Can MMA Fighters Smoke Weed? | Explained

by Martial Arts Insider

Almost every major sport organization has adjusted and eased their rules on cannabis, but have they changed for MMA?

In this page, we will cover whether or not MMA fighters can smoke weed.

Table of Contents

Can MMA Fighters Smoke Weed?

Fighters in MMA are able to smoke weed without being punished as of January 2021. USADA announced changes to their anti-doping policy where THC would no longer be considered a violation of the policy. Before this adjustment, fighters would be suspended and their fights would be overturned to 'No Contests'.

USADA released a statement on their cannabis anti-doping policy:

Most importantly, positive tests over the threshold and decision limit for carboxy-THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, will no longer be considered a violation of the UFC Anti-Doping Policy, unless additional evidence exists that an athlete used it intentionally for performance-enhancing purposes.

Fighters Who Got in Trouble for Marijuana

Nick Diaz

In 2015, Nick Diaz was suspended for 5 years by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for tested positive for marijuana metabolites following a decision loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 183.

marijuana leaf

This sparked outrage with the MMA community, as five years in the sport of MMA is essentially a career-ending sentence.

To add insult to injury, NSAC fined him $165,000.

Eventually Diaz's sentence was reduced to 18 months, but seeing as how years later all MMA fighters are now able to have it in their system without issues, it shows how unfair this sentence was in the first place.

Kelvin Gastelum

Gastelum would face Vitor Belfort in a UFC Fight Night in 2017 and win via TKO in an impressive performance.

However, Gastelum tested positive for marijuana during in-competition testing for his fight, and his win was overturned to a 'No Contest'.

In addition, he was issue a 90 day suspension, and he was forced to forfeit 20% of his purse.

Back to MMA