With marijuana now legal for both medical and recreational use in several states across America, NFL executives are set to take a long hard look at reforming the league’s policies on the drug. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports several owners and league leadership could make weed a topic of discussion when renegotiating the collective bargaining agreement between players and execs.
Some NFL owners and execs are open to ending marijuana-related suspensions
With marijuana legal in some shape or form in the majority of states, the NFL is looking to roll back some of its harsh hash punishments.
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The NFL last altered its marijuana policy in 2014, opting for stiffer penalties for positive tests. Rapoport’s discussions with owners suggests the next round of rule changes would roll those penalties back as the drug is decriminalized across the country, though the sentiment isn’t unanimous.
“The majority of the sample size supports a ‘decriminalization’ of marijuana that would make it more difficult for players to be suspended,” writes Rapoport. “Two of the principals involved in the issue said they are open to getting rid of marijuana-related suspensions and only issuing fines. Two others said they are worried about sending the message that drug use is tolerated and believe suspensions must remain.”
The league has made some pretty high-profile suspensions related to marijuana use in the past three seasons. Browns All-Pro wide receiver Josh Gordon has missed 39 of Cleveland’s last 58 games, thanks in part to failed drug tests. Dallas linebacker Randy Gregory has faced multiple suspensions as a pro after watching his draft stock plummet, due to a positive weed test at the 2015 NFL Scouting Combine.
Rapoport’s report will come as welcome news for advocates like recently retired offensive lineman Eugene Monroe. Monroe, who played seven seasons with the Jaguars and Ravens before retiring this summer, was one of the first active players in the NFL to take a stand for the use of medical marijuana.
Alaska, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada all voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use in 2016. The drug is available medicinally in 28 states and the District of Columbia.
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