There’s still a long way to go, but the National Hockey League’s past and present representatives are slowly changing the perception of CBD use in the NHL.

Cannabis isn’t currently on the NHL’s list of banned substances, and players who are caught using cannabis substances aren’t automatically fined or suspended like they would be in stricter leagues like the NFL and the MLB. Instead, hockey players aren’t publicly identified if they test positive for cannabis use, and action is only taken if the player is deemed to need substance abuse treatment.

The leniency doesn’t necessarily mean the organization officially approves of cannabis use — executives have said that a history of consumption would still be a detriment to anyone with a budding career in the league.

Ahead of Canada’s legalization of the substance, the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told the Associated Press that they’re comfortable with where their health program is now, and will consider what changes they may need to make in the future.

But Don Fehr, executive director of the NHL’s Player Association, told The Athletic that it’s “possible that the NHL and the NHLPA (National Hockey League Players’ Association) could come to an informal understanding about marijuana usage among players in the league in the future.”

The players themselves appear to become more open to experimenting with cannabis — specifically CBD — for health purposes and as a way to attempt to mitigate some of the physical damage their bodies endure on the ice.

“You don’t want to be taking pain stuff and taking Advil all the time,” Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid told the Associated Press. “You’re seeing a lot of really smart doctors look into it. If all the boxes are checked and it’s safe and everything, then I think you would maybe want to hear them out.”

Former Philadelphia Flyers enforcer Riley Cote told Sportsnet he used cannabis while he was a player to deal with anxiety and pain that came with fighting during games. He mentioned that he knew several people in the league who used cannabis as well.

He now runs a wellness organization dedicated to treating past and present athletes, and he says that CBD products could be used as a tool for treatment.

“It’s about helping these guys wake up the next morning, where they can feel functional enough, good enough, they can enjoy their family and not worry about the pain and anxiety, that vicious cycle that generally leads to mental health issues,” Cote said.

A former NHL player-turned-executive anonymously told Sportnet he guesses that about 60 to 70 per cent of current players use cannabis, which he said could contribute to a better understanding and acceptance of the substance in the league’s future.

Despite the social stigma for players and executives to come out in support — or admit use — of CBD, the league has taken a step forward in researching the product. In March, the NHL Alumni Association announced it was partnering with Canopy Growth on a clinical study on how CBD could treat post-concussion neurological issues.

While the long-term effects of CBD use aren’t fully studied yet, the clinical study will research the value of cannabis on post-concussion symptoms like PTSD and depression through a group of about 100 former NHL players.

“Now, at least we’re going down the road of being the first sports entity to say look it, we give a s—. And we’re going to get some answers,” said former player and head of the Alumni Association Glenn Healy.