Tyler Mosher is a cannabis entrepreneur and two-time paralympian. (Tyler Mosher)

By Karen Habashi

competition

Opinions changing towards cannabis in sport

Sep 27, 2023 | 7:00 AM

Fifteen years ago, Canadian snowboarder Ross Rebagliati made headlines.

He won the first gold medal in Olympic snowboarding history, then lost it after a failed drug test for cannabis use. Later, after an appeal, he re-won it.

But, the headlines focused on one thing: his use of cannabis. Since then, there have been many headlines about athletes and cannabis. Even recently, Sha’Carri Richardson qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics after winning the women’s 100-meter dash at the United States Olympic Trials.

Then, it was reported Richardson tested positive for cannabis use, invalidating her win and making her ineligible to compete in the 100m at the Olympics.

“It definitely isn’t performance-enhancing, that’s for sure, “Tyler Mosher, a cannabis entreprenuer and two-time paralympian World Champion snowboarder, explained.

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“If you suffer from anxiety, there are a lot of things people are using. I can only speak for myself, but I know because I have such limited movement and a great amount of pain day-to-day that cannabis allowed me to stretch further, to move better, and to allow my muscles to loosen up.”

Mosher has been an advocate for CBD and has been using it for pain management and recovery since 2000. He snowboarded more than 100 days per year for four years until he had a spinal cord injury on Blackcomb Mountain.

He fell 30 feet on his head and was instantly paralyzed from the waist down.

Recently, the NBA announced it would no longer penalize the use of cannabis. Also, the NFL paid $1 million to two research teams, including the University of Regina, to investigate cannabis’s value as a pain-management tool and as a neuroprotectant for football players who suffered from concussions. 

“And, when you look at Ricky Williams down in the NFL, or let’s face it, the majority of professional athletes that would want to recreationally use THC and cannabis, and then also use it for a certain amount of pain management or lifestyle choice, they should be allowed to. I think this is the same as prohibition, and it is 2023 going on to 2024 and I think it’s time for acceptance and change,” Mosher explained.

It is important to note cannabis remains on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and that Canadian sport organizations and athletes have ongoing responsibilities in relation to their anti-doping obligations under the Sport Support and the Athlete Assistance programs.

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