Combat sports athletes in the state of Nevada will no longer be punished for marijuana use.
Wednsday afternoon, the Nevada State Athletic Commission unanimously voted to remove marijuana from the list of banned substances. The vote will now see any fighter competing in the state of Nevada avoid being banned for a positive test for the use of the substance.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency recently adopted the same ruling which will still allow Nevada to removed a fighter from a card if they're deemed unable to compete due to being impaired by marijuana.
NSAC Chairman Stephen Cloobeck released a brief statement on the ruling:
"We should be always at the forefront of these issues and I believe it's warranted and merited since it's [marijuana] legal in the state. I think we need to jump forward being the leader as we've always been."
UFC Senior VP of Athlete Health and Performance Jeff Novitzky touted NSAC's decision:
"How about that?! NSAC no longer sanctioning for marijuana. Crazy that in my tenure with the UFC I've seen NSAC try to suspend Nick Diaz for life for marijuana, to this. Big credit to Executive Director Bob Bennett for spearheading this change. Just don't show up to your fight impaired!"
The ruling notes that fighters will still be required to be tested for marijuana throughout the end of 2021 for 'data collection purposes' but there will not be any punishments brought down on any fighters who test positive in that timeframe.
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