The WWE is known for, among other things, its strict drug testing policy. Fortunately for the wrestlers—whose bodies take a battering every time they step into the ring—the policy is a little more flexible when it comes to cannabis and its primary ingredients, namely THC and CBD.

WWE stars who test positive for marijuana can reportedly avoid a lengthy suspension by paying a $2500 “weed tax.” What this shows is that Vince McMahon and the other top WWE execs understand the therapeutic value of cannabis and choose not to excessively punish their athletes for self-medicating with it.

Cannabis use in the WWE

Fred Rosser (aka Darren Young) estimates that as much as 90% of the WWE roster uses some form of cannabis. He told Fightful that he used a lot of CBD when he wrestled for the WWE, mostly to help manage his anxiety.

Rosser’s marijuana claims were backed up by Enzo Amore. Appearing on Chris Jericho’s podcast, Amore described himself as a “huge pothead” and said half the WWE locker room uses cannabis, viewing it as a good alternative to prescription pills.

Like Rosser, Amore is a big believer in the curative effects of CBD. He told Jericho he uses topical lotions to reduce the pain, explaining that he’d “rub the CBD cream all over my body when I was with the WWE.”

Since we’re on the subject of CBD, it would be remiss not to mention Rob Van Dam, who has his own CBD company called RVDCBD. On the company website he states that, for him, CBD is an effective stress reliever. And given that he suffered hundreds of concussions over the course of his wrestling career, he’s also interested in CBD’s effects on brain health.

Understanding CBD and its effects

I noted earlier that, along with THC, CBD is one of the main components of the cannabis plant. Most of the effects you feel when you ingest marijuana can be traced back to these major cannabinoids. (There are over 100 cannabinoids in weed, but THC and CBD are the most important.)

The key difference between them is that THC makes you high while CBD doesn’t. CBD is completely non-intoxicating. Therefore, if you want relief from pain, inflammation, anxiety, etc, but you’d rather not get stoned, you should go with a CBD product that contains little or no THC.

Such products are widely available. In fact, the vast majority of CBD on the market fits this description. Why? Because most CBD products are made from industrial hemp, not marijuana.

Whereas marijuana contains significant levels of THC (upwards of 20% in some strains), hemp contains, at most, 0.3%. That’s a truly minuscule amount of THC; as a result, you can take all the hemp CBD you want without experiencing a head high. Also, CBD derived from hemp is legal across the United States.

What does the science say?

Scientific research into CBD shows that it can benefit human health in a number of ways. Our understanding of these benefits is far from complete, but dozens of studies indicate that it can help alleviate:

• Pain
• Inflammation
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Insomnia
• Acne
• Epilepsy
• Arthritis
• Multiple Sclerosis

Moreover, CBD is regarded as safe and well tolerated, meaning it causes only minor side effects. According to a 2017 study in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, commonly reported side effects of CBD include diarrhea, tiredness and changes in appetite.

That’s a small price to pay for big time relief.

The many forms of CBD

CBD comes in numerous forms. For localized pain and/or inflammation, many people prefer a topical ointment or cream, which can be used in conjunction with NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin for maximum relief. (Recall Enzo Amore’s liberal use of CBD cream.)

Apart from topicals, CBD is commonly sold as oils, capsules, gummies, skin patches, beauty products, vape liquids, beverages and bath bombs. A lot of consumers end up experimenting with a few different forms to figure out which one suits them best.

To sum up, CBD is safe, effective and legal. These characteristics, plus the fact that it doesn’t cause intoxication, explain why it has become a fixture in WWE locker rooms.