Last updated : December 23, 2024
Marijuana is creating some controversy in NFL locker rooms, but it may not be the hindrance that people think.
In fact, marijuana is proving to be a benefit for professional players who have to deal with debilitating side effects of the game, which include concussions and countless other injuries. In response, the NFL is faced with a crucial dilemma: allow marijuana to be used as an alternative to traditional pain-relieving methods, or allow it free reign.
Since Colorado and Washington have legalized marijuana, the attitude toward marijuana has been changing, albeit slowly. Gallup, a research company, recently polled Americans and found that 58 percent of them responded that marijuana should be legalized. That’s a far cry from years previous – in 1969, 12 percent believed it should be legal. So, with a 46 percent gain in less than 50 years, where does that leave NFL players?
Some NFL players side with the general populace, and not just for recreational purposes. They’re finding that marijuana has greater purposes; more specifically, it is a way to deal with the damages that professional footballers face on the field, such as concussions and other debilitating side effects.
“It’s not, let’s go smoke a joint. It’s, what if you could take something that helps you heal faster from a concussion, that prevents your equilibrium from being off for two weeks and your eyesight for being off for four weeks?” said Marvin Washington, a retired NFL defensive lineman.
Even though Washington, and many others, makes a convincing argument, the challenge for NFL officials is how to allow marijuana as an alternative to prescription pain relievers while not condoning its recreational use. In a game with so many injuries, players often find themselves pressured by trainers and doctors to use prescription painkillers. Because these painkillers often produce dangerous side effects, the NFL is seeking safer alternatives.
Whether or not the NFL officially accepts the use of marijuana, the players are already adopting the herbal treatment. Although there are not any specific numbers, many players say that marijuana use is not uncommon during the football season. To get an idea, more than a dozen players have been arrested or disciplined for using marijuana in just the last 18 months.
The NFL is now facing two separate lawsuits related to concussions and painkillers. Many of those involved in the lawsuits are urging the league to fund research into cannabis-based pain relief. But when it comes to medical research, there are two hurdles to overcome: the time and cost of the science.
Even if the research was properly funded, the results could be disappointing for the marijuana proponents. “Different medicines work differently from person to person,” says Ryan Vandrey, a behavioral psychologist who specializes in marijuana at Johns Hopkins. “There’s pretty good science that shows marijuana does have pain-relieving properties. Whether it’s a better pain reliever than the other things available has never been evaluated.”
The fact remains that Americans’ attitudes about marijuana are maturing. It is now up to the NFL to find a way to introduce the option for marijuana-based treatment so that the players can make the best decision for themselves.
