Key Takeaways
- The WNBA officially removed marijuana from its prohibited substances list under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- This agreement ends routine cannabis testing, allows endorsements for hemp/CBD, but adds several psychedelics to the banned list.
- Players can invest passively in marijuana companies but must avoid management roles, while they face fewer restrictions for CBD-only companies.
- The framework includes circumstances where players can still be tested for marijuana, such as during league activities or if they have a dependency issue.
- Overall, the WNBA marijuana ban removed reflects a shift in cannabis policy within professional sports towards more leniency and regulation.
The WNBA officially removed marijuana from its prohibited substances list under their new Collective Bargaining Agreement executed on May 222nd. The CBA ends routine cannabis drug testing for players, sets rules for hemp/CBD endorsements, allows passive investment in marijuana companies, and adds four psychedelics to the banned list for the first time.
The WNBA has finally caught up. After years of enforcing one of the strictest cannabis policies in professional sports, the league removed marijuana from its prohibited substances list as part of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, executed by the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA).
This is a big win for players who have long pushed back against cannabis restrictions that were, frankly, out of step with cannabis reform in sports. The NBA made this same move back in 2023. The NCAA followed in 2024. Now the WNBA has joined them. For a league that once disciplined players more harshly for cannabis than its NBA counterpart, this is a significant course correction.
The new agreement does more than just drop weed from the banned list. It also lays out detailed rules for how players can invest in and endorse cannabis and hemp CBD companies. There is, however, a catch that’s worth knowing about: in the same document that loosens the league’s stance on marijuana, the WNBA added several psychedelics to the prohibited substances list for the first time.
What Did the WNBA’s Old Marijuana Policy Look Like?
Under the previous CBA, marijuana was listed as a “Drug of Abuse” under the WNBA’s Anti-Drug Program (Article XXI, Exhibit 2). The policy was notably harsher than what the NBA had in place. First-time cannabis violations generally led to treatment referrals, but repeated violations could trigger fines and suspensions. Random testing for cannabis was routine.
The NBA had effectively stopped random cannabis testing as far back as 2020, eventually codifying that change in its 2023 CBA. WNBA players, meanwhile, were still subject to a testing regime that treated a plant legal in dozens of states as a serious offense.
The Brittney Griner case made the disconnect impossible to ignore. In 2022, Griner was detained in Russia after cannabis vape cartridges were found in her luggage. Her detainment created an international conversation about how cannabis prohibition affects athletes, and it shone a harsh light on the outdated policies governing players in the league she plays for.
What Does the New CBA Actually Say About Marijuana?
Under the new CBA, which runs 2033, marijuana no longer appears on the WNBA’s prohibited substances list. The everyday, routine testing for cannabis is gone. That is the headline.
But removing marijuana from the banned list is not the same as a completely open door. The new CBA still allows for cannabis-related testing and penalties under specific circumstances, governed by the WNBA’s Anti-Drug Program (Article XXI, Exhibit 2):
- Drugs of Abuse Program entry: A player who enters the league’s Drugs of Abuse Program can still be tested for marijuana.
- Under the influence during team/league activities: Players found to be under the influence of marijuana “while engaged in activities” for the team or the league remain subject to testing and potential proceedings.
- Dependency issues: The league can refer a player for testing and treatment if they show signs of “a dependency or other related issue involving the use of marijuana.”
- Felony distribution convictions: A conviction for a felony involving the distribution of marijuana can trigger “reasonable cause” testing and administrative proceedings.
The penalty structure for noncompliance with a marijuana treatment referral is outlined in Exhibit 2 of the CBA. A player who does not comply with a referred treatment program faces fines of $300 per day. A “pattern of behavior that demonstrates a mindful disregard for her treatment responsibilities,” or a positive test for marijuana, can escalate to a $3,000 fine or a suspension of three or more games.
While the league has eliminated wide-based random testing, the framework still includes penalties.
How Does the WNBA Compare to the NBA’s Cannabis Policy?
It was only a matter of time before the WNBA followed the NBA’s lead. The NBA dropped marijuana from its banned substances list in 2023 as part of its own collective bargaining agreement, and also cleared players to invest in and promote cannabis companies. The league had temporarily implemented these changes since 2020, when the NBA first halted random cannabis testing, and the agreement simply made them official.
The NFL reformed its marijuana policy in 2024, significantly reducing fines for positive tests and increasing the allowable THC threshold. The NCAA removed marijuana from its Division I banned list that same year. Also in 2024, Nevada regulators adopted a rule protecting boxers and MMA fighters from penalties for cannabis use that complies with state law.
The logic here is clear: professional sports organizations across the country are moving away from punishment and toward education, wellness, and regulation when it comes to cannabis. The WNBA’s new CBA is the latest chapter in that story.
What Are the Rules for WNBA Players Investing in Cannabis Companies?
The new CBA addresses cannabis investment and business involvement under Article XIV, Section 19, “Player Involvement with Cannabis Companies.” The rules vary depending on whether a player wants to invest in a marijuana company or a CBD-only business.
Can WNBA Players Invest in Marijuana Companies?
