … More More on Medical Marijuana TUE’s in Combat Sports

MMA Doping Laws and Medical Marijuana – Are TUE’s the Answer?

The use of marijuana by licensed MMA athletes is in the news again now that it is reported that the Nevada State Athletic Commission has raised the testing threshold of marijuana metabolites from 50 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL.   This move is in line with the World Anti Doping Agency’s current policies who adopted the … More MMA Doping Laws and Medical Marijuana – Are TUE’s the Answer?

Would Pat Healy Still Have His Money if UFC 159 Occurred in British Columbia?

OK, with BC’s new legislative framework in place regulating professional MMA and with Marc Ratner’s confirmation that BC is back on the UFC’s map its time to have some fun with hypotheticals. What if Pat Healy’s failed marijuana drug test following UFC 159 occurred under BC’s new regime? For those of you that don’t know the story, following his last … More Would Pat Healy Still Have His Money if UFC 159 Occurred in British Columbia?