NFL vs Weed: The Final Round?
Josh Thornton
Sometimes you just want to ease the stress and pain of the day by sparking one up. Chewing on a little of the ole “Devils Lettuce”. Partaking in a little “Reefer Madness”. Bad synonyms aside, you know what I mean… right? Okay, so maybe some of you don’t. But it is likely that 12% of you do, which is about the percentage of the US adult population that uses cannabis on a regular basis. That number jumps to almost 23% with adults between the ages of 18-29, the prime age range in the NFL.Throw in the beneficial pain alleviation cannabis brings with it and I’m sure that prime range in the NFL is really around a 30% - 40% usage. If you believe Martellus Bennett, around 89% of the league lights up.
Big Brother NFL has been oppressing the use of cannabis since, well.... forever. Failed drug tests routinely brought with them suspensions, admissions into drug programs and even year-long banishments…. for some weed man! Ask our boy Josh Gordon about this one, he knows all too well.
There was a time when punishment for the use of cannabis was necessary though. In the 80’s the country was hot and heavy in the “war on drugs” and it was understandable for the league to adopt strict policies against the use of cannabis. There was a public opinion that needed to be mirrored within the NFL. I mean, peer pressure and all.
As the times rolled on and the war on drugs was increasingly being deemed lost, the NFL maintained its stance. Up with hope… down with dope! Err… yeah, something like that. Because of this narrow minded view some pretty notable players had a negative stigma attached to them due to some kind of linkage with cannabis. Ricky Williams is the first name that comes to mind. The talented first round selection of the New Orleans Saints had a career riddled with instances of friction with the NFL over cannabis use. It is speculated that the NFL’s drug policy cost Williams over 10 million dollars throughout his career. Since his retirement in 2012 Williams has been involved in, and an advocate of, the medical cannabis industry. Another big proponent of cannabis is, now un-retired, Rob Gronkowski. After retirement he partnered up with a company who produces CBD derived products. Gronk has been very vocal about the positive medical advantages to cannabis use, particularly CBD. Some others who have fallen on the sword in the name of a weed friendly world are Calvin Johnson, who smoked after every game, Percy Harvin, who was high for every game, and the aforementioned mentioned Josh Gordon. There are more. Many, many more.
The NFL started to wise up over the last couple of years. When time came to start drafting a new proposed CBA, the NFL surely knew that it would have to loosen the prohibition on the popular plant. We have half the country fully legal and the other half either legal medically or, at the very least, decriminalized. Get with the times, NFL. The league presented a CBA that, within the drug policy, would eliminate the possibility of suspension after testing positive for cannabis. Now… players can’t just smoke all willy-nilly. A positive test, which is now 150ng/ml, during the first 2 weeks of training camp will get reviewed by a board of medical professionals to determine if treatment is needed. Oh, and there is the fines. We all know the Shield loves its fines. Players could see fines of anywhere from half of a week to 3 weeks’ worth of pay, depending on how many tests they have failed previously. Ouch.
While the loosening of the policy on marijuana does move the needle in the right direction, it’s not the freedom needed…not yet. This fight continues. The driving force behind what the NFL ultimately does is the federal government. As long as Uncle Sam classifies cannabis as a schedule 1 narcotic and maintains its federally illegal status, the NFL will fall shy of complete weed freedom.
The times, they are changing though and the federal governmentwill eventually welcome cannabis in with open arms. Then, the NFL will follow suite.
There is just too much money to be made.
