The non-intoxicating marijuana component CBD holds “potentially performance-enhancing properties” for athletes and may serve as an effective post-exercise recovery tool, according to a new scientific review. Researchers at Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica said the research they reviewed—which included studies involving athletes, people with epilepsy and mice—found that “CBD appears to have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, analgesic, anxiolytic, and potentially performance-enhancing properties in athletes.” “Based on these effective benefits, some team sports athletes have widely used CBD for sleep, pain relief, and recovery, and its consumption increases with age,” the study said. “CBD has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, and analgesic properties, which are potentially beneficial for athlete recovery.” NFL and the league’s players union in recent years have put a focus on funding research related to cannabis and athletes.