Yes, but with strings attached. Under Section 19(b) of Article XIV, a player may hold a direct or indirect ownership interest in a marijuana company provided:
- The interest is passive, meaning no management, governance, voting, executive role, or other operational rights
- The player holds less than a 50 percent beneficial interest in any class of securities
- The company operates “in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations”
Players may not hold any ownership interest in a business that produces or sells any Prohibited Substance or any Schedule I or II substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana has sat under Schedule I since 1970, though the Trump administration announced in April 2026 that it was moving state-licensed medical cannabis and FDA-approved cannabinoid products to Schedule III.
That federal shift is still working through a rescheduling hearing process, and its exact impact on how the WNBA applies this clause will be worth watching.
Can WNBA Players Invest in CBD Companies?
The rules for CBD companies are considerably looser. Players don’t have to maintain a passive interest and can hold more than a 50 percent stake in companies that exclusively produce or sell hemp-derived CBD products.
They can have full, active ownership, as long as the company isn’t a marijuana company and doesn’t sell any prohibited or Schedule I/II substances.
What Are the Endorsement and Promotion Rules for Hemp and CBD?
Under Article XIV, Section 19(c), WNBA players can actively promote and endorse CBD products. The CBA defines “CBD” as hemp-derived compounds with a THC concentration at or below 0.3 percent that contain no other form of cannabis. “CBD Products” include oils, creams, drinks, pills, powders, and roll-ons.
The rules break down based on who makes the product:
- CBD from a non-marijuana company: Players can freely promote and endorse these products, provided the entity operates in compliance with applicable law and does not also produce or sell any Prohibited Substance or Schedule I/II substance.
- CBD from a marijuana company: Players must obtain written permission from both the WNBA and the WNBPA before any promotion or endorsement. The request must include a complete product list, a full list of ingredients, a description of the proposed promotion, and a summary of the non-financial terms of the deal.
- Even if the league grants approval, players cannot associate the CBD product with a marijuana brand in any way that blurs the lines between them. Additionally, the promotion must not create “a reasonable risk of public confusion with any Marijuana Product.”
The CBA plainly states that it prohibits any investments in or promotions of cannabis-related entities not expressly permitted by Section 19.. Players who violate this must promptly divest or terminate the endorsement.
A 2024 partnership between the New York Liberty and a CBD beverage company offered early signals that the league was warming to cannabis-adjacent business. The new CBA makes that kind of arrangement a formalized, league-wide option.
What Psychedelics Did the WNBA Add to Its Banned List?
Here is where the story takes an interesting turn. At the same time the WNBA removed marijuana from its prohibited substances list, the new CBA added several psychedelic substances to the Drugs of Abuse category under Exhibit B for the first time. Those substances are:
- Psilocybin and psilocin (the active compounds in psilocybin mushrooms)
- Dimethyltryptamine (DMT)
- Ibogaine
Synthetic cannabinoids were also added to the prohibited list, specifically including “Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (also called delta-8-THC) and their By-Products.” So while the natural cannabis plant comes off the list, synthesized cannabinoid variants and a range of psychedelics go on it.
For context, the Drugs of Abuse list under Exhibit B also includes ketamine, LSD, MDMA/MDA/MDEA, and PCP. So the psychedelics additions fit within an existing framework. Still, the timing is notable.
Growing interest in psilocybin and ibogaine for therapeutic purposes, particularly for treatment-resistant depression and addiction, means the WNBA is now banning substances that are actively gaining recognition in wellness and mental health spaces.
Whether those additions spark the next reform fight in professional sports remains to be seen.
What the WNBA’s New Cannabis Policy Actually Means
The WNBA’s decision to remove marijuana from its banned substances list is a meaningful step. It aligns the league with the NBA, ends a punitive testing regime that had real consequences for real players, and opens the door for athlete-brand partnerships in the hemp and CBD space. It also, importantly, reflects a broader cultural and political shift around cannabis in the United States.
Players now have the freedom to use cannabis without fear of routine league testing. They can invest in cannabis businesses, provided those investments are structured properly. They can promote CBD products with a much cleaner path to doing so than under any prior version of the CBA.
The framework is not perfect. Passive investment rules for marijuana companies come with meaningful restrictions. The psychedelic additions are a complicated footnote. And the federal scheduling landscape is still in motion, which means some of the investment rules could shift as rescheduling advances.
But the direction is clear. Professional sports in America are no longer treating cannabis like the enemy. The WNBA, at last, has gotten on board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement executed on May 22, 2026, marijuana no longer appears on the WNBA’s prohibited substances list. Previously, cannabis was classified as a “Drug of Abuse” under the CBA’s Anti-Drug Program (Article XXI, Exhibit 2). Routine, random testing for cannabis has ended.
Yes, in specific circumstances. The league can still test a player if they enter the Drugs of Abuse Program, appear to be under the influence of marijuana during team or league activities, or have a documented dependency issue. Players convicted of a felony involving marijuana distribution may also face reasonable cause testing.
Yes. Under Article XIV, Section 19 of the new CBA, players can actively promote and endorse hemp-derived CBD products. However, if a marijuana company produces the CBD product, players must obtain written approval from the WNBA and the WNBPA before any promotion or endorsement. Additionally, the CBD product cannot be associated with a marijuana brand in a way that creates public confusion.
Yes, with restrictions. Under Article XIV, Section 19(b), players may hold a passive ownership interest in a marijuana company, provided their stake is below 50 percent and involves no management, governance, voting, or executive role. Investment in CBD-only companies comes with fewer restrictions.
