UFC Policy Change Gives Fighters Freedom To Smoke Pot

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

That appears to be the rally cry of the UFC, which will no longer punish fighters for using marijuana, courtesy of a new anti-doping policy, as relayed by The Associated Press.

In other words, fighters are now allowed to be high and mighty.

"The world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion confirmed Thursday that it will no longer worry about positive tests for carboxy-THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, unless it believes a fighter used it intentionally to enhance performance," the AP reported.

Previously, the UFC banned cannabinoids derived naturally from marijuana as prohibited substances. Not anymore, insisted UFC’s senior vice president of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky.

“The bottom line is that in regard to marijuana, we care about what an athlete consumed the day of a fight, not days or weeks before a fight, which has often been the case in our historic positive THC cases,” Novitzky said. “UFC athletes will still be subject to marijuana rules under various athletic commission regulations, but we hope this is a start to a broader discussion and changes on this issue with that group.”

Of course, the UFC will still have to follow the guidelines set forth by state athletic commissions and international bodies. But hey, who doesn't want to throw a punch with a good buzz -- provided, of course, that it's entirely legal. For the UFC, it generally will be.