UFC sends out memo on Illinois zero tolerance rule on Cannabis

Social attitudes towards marijuana use are rapidly changing in the USA, with a large number of state decriminalizing and even legalizing it. The allowable limit set by most state athletic commissions used to be 50 ng/mL. Some ACs have moved the level to 150 ng/mL, bringing it in keeping with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) standards.

WADA added marijuana to the list of prohibited substances in 2003, after being pressured to do so by the USA. That was in 2003, and the US attitude has changed radically since, but the prohibition remains.

At the Federal level there is no consensus what so ever around decriminalizing marijuana; thus it is left to the states. Relevant to mixed martial arts, Athletic Commissions have very significantly differing standards.

UFC 225: Whittaker vs. Romero 2 will be held on June 9, 2018, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Damon Martin for MMA Weekly obtained a memo sent to fighters on the card, warning them that the Illinois commission is extremely strict.

Because of Illinois’ no tolerance policy for marijuana, we recommend that marijuana use be discontinued for anyone participating on the UFC 225 card between now and the event, read the memo.

In Illinois, any amount of THC will count as a positive test. There is an exception made for fighters who have been prescribed marijuana by a physician. However, this Therapeutic Use Exception has to be applied for in writing, prior to the event. Only if an exception is approved can a fighter test positive.

Fighters must maintain awareness around differing commission rules. Flyweight Jessica Eye made her UFC debut vs. Sarah Kaufman on October 19, 2013, at UFC 166 in Houston, Texas, and won a Split Decision. However, the win was changed to a No Contest after ‘Evil’ tested positive for 16 ng/mL. The cutoff in Texas is 15 ng/mL. And it is even stricter in Illinois.