The Florida Boxing Commission voted on Tuesday to remove marijuana from its list of banned substances, opening the door for combat sports fighters to use cannabis for non-performance enhancing purposes. The move follows recommendations from the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s new anti-doping policy announced earlier this year.
After the vote on Tuesday, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation spokesperson Patrick Fargason said that both boxers and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters would no longer be subject to drug screenings for cannabis in the state.
“We’re not testing for it,” Fargason told ESPN. “We’re not doing anything with it—period.”
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Fargason added that if a fighter appears to be visibly impaired by marijuana at a competition, the commission will intervene. But blanket screenings for cannabis use will no longer be employed. Under the previous policy, a positive test for even trace amounts of cannabis would subject fighters in Florida to suspension, fines and…Read Full Article Here