By Duke London

 

If you watched the bloody bout that was UFC 202, you know how brutal things got between Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz. The two mixed martial arts superstars took to the octagon for their much-ballyhooed rematch over the weekend, with McGregor coming away victorious. While many will argue the fight’s outcome was somewhat predictable, considering the trilogy a McGregor victory set up for the future, the severely beaten faces and bodies of each brawler looked very real.

After the headlining bout, both fighters took their respective seats for the post-fight press conference. Nate Diaz, an outspoken proponent of marijuana as an alternative to more harmful medicines, began casually puffing on what seemed to be a disposable vaporizer pen as he answered questions from the media.

After responding to some inquiries relating to the fight, a reporter chimed in and questioned Diaz about the pen he was puffing. The curious journalist asked the bloodied Diaz, “What exactly are you, just for the record, smoking?”

Diaz didn’t sweat the question one bit, answering the reporter with a quick lesson on the life-changing cannabinoid CBD. After explaining which company manufactured the particular pen he was using, Diaz told the audience that CBD “helped with the healing process and inflammation.” Diaz added that using CBD before and after a fight can “make your life a better place.” We know what he’s trying to say.

For those paying close attention, this isn’t the first time Diaz has championed the healing powers of CBD, promoting these very pens on his personal Instagram in the days leading up to UFC 202.

 

While Nate Diaz’ ringing endorsement of CBD, one of 113 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, is a welcome sign of changing times, it may prove problematic for the fighter.

All cannabinoids, even the non-psychoactive varieties like CBD, are banned for use in competition by both the US Anti-Doping Agency (the group that handles UFC drug testing) and the Nevada State Athletic Commission. This stance is similar to the International Olympic Committee, in that they want to make sure athletes aren’t consuming marijuana throughout the confines of the competitive event, but do not necessarily care if the athletes use the plant at other times throughout the year.

Fighters are usually required to give a urine sample post-fight, so the fact that Diaz was smoking in his press conference probably means he had already given a sample and wasn’t worried about triggering a positive test. Had the test been administered after his press conference, Diaz would’ve run the risk of failing. Had he failed the drug test, Diaz would face a similar suspension to the one his older brother Nick received back in 2015 for a failed marijuana test. Nick Diaz was suspended for a whopping five years after his UFC 183 fight against Anderson Silva. The suspension was later lessened to 18 months and a $100,000 fine.

We can understand why the Anti-Doping Agency wouldn’t want fighters to be “high” during fights, but it’s essential they open their minds to CBD and other alternatives to opioid painkillers before it’s too late. It will take more athletes like Diaz, Eugene Monroe, and Ricky Williams speaking up to inflict the change we so desperately need in American medicine.