This past Tuesday, the NFL started its random drug test period. However, the league isn’t testing for the important chemical found in cannabis, THC. Defined by the NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), they will not test players for Delta 9 THC-carboxylic acid.
Ironically enough, the new rules and random drug tests started on 4/20, the unofficial holiday of cannabis enthusiasts around the world. The random drug test window will close on August 9th. Players will be tested for THC once training camp starts, but with a slight change in how much a player can test positive. Players now can test positive with 150 nanograms or less of THC in their system.
Furthermore, the NFL’s disciplinary actions have also changed on marijuana usage. Fines have replaced all suspensions related to positive drug tests. Instead of risking the loss of games for a whole season, players will be able to actually play the game still.
This is a result of the view on marijuana changing drastically in the U.S. So it makes sense that the NFL reassesses its viewpoints on it. Cannabis is looked at as a product for medical relief rather than a drug. Besides the majority of Americans being in favor of legalizing weed, there are prominent NFL players, past and present, who are heavily invested in the cannabis industry.
What Does This Mean For Players?
Not only are players doing endorsements or creating their own cannabis line like Rob Gronkowski and Marshawn Lynch, but there are also players like Calvin Johnson and Rob Sims who are teaming up with Harvard doctors to find ways to treat Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
This is great news for players because they won’t have to hide using cannabis products to help heal their bodies. Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson had been using cannabis as a way to heal himself mentally and physically. Now players can truly recover and heal their bodies without fear of huge fines or suspensions. This is a huge turn in the history of the NFL and Cannabis in the United States.
Click here to learn more about Calvin Johnson and his work in the cannabis industry. Click here to learn more about the changes in the CBA.
