First NFL Athlete Applies for Cannabis-Based Therapeutic Use Exemption
Mike James, a free agent with the National Football League (NFL) and former running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions, is the first NFL athlete to apply for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for cannabis. James’s physician, Dr. Sue Sisley, completed the TUE application for medical cannabis on behalf of James back in March 2018. That application was recently denied by the NFL.
According to a press release from the nonprofit organization Doctors for Cannabis Regulation (DFCR) (1), after James suffered a devastating leg injury and surgery he was prescribed opioids to manage his pain. He developed a year-long dependency, which finally led him to seek alternative treatment: cannabis.
The DFCR works with a roster of current and former NFL players to persuade the league to change its regressive cannabis use policy. One of their primary reasons for advocating for this change is the fact that NFL players are four times more likely than the general population to develop an opioid dependency. Even though many states have legalized cannabis use either fully or for medical purposes, the NFL still refuses to give players a viable alternative to opioids.
In an interview with NJ.com (2), James said he was hopeful that he’d be able to keep playing football. "It is a game that I love very dearly,” he said. “I know right now I'm doing something that makes some people uncomfortable, and that I'm going against the establishment to push for a change in the way they look at this medicine. I know there's a greater purpose here for a lot of guys in this league who I consider family members."
References:
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
Assessing Cannabis as a Harm Reduction Strategy: Insights from a Large-Scale Study
November 19th 2024A New Zealand study aimed to assess cannabis use as a harm reduction tool. Findings highlight lifestyle factors, and suggest cannabis-focused harm reduction strategies in reducing other substance use such as alcohol.
Ep 23, Part III: Accreditation in the Cannabis Industry with Susan Audino
October 24th 2024In Part III of this episode, host Evan Friedmann is joined by Susan Audino, PhD, founder of S.A. Audino & Associates, LLC, and co-founder of Saturn Scientific, LLC, to examine the complexities of sampling in the cannabis industry, emphasizing the need for proper sampling plans, and methods.
