In a scientific opinion paper Mateus Bergamaschi and José Crippa discuss the question why sporting organizations would even want to ban cannabis use for the athletes under their jurisdiction. Their answers mostly align with the benefits of marijuana and hemp we have already touched upon: The primary criterion for making a substance illegal in sports is that it is performance enhancing, and cannabinoids can do that in two ways: One is the improved recovery from the physical and mental strains of the incredibly hard training world-class athletes go through.