Survey Reveals Sports Medicine Physicians Have Increasingly Favorable Views of CBD
A survey of sports medicine physicians was conducted to assess their current perspectives concerning CBD. The survey was published in Translational Sports Medicine and revealed an interesting array of attitudes. The results found more favorable views of both cannabinoids and views supporting legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use. The difference in the attitudes among physicians appeared to be impacted by the physician’s age, gender and type of medical practice.
The study had mixed results, indicating there are continuing different perspectives among physicians about CBD and cannabis use in sports. The study found that 72% support the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) taking off the banned substance list. It also found that the sports medicine providers who currently suggest patients use cannabis and CBD are mostly doing so to address neuropathic and musculoskeletal discomfort. The study also found that very few physicians are recommending CBD for issues common to sports, like anxiety and concussions.
The report statistics show that 40.8% of survey respondents have suggested their patients take CBD for therapeutic purposes. Approximately 59% want cannabis removed from the WADA list.
Certain physician demographics are still not supportive of CBD or marijuana use for athletes or sports enthusiasts. The physicians least supportive of allowing cannabis for recreational use were female, older and working in rural areas. The least likely to recommend the use of CBD by athletes were pediatricians and academic and rural physicians. This group of physicians was more likely to disagree with the idea of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s removing marijuana from the banned substance list. They also did not support the NCAA approving CBD consumption for college athletes.
In a separate event, an NCAA panel recommended the association’s governing bodies remove cannabis from the list of banned substances for college athletes. This survey and other events like the NCAA panel point to a shift in perspectives on the use of cannabis and CBD for medical treatments. As the study authors point out, they also support continued research into CBD and cannabis and more education efforts for sports medicine providers. The trend is towards more physician support for CBD and cannabis in sports medicine use.
Sarah C.
Thank you for sharing this.