A high school football player from Georgia has been barred from playing NCAA football due to his use of CBD oil to treat his seizures, according to a WGXA report. C.J. Harris, a senior at Warner Robins High School, received a preferred walk-on offer from Auburn University – his “dream school” – but the offer was later rescinded due to his CBD use.
He wouldn’t be able to pass a drug test because of his CBD oil use. The oil, which is legal to possess and use for medical purposes including seizures in Georgia, contains 0.3 percent THC; NCAA athletes are not allowed to have any THC in their systems.
His father Curtis said telling his son he couldn’t play college football was the hardest thing he’s had to do.
“You’re taking something away from a kid who’s worked so hard in his life to get there. And you’re just taking it away because he’s taking a medication that’s helping with his disability.” – Curtis Harris to WGXA
Harris is considering playing collegiate football at a lower level. He’s also considering replacing the cannabis oil – the only medicine that has stopped his seizures – with another medicine that would allow him to pass the NCAA drug test.
Update (5/29, 10:55 a.m.):
In a follow-up interview, an unnamed individual said to be familiar with this event told SEC Country that Harris was actually deemed ineligible due to his epilepsy diagnosis and the risk of having a seizure during a high-contact sport — not because of his use of low-THC, CBD-rich cannabis oils.