NSAC considers amending regulation to allow marijuana use among UFC fighters

Is it too late to ask for a refund?

by Jesse Holland

Hell hasn’t frozen over just yet, but the temperature is definitely dropping in “The Silver State.”

Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is scheduled to meet this Friday (Jan. 13, 2017) in Las Vegas to discuss, among other things, the possibility of allowing marijuana use among combat sports athletes.

Discussion regarding whether to direct the Executive Director to initiate a regulation project under Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) chapter 233B to possibly amend Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) chapter 467 to include the following potential changes: 1) the possible exclusion of cannabinoids from the list of Prohibited Substances and Methods pursuant to passage of Nevada Ballot Initiative Question 2 (2016); 2) incorporation by reference of the Association of Boxing Commissions and Combative Sports' Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts; and 3) any other changes to NAC 467 as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Commission, for possible action.

Note the frequent use of the word “possible.”

The change would likely be a welcome one among high-profile mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters like Nick and Nate Diaz, but it would also force the governing body to contradict its protracted pot shaming in previous cases like this.

Fat chance.

It would also do little to change drug testing for those athletes competing for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which is currently governed by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Hey, it’s a start.