Based on commissioner Roger Goodell’s remarks at the Super Bowl, the NFL has no intention of changing its marijuana policy.
But one player has come out strong, saying it’s time for the league to take a closer look at that policy, to allow for a possible use of marijuana for pain relief and perhaps even help with concussions.
“Your job automatically gives you the symptom of chronic pain,” Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe said in a story posted at CNN.com which discusses the potential medical benefits. “You’re hitting each other as hard as possible every single day in practice. Your body is in pain a lot of time.”
Monroe said more players are looking at marijuana as a pain relief option, as opposed to the opioids and anti-inflammatories that are commonly distributed. And though the league has drawn a line in the sand, Monroe said it’s time for them to advance the science.
“The NFL will need to have legitimate information before they remove marijuana from the banned substance list and ultimately not hurt their product in the field,” Monroe said. “But there’s opportunity in that space also, for the NFL to get involved and maybe lead efforts.”
Many players would likely be in favor of that, especially since marijuana is legal for recreational use in two of the cities in which the league does business already.
But based on Goodell’s almost out-of-hand rejections, it seems like any such change is years away.