WWE Continues To Prohibit Cannabis Use

Professional wrestling is one of the most popular forms of entertainment around the world. For instance, professional wrestling in Mexico, called ‘Lucha Libre’, is the second most popular form of entertainment in the country only behind futbol.

The WWE is the most popular wrestling company on planet earth, with its broadcasts reaching more than 180 countries and being conducted in 30 different languages. WWE estimates that as many as 1 billion households can watch their programming every week.

Unfortunately, WWE prohibits its entertainers from consuming cannabis. It was rumored that the multi-billion dollar entertainment company was changing its cannabis policy, however, that was a false rumor as reported by Ring Side News:

Recently, a rumor suggested that WWE had somehow removed marijuana from their Prohibited Substances list. Naturally, this led to many fans immediately thinking of Matt Riddle and RVD, both of whom love marijuana. It spread like wildfire after an apparent forged article from WWE’s corporate website was shared that appeared to announce that WWE removed marijuana from their wellness policy.

Interestingly enough, as revealed by WWE’s corporate website, marijuana has not been removed from the Prohibited Substances list.

Per WWE policy, “In the event of any positive test for marijuana, the WWE Talent shall be fined Two Thousand Five Hundred US Dollars ($2,500.00) per positive test, which shall be deducted from the WWE Talent’s downside guarantee.”

No one is saying that WWE entertainers should be allowed to be intoxicated while on the job, and that is true of pretty much every industry aside from perhaps some positions in the cannabis industry.

But why can’t WWE wrestlers consume cannabis in their off-hours? Cannabis can stay in a person’s system for weeks, and in some cases, months, so a policy prohibiting cannabis from being in a person’s system does not address intoxication on the job in a narrowly tailored way.

The WWE policy doesn’t make any sense. You would think that the WWE would embrace cannabis to help wrestlers deal with their countless aches and pains in a safe and effective fashion. But then again, nothing about prohibition makes sense aside from it being a policy tool to selectively penalize and control people.