NFL will provide $ 1 million in research grants to study the pain relieving properties of cannabinoids
At the level of specialists and functionaries of the US professional sports league, there is an understanding that one should not pay attention to the hype in the press, indiscriminately asserting the medicinal properties of the plant or its various components. Attention is focused on the fact that in order to make a decision, reliable facts are needed about the advisability of using hemp or its individual components for use, and there is a clear understanding that there are negative effects from the use of synthetic cannabinoids or plant extracts, which are often more than the therapeutic effect itself.
We have already emphasized that "The NFL is considering researching the properties of cannabis as a pain reliever ." Why the functionaries of the National Football League made the appropriate decision and what it should say to national cannabis growers, we are trying to understand this material.
The National Football League (NFL) Pain Relief Committee and the NFL Players' Association have announced that they will provide significant funding for research into pain relief with cannabis or cannabinoids. NFL officials are planning to fund research on the use of alternative pain relievers to opioids, including potential research on whether cannabis or cannabinoids can effectively treat pain without negatively impacting elite athletes. Specifically, “The league is offering grants of $ 1 million for five research projects,” said Jeff Miller, executive vice president overseeing NFL player health and safety.
The interest in the use of cannabinoids, including medical cannabis, outweighs the available evidence, according to NFL Pain Management Committee Co-Chair Dr. confirming the effectiveness of their application. In particular, according to Mr. Hill, “there is a need to keep in mind the ambiguous results about the use of cannabis for the treatment of pain. In addition, a number of studies suggest that medical hemp, as well as synthetic cannabinoids, can be dangerous to the human body, primarily negatively affecting the liver. Therefore, NFL professionals need validated information to ensure the safety and efficacy of using non-drug cannabinoids or cannabis leaves and flowers to treat pain in league athletes. ”
According to NFL Chief Physician Dr. Allen Sills, “Through funded research, the league wants to understand how the use of cannabis leaves and buds or drug-free cannabinoids can affect the treatment of discomfort and the performance of athletes in the league. More alternatives to opioids are needed for pain relief. The NFL is particularly interested in cannabis and non-drug cannabinoid research projects as players have shown interest primarily in their use for pain relief. ”
Commentary of the specialists of the Association "Ukrainian technical hemp"
The National Football League has previously been criticized after a number of former players said they were addicted to pain medication after injuries sustained during their careers. The announcement of the NFL-funded grants was announced four months after the league requested industry research on the feasibility of using drug-free cannabinoids for pain management, but said it would not pay for the information provided. Taking into account the fact that “ Hemp products are actively assimilated in the sports market ”, the NFL leadership is gradually revising its policy regarding the use of cannabis, in particular, to the possibility of using the therapeutic properties of the plant in the pre-competition period or to reduce the discomfort that occurs during the professional activities of athletes.
It is indicative that at the level of specialists and functionaries of the US professional sports league there is an understanding that one should not pay attention to the hype in the press, indiscriminately asserting the medicinal properties of the plant or its various components. Attention is focused on the fact that in order to make a decision, reliable facts are needed about the advisability of using hemp or its individual components for use, and there is a clear understanding that there are negative effects from the use of synthetic cannabinoids or plant extracts, which are often more than the therapeutic effect itself. Thus, the NFL specialists demonstrate their competence and, despite the almost widespread amendments to the US legislative framework, which provides opportunities for the use of the plant for medicinal purposes, they order the relevant studies to make a final decision.