Is Weed Allowed in the NFL?

By Jason Bolton July 07, 2024 09:03

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The NFL, in particular, has come under heavy fire for what many are claiming is the unfair punishment of its athletes who choose to use or possess marijuana. As regulations around cannabis in different states change and the public becomes increasingly accepting of its use, views on marijuana within the NFL have been evolving. This article will touch on the official policy and regulations surrounding marijuana in states with medical & recreational laws, what has happened to players legally for being caught once using it, and much more.

NFL Official Bylaws/Legislation & Policy

The NFL has generally been strict on marijuana with its players. The league's policy was to randomly drug test players and enact harsh consequences for failures, which included fines and game bans. However, in a significant change, the NFL passed a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that imitates to an extent what is done by one drug-tested league, the National Hockey League. The NFL's new policy was unique as it raised the threshold for positive tests to an unprecedented degree and abolished a previous testing window that permitted players the usage of marijuana in the off-season. Also, the players will no longer be suspended only for marijuana and instead have their cases reviewed by a panel of medical experts that determines if medical intervention is necessary.

NFL Players Could Use Medical, Recreational Marijuana

The idea of NFL players utilizing marijuana for potential medical and recreational purposes has been a hot topic, down to its influence on pain management. There have been pushes for the league to support research into marijuana's benefits, especially as a pain relief drug. It was announced that the NFL and NFLPA have created joint medical committees to explore marijuana as a pain management tool. This also underscores a trend towards an increasing recognition of more nuanced science on marijuana, where the opioid will undoubtedly continue to be one recommendation.

Penalties on the Use of Cannabis

In the past, players who tested positive for marijuana during their time in the NFL faced hefty fines and potential suspensions or bans. Instead, the new CBA contained softer testing levels along with a much higher test threshold for penalties and applied medical examinations in place of immediate suspensions. This is a break from their previous punitive stance and suggests an approach to dealing with the marijuana use of players that's based on more contextually appropriate medical knowledge.

What a New NFL Marijuana Policy Could Mean

The ramifications of any shifts to the NFL's marijuana policies are varied and, in some cases, nebulous. Supporters of reform assert that easing up on marijuana enforcement could be beneficial for player health and potentially reduce addiction to painkillers; societal attitudes have also grown around the use of cannabis. Additionally, reforms could help facilitate a more empathetic and rational sports-centric approach to players' health. However, there are concerns, as well, over what relaxing marijuana policies would mean in terms of enforcement, public presentation, and the bigger picture effect on hockey's image in general.

This is a complex and rapidly changing issue that weaves together questions of legality, medicine, and ethics concerning marijuana use in the NFL. The new NFL drug policy is indicative of a changing culture on the issue, one that can come to realize there's no reason for players not to be allowed marijuana use under medical supervision.