Bas Rutton (Former UFC Superstar) Speaks About CBD Oil And Opioids

For the past few years, the significance and popularity of CBD oil have taken over the United States like a flood. More than half of the states have legalized both CBD oil and medical marijuana, and many more are following suit. It attracted lots of patients suffering from several medical conditions, ranging from epilepsy to cancer. Now, it has attracted the attention of athletes as well.

Bas Rutten, a renowned MMA Fighter had spoken about the benefits of CBD oil for professional fighters and athletes alike. In the wake of opioid-disgraced fighters who had become addicted to painkillers and killed their careers, Bas Rutten speaks of CBD oil as the better alternative for athletes.

Bas Rutten and the Opioid Epidemic

As a professional fighter and athlete, former MMA superstar Bas Rutten knows all too well the debilitating effects of opioid addiction to both fighters and athletes alike. In a blog post he dedicated for “The Smashing Machine” Mark Kerr, he spoke of a legend ruined by opioid addiction and how CBD oil could have averted the disaster.

Rutten met Kerr in Brazil while watching the fighter ace through an eight-man Tudo Championship tournament. Although he exhibits skill and power during his stay with Rutten, Kerr showed an unusual symptom that caught Rutten’s eyes – his tendency to sweat profusely and abnormally gain weight. It was after a rigorous sparring session where Rutten finally found the truth – Kerr had been using painkillers to numb himself.

Eventually, the drugs took its toll on Kerr, and after a series of loses, he went into rehab for three years. Unfortunately, he could not recover his career, even after cleaning himself up and retraining.

The Move to CBD Oil

Bas Rutten also reflected on his struggle with addiction. He had a painkiller problem that started after his last fight in 2006. He started taking Vicodin in order to survive the pain he experiences post-fight. However, doctors warned him that the Vicodin he is taking are damaging his liver, and offered him Oxycontin as a substitute. But it soon stopped working as well after a while. He realized what was happening to him and he stopped using the drug altogether.

“If there would have been CBD at that time, I might not have become addicted to painkillers. I really hope that all fighters and other athletes will use CBD instead of painkillers.” Rutten says as he reminisces about his past addiction.

He also said that in states where medical marijuana and CBD oil had been legalized, there is a noticeable drop in opioid abuse. For Rutten, this is because people who are dependent on opioid started switching over to CBD as a substitute. With it’s non-psychoactive and non-addictive characteristics, he noted that it is the better alternative in dealing with post-fight pain and other long-term effects of mixed martial arts and sports in general.

Other Notable CBD Supporters in the MMA Community

Nate Diaz is also a known MMA advocate of CBD oil, with Vaping as his preferred method of application due to its accessibility and portability. He had courageously shown his support for CBD oil in a post-fight conference with Conor Mc Gregor. While he was being interviewed, he smoked a CBD vape pen at the post-fight conference and started talking about the benefits of CBD for an Athlete.

“It’s CBD,” Diaz said. “It helps with the healing process and inflammation and stuff like that. You want to get this for before or after the fight, in training, to make your life a better place.”

Cain Velasquez is another notable fighter who uses CBD. He uses the compound to manage pain brought by an injury in his knees as well as for the operation that followed. The operation was made to reduce pressure on his sciatic nerve. He mentions that CBD oil is an invaluable help in his recovery and that it is superior to other forms of painkillers because it is not habit-forming.

Sadly, in spite of the multiple health benefits, CBD, and the rest of the marijuana plant, remains under federal prohibition. This is in spite of the federal government actually patenting CBD. We, along with Rutten and other CBD advocates, wishes that soon, the federal government will open their eyes on its advantages and look past its outdated criticism.