The State of Nevada voted to legalize cannabis for adult use on Election Day 2016. The successful initiative took effect on January 1st, 2017. Adults over the age of 21 can now possess, consume, and in some cases even grow cannabis legally. But that is not to say that employers can’t continue to prohibit cannabis use. If an employer decides that employees can’t have cannabis in their system, they can drug test them and terminate them when they test positive.

That is true for professional sports too. The Nevada Athletic Commission regulates ‘all contests or exhibitions of unarmed combat, including the licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, mixed martial artists, kick boxers, seconds, ring officials, managers, ring announcers and matchmakers’ and has since 1941. The Nevada Athletic Commission prohibits cannabis use by athletes in sports that it regulates, but could be changing its policy now that cannabis is legal in Nevada. Per TMZ Sports:

Now that Nevada has legalized pot, the N.A.C. has plans to discuss the removal of cannabinoids from the Prohibited Substances list which affect all athletes who compete in the Silver State.

The N.A.C. is scheduled to discuss the matter on Friday — and our sources tell us it’s looking good for the pro-weed movement.

If the weed ban is overturned, we’re told it would take at least 3 months before it goes into effect — so, don’t pick up the bong just yet.

Athletes should be measured by their ability to win on the field, court, octagon, etc., and not whether there is cannabis in their system. That should be the case in all 50 states, but should especially be the case in states that have voted to legalize cannabis. Boxers, mixed martial artists, and kickboxers are constantly battling injuries, as expected when a sport involves hand to hand combat. These athletes should be able to make the safer choice when dealing with their ailments. Sporting events that are regulated by the Nevada Athletic Commission largely embrace alcohol, which has been found to be far more harmful than cannabis. It’s time the Nevada Athletic Commission got on the right side of history.

image via Sports Net