Recently, football players have been coming out as cannabis advocates, claiming that using marijuana helps them with injuries sustained from playing, and allows them to avoid opioids and other harmful drugs that many NFL players become addicted to. Now, Eugene Monroe of the Baltimore Ravens has donated $80,000 to research that supports studying the medical benefits of cannabis for players.
According to CSN, the fundraising campaign he is supporting is backed by Johns Hopkins University in Maryland and the University of Pennsylvania, and is titled “When the Bright Lights Fade.” The program is looking at how cannabis and CBD could treat injuries common in the NFL, such as brain injury and chronic pain.
“What we are looking at is a first stab at documenting cannabis use among current and former players, including the types of cannabis being used,” explained Marcel Bonn-Miller from the University of Pennsylvania, one of the lead investigators on the study. “We are also going to document the impacts of cannabis use on players’ recovery from injury. We know NFL players get banged up a bit, from concussions to chronic pain to inflammation. There is mounting evidence that certain cannabinoids, like cannabidiol, might have some beneficial effects for these conditions.”
Monroe is the first player to actively speak out about his pro-cannabis views when it comes to players medicating.
“It’s time for the NFL to change its archaic standards to better protect its players and set an example for our young athletes,” he explains on his website. “For too long, I’ve watched my teammates and good friends battle with opioid addiction and leave the game with a long road still ahead; it’s time to make a change.”
Monroe’s support for medical cannabis reflects a changing attitude within the NFL, as the organization starts to realize that cannabis can offer many benefits, and that the pain and head trauma suffered by players are no joke. As this research gains momentum, cannabis is sure to become a regular treatment option for players.
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