The National Football League (NFL) announced that will destinate $1 million dollars to research new cannabis alternatives to help with pain management.
The NFL gave this budget to the University of San Diego California and the University of Regina. The studies will determine the effects of cannabinoids for pain but also as a neuroprotectant in cases of traumatic brain injury in elite league players.
This stems from the initiative of the NFL’s Pain Management Committee whose intention is to facilitate research for new alternatives for the improvement of its players.
After reviewing 106 different proposals, the NFL decided to allocate the funds to two investigations:
(1) “Effects of cannabinoids on pain and recovery from sport-related injuries in elite athletes: a randomized clinical trial” led by Drs. Thomas Marcotte and Mark Wallace, with colleagues at the University of California, San Diego.
(2) “Naturally Produced Cannabinoids for Pain Management and Neuroprotection from Concussion and Participation in Contact Sports” led by Dr. J. Patrick Neary and researchers at the University of Regina.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to fund these scientifically sound studies on the use of cannabinoids that may lead to the discovery of data-driven evidence that could affect our players’ pain management.” said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer.
Many of these investigations arise because of the problem of addictions to pain medications that many of the players have suffered.
“Our team is excited to receive this funding to conduct a systematic, ‘real-world, real-time’ study with professional athletes, and that should shed more light on the many anecdotal reports that cannabis is useful for reducing post-competition pain.” Director of the University of San Diego Pain Medical Center, Dr.Mark Wallace.
Players who will participate in the studies will have to be outside the NFL. Tournament players are not allowed to participate.
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