By Marvin Moore – June 29, 2023
It is no secret that a large number of NFL players smoke weed. In an interview with Vanity Fair earlier this week, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce said he believes 50-80% of the players in the league use marijuana. However, despite recreational cannabis becoming legal in several NFL markets, the “No Fun League” continues to ban the substance.
The NFL changed its marijuana policy during the 2021 offseason as part of the new CBA agreement between the league and the NFLPA union. The new policy requires players to be tested in a two-week window before the start of the season.
“If you just stop in the middle of July, you’re fine,” Kelce explained to Vanity Fair. “A lot of guys stop a week before, and they still pass because everybody’s working out in the heat and sweating their tail off. Nobody’s really getting hit for it anymore.”
The policy change was good news for players and the union. There is a belief among many players that marijuana can play a pivotal role in their pain management and mental well-being. And it is a much safer alternative than opioids.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association erased marijuana testing for players in the league’s new collective bargaining agreement. While the jury is still out regarding the NBA’s decision to end testing for weed, there is no doubt the NFL front office is monitoring this new, progressive policy.
For some players, the league’s new stance on marijuana use comes too late. Six weed suspensions derailed talented wideout Josh Gordon’s bright career. The former Baylor Bear currently plays for the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.
Former running back Ricky Williams tallied over 10,000 rushing yards during an NFL career that included a long list of failed drug tests. An advocate for marijuana use, Williams retired from football for one season because he wanted to smoke daily.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant was suspended for the entire 2016 season after repeatedly failing drug tests for marijuana. Denver Broncos defensive end Randy Gregory was suspended several times while a member of the Dallas Cowboys, including the entire 2017 season. New York Giants tight end Darren Waller also missed time early in his career for smoking weed.
NFL tokers are allowed to get high during the offseason but must smoke less during the season. It’s an outdated policy that ignores the benefits of marijuana and entices players to abuse opioids to manage their physical ailments.
While it is true that the league has curtailed its marijuana testing program, players are still subject to severe penalties for positive tests. The league also has mandatory treatment programs and suspensions for players with multiple violations.
But how long can the NFL continue to ban a substance that is legal in numerous U.S. states? If it is up to the players and the NFLPA, not much longer.
