AFL 2023: Adelaide Crows wingman Paul Seedsman turns to medicinal cannabis in concussion battle

Paul Seedsman has started to overcome his battles with concussion symptoms since turning to medicinal cannabis. Now, his doctor has urged the AFL to get on board with the treatment.

Concussion victim Paul Seedsman has turned to medicinal cannabis in a bid to save his AFL career.

The Adelaide wingman hasn’t played football since 2021 and is sitting out this season as he deals with ongoing concussion symptoms.

Seedsman, whose problems started after he suffered a head knock at training in late 2021, was placed on the Crows’ inactive list in January.

The revolutionary treatment should be a game-changer for the AFL according to Dr James Stewart who has urged the league to financially support a study into the benefits of cannabis.

Seedsman, 31, has shown significant improvement in a number of areas since he started treatment with Stewart last year.

Paul Seedsman has turned to medicinal cannabis in a bid to save his AFL career. Picture: Mark Brake

“I have been treating him for about 12 months now and he is presenting with all the common signs of early stage CTE, the headaches, poor sleep, poor concentration, low mood, all this kind of stuff,” Stewart told the Herald Sun.

“His sleep has improved tenfold, that has been the biggest game changer. He’s like, ‘I can finally sleep’. When you sleep that is when the brain and your body actually repairs itself so it is super important to get a decent sleep.

“That has been a massive difference with him. He is still getting some headaches but he has definitely had an increase in his concentration and his mood.

“I have just switched him over to a different product to see if he can start getting on top of those headaches, but he is another one doing well.”

Seedsman, who has played 132 AFL games, takes two doses of cannabis oil called CBD (cannabidiol) under his tongue each day and then at night has one dose of the stronger THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol).

Other sports stars to use medicinal cannabis to treat ongoing issues from injuries suffered throughout their careers include basketball legend Lauren Jackson, NRL immortal Andrew Johns and AFL great Sam Newman.

Seedsman hasn’t played since 2021. Picture Emma Brasier

Stewart said the AFL had the opportunity to be a world leader if it supported a trial as soon as possible rather than wait.

“The government and the AFL need to do something,” Stewart said. ”I really hope they jump on board. There is potential for them (the AFL) to be the frontrunners and world leaders in research into concussion and sport.

“It is a sport where we know people are going to get head knocks so let‘s do this study next year, make it world class. They have allocated a $25 million fund to go towards concussion over the next 10 years.

“Wouldn’t it be better to get the study done and start helping people in one year rather than waiting 10.

“With cannabis we are still fighting a stigma. It‘s why the AFL and others are still a bit sceptical as they think, ‘Oh, we can’t be seen promoting cannabis’.

“But it won’t be long before the general public realises that the cannabis that they are giving in sports is not like your bong smokers, it’s actually a medicine.”

This week Stewart presented to the Senate inquiry in Melbourne which is probing the management of concussion in contact sport.

He is on the board of Levin Health, an Australian medicinal cannabis company, alongside AFL coaches Damien Hardwick and Alastair Clarkson, and champion jockey Damien Oliver.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Adelaide Crows wingman Paul Seedsman turns to medicinal cannabis in concussion battle