New Data Shows Cannabis Edibles Becoming Routine for NHL Players
The National Hockey League is quietly undergoing a cultural shift, and cannabis edibles are at the center of it. Once associated with off-season experimentation or whispered locker-room stories, infused gummies and chocolates are increasingly part of players’ recovery and downtime routines during the long grind of an 82-game schedule.
A recent New York Times survey of more than three dozen NHL players, reported through The Athletic, found that most of the respondents now prefer cannabis edibles – often balanced with both THC and CBD – over alcohol. Separate reporting that drew on the same survey data put the figure at roughly 38 percent of players using edibles during the season, underscoring how common discreet consumption has become.
Former Philadelphia Flyers enforcer Riley Cote, now a prominent cannabis advocate, says the change is stark compared with his playing days. He has long argued that a significant share of players use cannabis to cope with pain, anxiety and the emotional toll of the sport, and notes that younger skaters are far more open about their habits than previous generations. “The culture has evolved from back-room conversations to normal talk about recovery tools,” Cote has said.
Part of what makes edibles attractive is that they avoid smoke altogether. Players who log heavy minutes already put strain on lungs and hearts; many say that ingestible products feel like a better fit than joints or vapes, while still providing relaxation and sleep support. Articles highlighting the survey results note that low-dose gummies taken after games are increasingly replacing the post-game beers that once defined hockey’s party image.
The league’s relatively tolerant approach has helped create space for that shift. Under the NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s joint drug program, positive tests for THC are treated as a health flag rather than a disciplinary issue. Players who show elevated cannabinoid levels may be referred to a confidential treatment program, but suspensions or public disclosure are not automatic. That harm-reduction model contrasts with harsher policies once common in other major North American leagues.
Retired players have also helped normalize the conversation. Four-time Stanley Cup champion Darren McCarty credits cannabis – including high-dose edible products – with helping him leave behind alcohol and prescription drugs, and has since launched his own brand built around recovery and wellness messaging. Public advocacy from figures like McCarty, Cote and others has given current players cover to explore edibles without feeling they are risking their reputations.
Still, experts caution that edibles are not risk-free. Potent products can take longer to kick in, increasing the chance of overconsumption, and sports physicians warn that dosing should be carefully managed, especially during the season. Commentaries on the NHL’s policy also stress the need for ongoing education on mental health, dependency and the impact of heavy use among younger athletes.
For now, the trend appears clear: as legal markets expand across Canada and much of the United States, NHL players are following a broader shift among pro athletes who see cannabis – and particularly edibles – less as a vice and more as a personalized recovery tool. Whether that momentum eventually prompts the league to collect more formal data or revise its guidelines remains an open question, but the days of edibles being a secret in hockey circles are rapidly fading.