College Athletes in Alabama Forced to Avoid Medical Marijuana

Athletes in Alabama come from all over the world. Regardless of where an athlete lives and whether marijuana is legal for medical or recreational use, students and athletes still must abide by the laws of Alabama. And, currently, Alabama’s medical marijuana program is highly restricted.

What makes it more difficult for college athletes are the regulations that the NCAA has regarding substance use, according to Bama Hammer. The NCAA must now set appropriate penalties for marijuana use among athletes taking the regulations of all 50 states into consideration. Universities must comply by being drug free campuses.

Recent polls show that 20-percent of college athletes use marijuana. A recent survey displayed that lacrosse players and swimmers use marijuana more than other athletes in college sports. Track participants appear to be the sport with the least marijuana usage.

The NCAA’s task of tweaking current penalties is a difficult one. There have been talks of easing penalties, but those efforts have not been formalized or finalized. It is at least an indicator that the NCAA understands that 60-percent of Americans live in states where some form of marijuana is legal, and that the overall attitude toward marijuana nationally is changing.