The National Hockey League (NHL) finally made its way to Utah in 2024 after the Arizona Coyotes decided to suspend their operations. We didn’t know much about professional hockey in the Beehive State then, but we do now. For example, a recent survey among younger players reveals a surge in cannabis consumption.
Professional hockey has long been linked to alcohol consumption and post-game parties. But NHL culture seems to be changing. According to the survey, younger players prefer cannabis and video games over alcohol and hard parties.
An Informal Survey
For the record, the survey in question was an informal one, conducted by the New York Times. The Times questioned more than three-dozen NHL players in hopes of better understanding what they did off the ice. A surprising 38% reported consuming cannabis during the regular season. However, the Times only ask players about edible products. Throw in vapes, tinctures, etc. and the numbers probably go up.
Like most other major sports leagues, the NHL has relaxed its policies against cannabis consumption. Players are still tested for THC, but they are not punished if they test positive. Low levels of THC in a drug test usually don’t lead to any action. If a player demonstrates high levels, he may be offered voluntary treatment– which he can turn down.
Consuming Cannabis in Utah
We think it is important to point out that the New York Times survey did not distinguish between recreational and medical cannabis. So while we can’t say anything for NHL players outside of the Beehive State, we can say members of the Utah Hockey Club can only use cannabis medicinally.
If you are new to medical cannabis in Utah, the voters here approved Proposition 2 to legalize it in 2018. The state program officially launched in early 2020 and has never looked back. There are now in excess of 70k valid medical cannabis card holders in Utah. That number keeps growing by the month.
Based on what we know about the NHL’s drug policy, it seems logical that team players can utilize medical cannabis for any qualifying conditions recognized under state law. Pain would be at the top of the list. And if you have ever seen a professional hockey game in person, it should not be hard to imagine the pain hockey players experience.
Younger Players and the Cannabis Stigma
Getting back to the New York Times survey, a number of the players told the Times that today’s younger players are less likely to be willing to play after a night of hard partying with alcohol. They would rather come to the rink with a clear head. They also say that the stigma that used to be associated with cannabis years ago is not a problem for younger players.
That is a fascinating thing to consider. When medical cannabis was first legalized in Utah, proponents had to continue working to reduce this stigma associated with the plant. As time has gone on, the stigma has gradually been reduced. Still, younger people are more likely to use medical cannabis than their older counterparts. So maybe it’s the same sort of thing. The stigma is no longer there for younger people.
At any rate, the Times survey adds further evidence to what many of us have suspected for a long time: cannabis acceptance continues to grow across nearly every demographic. Utah is no exception. Whether you are talking about hockey players dealing with chronic pain or PTSD patients who rely on medical cannabis to get through the day, we have finally reached a point at which most people accept medical cannabis legitimacy.
