Nevada regulators are moving forward with a rule change to protect athletes from penalties for marijuana use or possession, provided they comply with Nevada law.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) initially approved the policy shift in 2023, forwarding it to the governor. However, the rule required an additional legislative review by the LCB, which began in May. On Tuesday, the commission officially approved the updated language, a step toward formalizing the rule.
Before the reform is fully implemented, further procedural steps remain. The updated regulations must now return to the LCB for a final check to ensure all modifications are legally sound. From there, the proposal advances to the legislature’s Legislative Commission, which includes six senators and six assembly members, for a final decision.
Although NSAC has informally applied the marijuana policy since 2021—allowing them to waive penalties for THC in drug tests—it needed formal adoption to secure its place in Nevada’s athletic regulations. Despite adopting the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) banned substance list, the amended rule explicitly excludes marijuana for fighters in Nevada.
The new regulation affirms that cannabis use will not be counted as a doping infraction for athletes, even if that use is restricted elsewhere.
