Springer: Rehashing the minor-league drug program
From Stephanie Springer at The Hardball Times on February 6, 2019:
The United States’ population is rapidly shifting its attitudes towards cannabis. In an October 2018 Pew survey, 62 percent of Americans supported the legalization of marijuana, more than twice the share of respondents who did so in 2000. As of this writing, 33 states have legalized medical marijuana, and ten states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of marijuana.
Looking at marijuana itself doesn’t provide the full story, however, as the drug is more than just its most infamous chemical constituent, tetrahydrocannabinol. In 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Epidiolex, comprising cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) without THC; CBD is also a major component of cannabis plants, and has demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of epilepsy and generalized seizure. There is a burgeoning market for CBD infused products — it’s in everything from beverages to mascara — and it’s advertised for the treatment of everything from anxiety to acne.
Given the purported benefits, increased legalization, and seemingly few downsides, it’s no surprise that more people are exploring marijuana and CBD for the treatment of a variety of conditions. But our focus today will be a little narrower. We are concerned with both the benefits and risks of CBD as an intervention for baseball players. Unlike most of the discussions we’ve had of drugs and supplements as they pertain to baseball players, however, we need to recognize that in this case, the risks are a little different for major league players and minor league players.
Read the full article here: https://tht.fangraphs.com/rehashing-the-minor-league-drug-program/