NHL and Marijuana

An increasing number of professional hockey players in the NHL are using marijuana. It is a trend that has been on the rise for several years now. As more and more states legalize marijuana, this trend has only grown stronger.

Drug Testing

The National Hockey League still has a policy of drug testing for its players. This policy includes cannabis, which means that players can be penalized for consuming it. Players who don’t have a history any violations are tested one time in the offseason.

Ten players from each team are chosen at random each week during the regular season for drug testing. If a player tests positive for marijuana or other drugs, they are referred to a substance abuse program. This is only the case if an extremely high amount of THC is found in the player’s system.

If they commit a second violation, they must pay a fine that equals two full games. If a third violation occurs, they must pay a four-game fine. A fourth violation results in a suspension that lasts four games. A fifth violation means a 10-game suspension. Committing a sixth violation means they cannot play for a full year.

The NHL has a policy of never identifying players who do not pass their drug tests.

Why Do NHL Players Use Marijuana?

Some NHL players use marijuana recreationally to relax, while others use it for medicinal purposes. Cannabis is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can help players with the aches and pains that come with the game.

Marijuana can be very helpful for relieving soreness, so it should come as no surprise that many professional athletes use it regularly. Some of these athletes say that they prefer it to prescription medication because it is non-addictive.

There are other NHL players who say that they use marijuana as a way of getting to sleep. A lack of sleep can be devastating to a professional athlete’s career. It is not unusual for people in these occupations to have difficulty sleeping for one reason or another.

Vaping with Marijuana

There have been a number of active and former NHL players that have talked about their usage of marijuana. Many of these players say that they consume it in the form of vaping. This is a general trend that has been on the rise throughout the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Vaping with cannabis oil that includes high doses of THC produces a relaxing effect. Even a small amount of THC can have positive effects on many people.

Legalization

Canada legalized the recreational use of marijuana back in 2018. This is where seven of the 31 NHL teams reside. There are also 33 states in the U.S. that have passed some form of legislation regarding the legalizing of marijuana.

Some of the U.S. states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use include Michigan, Washington, Colorado, California, Vermont, and Maine.

A Matter of Image

Many people regard the NHL’s policy on drug testing to be more for show than anything else. While there are rules in place for players who fail their drug tests, few of them are actually punished.

There have been many players in the NHL that have openly stated that it is nearly impossible to get penalized in any way for using marijuana. While it might still be an official policy of the National Hockey League, it is not put into practice very often.