When the WNBA tipped off its inaugural season thirty years ago, the league maintained some of the country’s strictest anti-drug policies. Marijuana was generally grouped alongside other illicit substances regardless of whether athletes used it recreationally or therapeutically. 

For years, the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreements classified marijuana as a “drug of abuse,” subjecting players to testing and potential discipline. Although enforcement varied over time, cannabis remained part of the league’s prohibited substances program even as public opinion changed dramatically. That has now changed.

As part of the WNBA’s new seven-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA), marijuana has officially been removed from the league’s list of prohibited substances, ending routine discipline for cannabis use and ushering in a new era for the league’s approach to player wellness and the rapidly expanding cannabis industry. 

Photo credit :Nataliya Vaitkevich/ pexels.com

The updated agreement does more than eliminate marijuana testing. It also creates a framework allowing players to invest in cannabis businesses and endorse hemp-derived CBD products, provided they comply with league conflict-of-interest rules. 

At the same time, the league added several psychedelics, such as psilocybin and DMT, to its prohibited substances list, signaling that while its cannabis policy has evolved, its broader drug policy continues to distinguish between different classes of substances.

The WNBA’s decision mirrors a broader movement across professional sports. In recent years, the NBA permanently removed marijuana from its banned substance list, while the NFL, the MLB, and the NCAA have all significantly relaxed cannabis-related policies. 

These changes reflect evolving public opinion, expanding legalization across the United States, and a growing consensus that cannabis should not be treated in the same manner as performance-enhancing drugs. The league’s shift also comes after several years in which cannabis has become an increasingly visible topic within women’s basketball.

Phoenix Mercury Star Brittney Griner /Photo Credit: Lorie Shaull, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Last year, Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner was scheduled to headline the Women Grow Leadership Summit, one of the cannabis industry’s largest professional conferences. However, Griner ultimately withdrew from the event following criticism surrounding her planned appearance, with concerns raised about potential conflicts with league policies and public perception. 

At the time, marijuana remained prohibited under the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement, making the situation a reminder of the complicated relationship between professional athletes and the cannabis industry. The league’s new agreement substantially changes that landscape by creating clearer rules for player participation in cannabis-related business opportunities.

The evolving relationship between women’s basketball and cannabis is also evident at the team level. Earlier this year, the New York Liberty announced a partnership with Mynd Drinks, a hemp-derived THC beverage company, becoming one of the first major professional sports franchises to publicly align with a cannabis-adjacent brand. 

While Mynd’s beverages are federally compliant hemp-derived products rather than traditional marijuana products, the partnership reflects the growing mainstream acceptance of cannabis-related wellness brands within professional sports. The agreement also demonstrates how teams are increasingly recognizing the commercial opportunities presented by the expanding cannabis market.

The WNBA’s revised policy could accelerate similar partnerships throughout the league. By permitting players to endorse hemp-derived CBD products and invest in cannabis-related businesses under established guidelines, the CBA opens new revenue opportunities for athletes while acknowledging the industry’s continued growth. 

For many players, it represents not only a change in league discipline but also the ability to participate in a multibillion-dollar market that was previously off limits. The cannabis policy is just one piece of what many consider the most transformative collective bargaining agreement in WNBA history. 

Alongside the changes to the league’s drug policy, the CBA includes significant salary increases, higher salary caps, expanded revenue-sharing opportunities, improved travel accommodations, enhanced family planning benefits, and greater commercial and marketing opportunities as the league continues to experience record growth.

Supporters of the marijuana policy change argue that it reflects current medical research and legal realities. Many athletes have openly discussed using cannabis or CBD products to aid with recovery, pain management, sleep, and stress, although research into their effectiveness continues to develop. 

Rather than relying on punitive enforcement, the WNBA’s new approach places greater emphasis on player wellness, education, and responsible use. Taken together, the removal of marijuana from the banned substance list, the New York Liberty’s partnership with Mynd Drinks, and the changing opportunities available to players illustrate how dramatically the relationship between professional sports and cannabis has evolved. 

What was once viewed primarily as a disciplinary issue is increasingly being approached through the lenses of health, business, and player autonomy, marking a significant cultural shift for both the WNBA and the broader sports industry.

AJ Favorito is Head Magazine’s Sports Editor. He is a freelance writer and an award-winning media producer with over 9 years of experience in sports media.

Works cited

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Philippou, Alexa. “WNBA, WNBPA Officially Announce Tentative Deal on New CBA.” ESPN, ESPN, 20 Mar. 2026, www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/48262973/wnba-wnbpa-officially-announce-tentative-deal-new-cba. 

“WNBA and WNBPA Reach Tentative Deal on Historic CBA.” WNBA, NBA Media Ventures, LLC, 20 Mar. 2026, www.wnba.com/news/wnba-wnbpa-tentative-cba-deal-2026.