Canadian student-athletes who consume cannabis can finally breathe a sigh of relief. 

Nearly two years after Canada lifted its cannabis prohibition, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), the not-for-profit responsible for administering the Canadian Anti-Doping Program, has announced that the organization will cease testing for cannabinoids in athlete samples. 

Cannabis remains on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Prohibited List, and the changes to the anti-doping rules will apply only to student-athletes competing in university sports or Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) events.

Students who are in their sports national athlete pool will still be tested for cannabis as will student-athletes who compete in events outside of the CCAA or U-Sports purviews, such as another organization’s national championship.

Student-athletes will also be susceptible to cannabis testing if they are competing in events where the CCES does not have jurisdiction, such as tournaments hosted by the International University Sports Federation. 

In a statement, the CCES said WADA is aware that the organization has removed cannabinoids from its list of prohibited substances. 

“The CCES has long advocated for the removal of cannabis from the WADA Prohibited List, and the legalization of cannabis in Canada reflects a shifting societal view of how to manage cannabis education and harm reduction,” the organization said. 

Earlier this month, WADA announced that athletes who test positive for recreational drugs out of competition will no longer be subject to two-year bans, but instead will receive a suspension that ranges from one to three months.