NCAA Marijuana Policy: Testing, Penalties and the Removal From the Banned List

By James Buddsey · Updated October 16, 2026

The NCAA no longer bans marijuana: Division I removed cannabinoids from its list of banned drug classes in June 2024, and Divisions II and III adopted the same change through the 2025 legislative cycle, so a positive THC test at an NCAA championship no longer costs an athlete eligibility. That does not make cannabis allowed on campus. Schools, conferences and state and federal law still set their own rules, and many athletic departments still test for and discipline marijuana use.

When The Weed Street Journal first wrote about college athletes and marijuana in 2010, a positive NCAA test meant sitting out and losing a full season of eligibility, and anti-doping officials were warning that legalization would make the problem worse. The policy has since reversed. This guide explains what the NCAA rule is now, how it changed, what still applies to athletes and how college sports compare with the pros.

NCAA Marijuana Policy at a Glance

How the NCAA Policy Changed

The old rule

For decades, marijuana sat on the NCAA’s list of banned drug classes alongside steroids and stimulants. The NCAA tested athletes at championship events and football bowl games, and a positive test for THC carried the same kind of penalty as other banned drugs: the loss of a season of competition. Individual schools layered their own testing programs on top.

A higher threshold first

Before removing cannabis entirely, the NCAA raised the THC level that counted as a positive test from 35 to 150 nanograms per milliliter, matching the threshold used by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Ganjapreneur, citing the NCAA). The higher cutoff meant athletes who used cannabis days or weeks before a test were far less likely to fail.

The 2023 recommendation

In 2023, the NCAA’s Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports recommended that all three divisions remove cannabinoids from the banned list. Its reasoning, reflected in the divisional proposals, was that the existing policy was not working, that the NCAA’s drug-testing program should focus on performance-enhancing substances, and that a harm-reduction approach built on education and support works better than suspensions. Each division had to adopt its own legislation.

Division I votes in June 2024

The Division I Council voted on June 25, 2024, to remove cannabis from the banned drug classes for NCAA championships and postseason football, effective immediately. Council chair Josh Whitman, Illinois’ athletic director, said the testing program is meant to protect competitive integrity and that cannabis products do not give athletes a competitive advantage. Athletes serving penalties for earlier cannabinoid positives had those penalties discontinued.

Divisions II and III follow

Divisions II and III moved through their own process. The NCAA’s legislative database lists both proposals, Division II NC-2025-10 and Division III NC-2025-2, as “adopted final” with immediate effect, each with the stated intent of removing cannabinoids from the list of banned drug classes. Both proposals said the change would apply retroactively to penalties from earlier positive tests.

What the Change Does Not Do

• It doesn’t stop schools from testing. The NCAA rule covers NCAA-run testing and NCAA eligibility. Many universities and conferences run their own drug programs, and they can still test for THC and impose team suspensions, counseling or other discipline.
• It doesn’t make cannabis legal on campus. Under the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act, colleges that receive federal funding must have programs to prevent illicit drug use, and marijuana remains illegal under federal law for adult use. Most campuses ban possession and use in dorms and on school property, even in legal states.
• It doesn’t override state law. Athletes under 21 cannot legally buy or possess recreational cannabis in any legal state, and athletes in states without legalization face criminal penalties.
• It doesn’t cover international or Olympic events. College athletes who compete in national team or Olympic events fall under anti-doping rules, where THC remains prohibited in competition above the 150 ng/mL threshold.
• It doesn’t change team rules. Coaches can still set expectations for their own programs.

The NCAA has also emphasized that removing cannabis from the list does not mean it endorses use.

How College Sports Compare With the Pros

For the details on football, see our guide to the NFL marijuana policy.

What College Athletes Should Know

• Read your school’s policy. Your athletic department’s drug-testing policy, not the NCAA’s, is now the one most likely to affect you.
• Know detection times. THC can remain detectable in urine for days in occasional users and for weeks in heavy, frequent users. Our guide to how long weed stays in your urine explains the science.
• Be wary of CBD and hemp products. Hemp products can contain THC, and labels are not always accurate. Federal hemp rules are also tightening: see our hemp guide.
• Consider performance and health. Cannabis can affect coordination, reaction time and memory, and regular use carries a risk of cannabis use disorder. Our cannabis research hub summarizes the evidence.
• Remember the age limit. Most college athletes are under 21, the minimum age for recreational cannabis in every legal state. See our cannabis laws hub for your state.

NCAA Marijuana Policy FAQ

For adults 21+ in legal states. General information, not medical advice.