Stubborn Sporting

If you prefer
to smoke cannabis instead of taking prescription medicine for your various
pains and ailments, then being a professional athlete in the National Football
League is not for you. Why? According to the collective bargaining agreement
between the player’s union and the NFL, using cannabis in any way, shape or
form is strictly forbidden. Punishments for violations include fines and
suspension.

For years this
issue has been on the back burner of American football politics, but just
recently many states such as Seattle, Arizona, Washington and Colorado have
passed laws allowing their citizens to legally use cannabis. For members of the
Oakland Raiders or Chicago Bears, this would be good news, because cannabis has
been proven to be effective at treating not only the aches and pains that are
the result of hard athletic activity, but also help ease the suffering that many
players might have from concussions and other traumatic injuries. 

However, despite
the wave of reform sweeping the nation, the NFL hasn’t budged. Legal or not,
their players are not permitted to use the herb. Greg Aiello, Spokesman for the
Organization said, “The NFL’s policy is collectively bargained and will
continue to apply in the same manner it has for decades. Marijuana remains
prohibited under the NFL substance abuse program. The Colorado and Washington
laws will have no impact on the operation of the policy.” 

Josh Gordon is
a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns. When he tested positive for cannabis,
the NFL suspended the player for 16 games, which is the equivalent of an entire
season. The concept is that if a player uses a controlled substance like
cannabis, cocaine or steroids, they will have an unfair advantage over other
players. Apparently, the NFL also doesn’t want to smear its image by appealing
to “stoners” or “hippies.” 

This is in
harsh contrast to the story of Ray Rice, an All-Pro running back for the
Baltimore Ravens who is currently on a $35 million contract. Last February, Rice
beat his then-fiancé, Janay Palmer, into complete unconsciousness in an
elevator in Atlantic City, New Jersey, he pleaded not-guilty to third degree
aggravated assault. Roger Goodell, commissioner for the NFL, could have
delivered any punishment he wanted. 

Rice was
suspended for only two games, and fined over $500,000.

To Allen St.
Pierre, Executive Director for NORML, this is an outrage. “The NFL, along with
all of the other major professional sports leagues in the United States, needs
to quickly re-visit their anti-cannabis policies for their athletes in the wake
of popular public support in the favor of cannabis legalization,” he said.
“Half of the states have passed cannabis law reform measures to one degree or
another.” 

St. Pierre
indicates that this is a public relations disaster for the NFL. “Punishing an
adult athlete who may be making the completely rational and health-preserving
choice to imbibe in cannabis rather than alcohol products far more severely
than an athlete who acknowledges committing a violent felony against a woman is
not only non-sensible,” he says. “Talk about sending the wrong message to
society, and specifically women!” 

But times could
change. When asked about medical cannabis in a recent interview with ESPN, Commissioner
Goodell indicated that NFL policy towards cannabis could eventually change.
“I don’t know what’s going to develop as far as the next opportunity for
medicine to evolve and to help either deal with pain or help deal with
injuries, but we will continue to support the evolution of medicine,” he said.