NCAA Reconsiders Marijuana Policy: A Shift Towards Education and Support

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the primary governing body for intercollegiate sports, has been reevaluating its approach to marijuana and cannabis products. This re-examination signifies a major shift in the organization's drug testing policies, prioritizing education and support for student-athletes over strict penalties.

From Banned Substance to Non-Performance Enhancing Drug

The NCAA has announced the removal of marijuana and cannabis products from the list of banned drug classes for college football's postseason and all Division I championships. This decision reflects a growing understanding that cannabis use does not provide a competitive advantage in sports. According to Josh Whitman, chair of NCAA’s Division I Council and the athletic director at the University of Illinois, the NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage.

This adjustment aligns with a broader trend of evolving public health and cultural views regarding cannabis use. Cannabinoids will now be addressed like other non-performance enhancing drugs like alcohol. Furthermore, recent actions at the federal and state levels on cannabis have also influenced the NCAA's decision. President Joe Biden, for instance, officially moved to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous substance, marking a significant shift in the country's drug policy.

Regular Season vs. Postseason: A Dual Approach

It's crucial to understand the distinction between drug testing policies during the regular season and the postseason. During the regular season, colleges and schools maintain their own drug testing policies and standards. However, in the postseason, the NCAA's testing, standards, and penalties take precedence. This means that while individual institutions may have stricter rules regarding cannabis use during the regular season, the NCAA's more lenient policy will apply during championships and bowl games.

The Rationale Behind the Change

The NCAA's decision to revise its cannabis policy stems from several factors, including the ineffectiveness of previous policies and a desire to focus on student-athlete well-being. Deena Casiero, the vice chair of the committee and head team physician at UConn, stated that the previous cannabinoid policies and sanctions were not an effective deterrent to cannabinoid use. Instead, the NCAA aims to focus on student-athletes who have or are at risk for cannabis use disorder. Randomly testing at NCAA championships is not the best way to identify or help student-athletes with use issues.

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Rising Cannabis Use Among Student-Athletes

The NCAA recently conducted a survey on student-athlete substance use, surveying more than 23,000 student-athletes from across the country. The survey revealed that cannabis use among student-athletes has been on the rise. Self-reported cannabis use increased to 26% as compared to 25% in 2017 and 22% in 2013. Cannabis use was reported as highest in men’s sports, at the Division III level and for those attending schools where cannabis has been legalized for recreational and medicinal use.

Interestingly, as cannabis use has climbed, narcotic pain medication use has continued to fall. About 6% of respondents indicated prescription narcotic painkiller use, with just under 2% admitting use without a prescription.

Adjustments to THC Threshold Levels

In a previous adjustment to its cannabinoid testing policies, the NCAA's Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) aligned with THC threshold levels established by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The committee aligned with THC threshold levels established by the World Anti-Doping Agency, raising the threshold for student-athletes from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter. The threshold adjustment is effective immediately and applicable to drug tests administered in fall 2021 or later.

Revised Penalty Structure

The NCAA has also revised the penalty structure for student-athletes who test positive for THC during NCAA drug testing. The revised guidelines emphasize education and management over strict penalties for subsequent positive tests.

Second positive test: No loss of eligibility if the school provides additional management and education and confirms the student-athlete was compliant with the original management and education plan.
Third positive test: No loss of eligibility if the school provides additional management and education and confirms the student-athlete was compliant with the previous two treatment and education plans.

Expansion of the CSMAS Committee

To further support student-athlete well-being, the NCAA is expanding the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS). The committee also recommended the addition of two new positions, which would increase the size of CSMAS from 23 to 25 members. The new positions are specifically allocated for a licensed mental health practitioner and a physician with expertise in endocrinology.

Historical Context: The Evolution of NCAA Drug Testing

The NCAA's drug testing program has evolved significantly since its inception. The National Collegiate Athletic Association did not start drug testing athletes until 1986, and even then it was only athletes or teams that made it to championship or bowl games. The NCAA adopted its drug testing program in 1986, the year after the executive committee formed the Special NCAA Committee on Drug Testing. The drug test ranges from testing player-enhancement drugs to marijuana.

1970: The NCAA council founded a drug education committee. “The Drug Education Committee conducts a survey of 1,000 male student-athletes in the Big Ten Conference; 40 percent of respondents said that drug use was a slight or growing problem among varsity athletes”.
1986: NCAA drug-testing program was adopted at the NCAA convention. The drug testing started that following fall with only championships and bowl games.
1987: A Stanford diver filed a lawsuit claiming that this drug testing policy violated his privacy rights. The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of the NCAA in the privacy-rights lawsuit, saying the Association was "well within its legal rights" in adopting a drug-testing program.
2006: The year-round testing program was expanded into the summer months. That same year the Division III Presidents Council approved a two-year drug-education and testing pilot program.

Examples of Consequences of the Previous Policy

In the past, the NCAA's strict marijuana policy has had significant consequences for student-athletes.

In 2014, Michigan basketball star forward Mitch McGary learned he would be suspended for the entire 2014-15 season due to a positive marijuana test during the 2014 NCAA Tournament. As a result, McGary declared for the NBA Draft and was selected at No. 21 by the Oklahoma City Thunder. The NCAA later that year lessened the penalty for a positive marijuana test to half of a season.
In 2019, three Oklahoma football players were suspended for six games due to positive marijuana tests before the Peach Bowl CFP semifinal game. Those suspensions carried over into the 2020 season.

NCAA's Stance on Banned Substances

It's important to note that the NCAA maintains a comprehensive list of banned substances, and student-athletes are responsible for being aware of these substances. NCAA legislation requires that schools provide drug education to all student-athletes. The athletics director or athletics director's designee shall disseminate the list of banned-drug classes to all student-athletes and educate them about products that might contain banned drugs. They should also be informed of the appropriate athletics department procedures for disseminating updates to the list.

Examples of substances under each class can be found at ncaa.org/drugtesting. Athletics department staff should provide guidance to student-athletes about supplement use, including a directive to have any product checked by appropriate athletics department staff before consuming. THERE IS NO COMPLETE LIST OF BANNED SUBSTANCES. Many nutritional/dietary supplements are contaminated with banned substances not listed on the label.

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