The NFL Invests $1 Million In Marijuana Research

Friends,

In 2013, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon had 87 receptions, 1,646 receiving yards, and 9 touchdowns in 14 games, catching passes from a combination of Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell, and Brian Hoyer at quarterback.

The interesting part: Gordon says he smoked marijuana, not only before “every game” that year, but “probably” every game of his career.

Even more interesting, he’s not the only one. For example, since 2002, there have been almost 1,000 substance-related game suspensions, resulting in ~$70 million in fines collected by the NFL.

Now, the world’s largest sports league appears to finally be softening its stance, providing $1 million in funding for research into the use of cannabis for pain management.

I remember it like it was yesterday, the first time I ever watched an NFL clip from a field-level camera. You know, the angle where you can hear bodies colliding as if a car accident was happening right beside you. One word instantly came to mind — violence.

That’s part of the allure of professional football. A group of men — weighing between 150 lbs to 300+ lbs — running up to 20+ mph, intentionally attempting to collide at an impact that would instantly injure the common person.

But for all the attention that it commands — the NFL brings in more than $16 billion in revenue during a typical year — there are equally devastating consequences for its participants.

Just look at the numbers: In 2020 alone, NFL athletes suffered a total of 801 in-game injuries, according to a study conducted by Sportico. Not only was that the most in NFL history, but it represents a steady, 35% increase over the last decade.

Sure, the NFL has implemented more than 50 rule changes to protect players — shortening the kickoff, prohibiting blindside/chop blocks, expanding defenseless player protections — but the numbers don’t lie.

But this only tells half the story. A few years ago, the NFL agreed to a $1 billion concussion-related settlement, which calls for payments of up to $5 million each to former players diagnosed with certain neurological disorders.

The other part of the equation? How players deal with injuries when they inevitably occur.

While over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or amoxicillin may have helped players in the past, increasingly potent opioids are now common for treating pain caused by football injuries and surgeries.

The statistics are frightening: Over 50% of NFL players surveyed admitted to opioid use during their career, and 71% reported misuse of opioids.

Here’s what Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson told ESPN in 2016:

The solution? Potentially, marijuana.

After spending years suspending NFL players if they tested positive for marijuana multiple times, the NFL pivoted last year, implementing a new drug policy in which players will no longer be suspended for positive marijuana tests.

Here are the details:

• The new CBA reduces the testing period from four months to two weeks at the start of training camp.

• A new threshold for positive tests was also put in place, raising the allowed amount of THC from 35 nanograms to 150.

• Rather than automatic suspensions after multiple failed tests, if a player tests positive during that two-week period, his test will be reviewed by a board of medical professionals to determine if he needs treatment.

But after years of arguing that marijuana can be addictive — while cities across the country continue to legalize it for recreational use — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell finally appears to be conceding ground on his anti-pot position.

Keep in mind, this was never going to be a quick change. Step one was lowering the punishment. That happened last year. Step two is funding NFL-specific research. A new $1 million grant takes care of that. Step three? That’s officially allowing the use of marijuana by NFL players to treat pain caused by injuries and surgeries.

As for the timing on that step, your guess is as good as mine.

Have a great day, and I’ll talk to everyone tomorrow.

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