It’s no secret that Olympic athletes are under a microscope. They must follow strict guidelines in order to maintain their status as an athlete, and often times they have to be careful about what they put into their body.
Many people believe that cannabis should be legal for recreational use, while others think it needs stricter regulations or should not be legalized at all. Considering the many factors involved in this debate, I wanted to share my personal opinion on how alcohol is treated differently from Cannabis with Olympic athletes.
Also, don’t forget to read about Sha’carri Richardson and THC!
There are many athletes who have faced repercussions for using cannabis, but not everyone is aware of the fact that Olympic athletes often use alcohol under a different set of rules. I’m sure most people can think back to an athlete or two at their high school with a reputation for heavy drinking before big games.
The athletic department didn’t seem too concerned about this practice despite it being banned by the NCAA and against any number of other sports organizations including USA Swimming, U.S Skiing Association, FINA (international governing body), etc.
Athletes would simply receive punishment after they were caught instead of receiving help during times where there may be problematic behavior occurring out-of-competition which could lead to dangerous consequences later on down the road without being treated.
From an Olympic athlete’s perspective, I believe that the rules for alcohol and cannabis should be applied equally. Both pose dangers to our bodies when consumed in excess over time which can lead to numerous health problems including cancer, liver disease, pancreatitis, etc.
While marijuana is not physically addictive like alcohol can be and doesn’t typically cause aggressive behavior or blackouts (though there are exceptions), it still poses a risk of impairment while operating machinery such as cars and by extension boats while under its influence.
If we’re going to legalize one substance because we think it has medicinal benefits while also allowing adults who choose use this other substance without consequence why wouldn’t we treat both substances equally? If anything else shouldn’t athletes at least have equal access to both substances?
Bottom Line:
In conclusion, I hope that you took the time to consider my opinion on how alcohol and cannabis should be treated equally with Olympic athletes. The rules for both substances need to change because we’re sending a dangerous message about which substance is okay to use when it’s not always true.
