NHL alumni ‘all in’ on cannabis research, Healy maintains

TORONTO — The executive director of the National Hockey League Alumni Association says he’s “all in” when it comes to finding out if cannabis will be able to one day replace opioidbased painkillers.

Speaking at an event earlier this week, Glenn Healy said he’s spent the last 10 months investigating whether or not marijuana, which became legal in Canada on Oct. 17, can help former players.

But Healy cautioned the alumni association isn’t there yet.

“Science has to prove it first,” said the former goalie. “If science proves it, then I’ll endorse it, but it’s got to be science first. It can’t be me first.

“We need science first, and if we get that first and it helps our players then we move on.”

Painkillers, which can be highly addictive, are often prescribed for nagging injuries that might stretch into retirement, while it’s no secret that some former players have suffered from neurological problems or mental-health issues after their careers.

Finding a natural alternative to opioids would be a major step not just in hockey, but across all sports. “We’re all in ... in lots of different ways,” said Healy, who played in the NHL for 15 seasons.

“We’ve got a couple neurologists that are working with us,” Healy continued. “It’s not something I’m turning a blind eye to. It’s our players, it’s our life, it’s our families. It’s kids, it’s wives.

“I don’t get the calls from the players, I get the calls from the wives (and the) kids.”

The NHL will continue testing current players for pot. A positive result doesn’t lead to a suspension on its own, but a high amount of the drug found in a player’s system triggers a referral to behavioural health program doctors.

Canada has seven NHL teams, while Colorado, home of the Avalanche, has allowed legal cannabis in the U.S. state for medical and personal use since 2012.

Some active players have already done some research on the potential benefits of pot’s tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) oils.

“You’d be stupid not to at least look into it,” Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said.