{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T12:47:54Z","timestamp":1792068474476,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791763200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791763200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The legalization and growing use of cannabis in elite sport raise concerns about the preparedness of sports medical staff, who often lack formal cannabinoid education and face regulatory, ethical, and communication challenges.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Hypothesis:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Elite and professional contact sport medical staff have significant knowledge gaps, experience stigma, and face regulatory ambiguities that hinder open communication and athlete guidance on cannabis use.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Study Design:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Qualitative, descriptive study using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Level of Evidence:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Level 4.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 medical staff (physicians, athletic trainers, nutritionists, and mental health professionals) from elite sports leagues in North America and Australia including the NHL, NFL, and NCAA. Interviews explored knowledge, experiences, barriers, and communication regarding cannabis. Transcripts were inductively coded to identify themes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Six themes emerged: (1) pervasive \u201cknowledge gap,\u201d with most staff lacking formal cannabis education and relying on informal sources; (2) compliance challenges and regulatory uncertainty due to inconsistent policies; (3) stigma and fear limiting open dialogue; (4) shifting attitudes as societal norms evolve; (5) observed increase in athlete cannabis use and inquiries for recreational and therapeutic purposes, highlighting a knowledge-practice gap; and (6) trust and communication as prerequisites for honest discussion and safe guidance. These factors restrict access to informed, evidence-based advice.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Elite sport medical professionals face educational and regulatory barriers, compounded by stigma and inconsistent policies. Despite evolving attitudes, most lack knowledge and institutional support to advise athletes, underscoring the need for education, research, and clear guidelines.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Clinical Relevance:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Targeted cannabinoid education, destigmatization, and clearer league policies are essential to optimize athlete care and harm reduction as cannabis use grows in elite sport.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/19417381261490397","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]],"date-time":"2026-10-12T12:06:19Z","timestamp":1791806779000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Exploring Medical Professionals\u2019 Perspectives on Cannabinoid Use in Professional and Elite-Level Contact Sports: A Qualitative Inquiry"],"prefix":"10.1177","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-1159-0375","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elizabeth S.","family":"Thompson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jane","family":"Alcorn","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Robert B.","family":"Laprairie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Noelle","family":"Rohatinsky","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Payam","family":"Dehghani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Regina, Regina, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"J. Patrick","family":"Neary","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Regina, Regina, Canada"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_2_2_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/can.2018.0002"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_3_2","unstructured":"Balneaves LG Brown A Green M. Medical cannabis access and experiences in Canada. Published online 2023. www.medicalcannabissurvey.ca"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_4_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2014.02.009"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpain.2016.03.002"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_6_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa"},{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_3_2_7_2","first-page":"180","article-title":"Medicinal cannabis: history, pharmacology, and implications for the acute care setting","volume":"42","author":"Bridgeman MB","year":"2017","unstructured":"Bridgeman MB, Abazia DT. Medicinal cannabis: history, pharmacology, and implications for the acute care setting. Pharm Therapeut. 2017;42(3):180-188.","journal-title":"Pharm Therapeut"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_8_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-021-01505-x"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_9_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000544125"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_10_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.pecinn.2021.100009"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_11_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s42238-025-00321-8"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_12_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.smr.2014.06.005"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_13_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugalcdep.2017.08.010"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_14_2","unstructured":"Frontiers. The new runner\u2019s high? Examining relationships between cannabis use and exercise behavior in states with legalized cannabis. Accessed May 15 2026. https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/public-health\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2019.00099\/full"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_15_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1136\/bjsports-2017-097884"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_16_2","unstructured":"Health Canada. Information for Health Care Professionals: Cannabis (Marihuana Marijuana) and the Cannabinoids: Dried or Fresh Plant and Oil Administration by Ingestion or Other Means Psychoactive Agent. 2018. Accessed October 16 2021. http:\/\/publications.gc.ca\/collections\/collection_2018\/sc-hc\/H129-19-2018-eng.pdf"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_17_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.peh.2013.05.003"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_18_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rcsop.2023.100275"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_19_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1089\/can.2021.0032"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_20_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/pm\/pnaa396"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_21_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/dar.12323"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_22_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40798-020-00251-0"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_23_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2025.36224"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_24_2","unstructured":"NORML. NBA to cease drug testing players for cannabis. April 13 2023. Accessed April 30 2023. https:\/\/norml.org\/news\/2023\/04\/13\/nba-to-cease-drug-testing-players-for-cannabis\/"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_25_2","unstructured":"O\u2019Neill M. Which major sports leagues have relaxed their cannabis policies? Cannabis News and Culture Magazine. July 13 2021. Accessed April 30 2023. https:\/\/theemeraldmagazine.com\/which-major-sports-leagues-have-relaxed-their-cannabis-policies\/"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_26_2","unstructured":"Pumphrey DJr. NBA removes marijuana from prohibited substance list. Pumphrey Law. July 26 2023. Accessed January 22 2025. https:\/\/www.pumphreylawfirm.com\/blog\/nba-removes-marijuana-from-prohibited-substance-list\/"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_27_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ctim.2020.102328"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_28_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.drugpo.2015.01.010"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_29_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40279-024-02094-1"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_30_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12909-015-0335-0"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_31_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2025.35049"}],"container-title":["Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/19417381261490397","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/19417381261490397","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/19417381261490397","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,15]],"date-time":"2026-10-15T11:55:42Z","timestamp":1792065342000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/19417381261490397"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]]},"references-count":30,"alternative-id":["10.1177\/19417381261490397"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/19417381261490397","relation":{},"ISSN":["1941-7381","1941-0921"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1941-7381","type":"print"},{"value":"1941-0921","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,12]]},"article-number":"19417381261490397"}}