The NCAA Division I Council on Tuesday voted to remove cannabis products from the list of substances that disqualify players for postseason participation in football and championships. The new rules take effect immediately.
In a statement, Josh Whitman, chair of the council and athletics director at Illinois, said “The council’s focus is on policies centered on student-athlete health and well-being rather than punishment for cannabis use.”
“The NCAA drug testing program is intended to focus on integrity of competition, and cannabis products do not provide a competitive advantage.” — Whitman in a press release
Any penalties currently being served by student-athletes who previously tested positive for cannabinoids will be discontinued, the NCAA said.
The NCAA has considered removing cannabis from its banned substances list entirely with the Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CMAS) making the broad recommendation in 2023. Earlier this year, the CMAS raised the THC threshold for a failed test from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter of blood. Those limits are now aligned with those of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the changes were immediate and backdated to cover tests administered in fall 2021 and later.
The committee also changed the penalties associated with a positive THC test. Under the new rules, athletes are no longer suspended from games until they fail a second drug screening.
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