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First pro-athlete granted medical cannabis exemption in US
MMA fighter Elias Theodorou has been granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for medical cannabis
Canadian MMA fighter Elias Theodorou is the first US athlete to secure a medical cannabis exemption in professional sport.
The MMA Champion and medical cannabis advocate, who has bilateral neuropathy, has been granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for medical cannabis from the State of Colorado.
Theodorou is the first athlete to secure an exemption for the use of medical cannabis in professional sport in the United States, after the same achievement in Canada in 2020.
Known as ‘The Spartan’, Theodorou, is a top-ranked middleweight fighter who amassed an impressive 8-3 record during his time in the UFC.
Elias Theodorou has bilateral neuropathy
The US exemption comes after several years of advocacy to fight the stigma of medical cannabis in athletics.
After being granted a TUE in Canada in 2020, Elias competed and won as a ‘cannabis athlete’ in March 2021 at the Rise Fighting Championship 6 against Matt Dwyer.
He was able to medicate with doctor-prescribed cannabis for leading up to his fight.
Theodorou commented: “Professional sports cause a lot of challenges like injury and pain. Opioids are readily available and often encouraged to help with pain issues.
“As someone who has bilateral neuropathy, but not interested in consuming opioids, it is important to continuously advocate for the medicinal benefits of cannabis and our right as athletes to be able to utilise it.”
He added: “If that means me securing my TUE state by state, country by country, then I will; I will do whatever it takes to fight the stigma, and advocate for all individuals.”
Erik Magraken, Elias’ Legal Counsel, managing partner of MacIsaac & Company and combat sports regulator lawyer, said: “This is a precedent that Elias is rightfully proud of. He has been fighting the stigma of cannabis in sport and cannabis as medicine for years and getting the first US Athletic Commission to recognise his medical rights in granting a TUE is a huge leap forward that can assist many other athletes.”
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