Christine Green
New Member
While it's not saying so publicly, the NFL is exploring the viability of marijuana as a medical option for its players.
In a profile on Ravens offensive tackle Eugene Monroe's marijuana advocacy, the Washington Post reports NFL senior vice president for player health and safety Jeff Miller and neurological surgeon Russell Lonser spoke Thursday with researchers on work Monroe has helped fund.
Miller and Lonser, who sits on the league's head, neck and spine committee, did not necessarily endorse Monroe's position, but were the ones who requested the conference call.
"They are interested in learning more about the potential for cannabinoids to help current and former players, as is evidenced by them taking the call, and also expressed a desire to learn more," said Marcel Bonn-Miller, an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania school of medicine. "They are definitely showing genuine curiosity, and they are definitely not throwing up roadblocks."
In May, Monroe became the first active NFL player to call on the league and players union to remove cannabis from the list of banned substances. He donated $80,000 to the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins to study the issue of medical marijuana for football players.
The NFLPA did not respond to The Post's request for comment, and an NFL spokesperson referred to previous comments made by Roger Goodell.
"We always review our drug policy," the commissioner said at his Super Bowl week press conference. "That is something that our medical professionals do on a regular basis. We have had discussions with them in the past about that, not recently."
Monroe's cause seems to have support within the Ravens organization. A team doctor was interested in his findings, and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in March, "I respect Eugene a lot, and I think all he asked for is more studying on the subjects."
MORE: Faces of NFL head trauma crisis
Not only do many medical experts believe marijuana is a more effective and less harmful pain treatment than NFL-approved opioids, research also suggests cannabis could help prevent and treat concussions – a top-of-mind topic at league offices.
Monroe told The Post of his efforts, "I want to break down the doors. And if I can get a huge organization like the NFL to acknowledge this is something we can do to help people, if the NFL can say we're looking into marijuana research for our players, the stigma is going to leave."
News Moderator: Christine Green 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: NFL curious about marijuana as potential medical alternative | NFL | Sporting News
Author: Marcus DiNitto
Contact: wbender@sportingnews.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Sporting News - NFL | NCAA | NBA | MLB | NASCAR | UFC | WWE
In a profile on Ravens offensive tackle Eugene Monroe's marijuana advocacy, the Washington Post reports NFL senior vice president for player health and safety Jeff Miller and neurological surgeon Russell Lonser spoke Thursday with researchers on work Monroe has helped fund.
Miller and Lonser, who sits on the league's head, neck and spine committee, did not necessarily endorse Monroe's position, but were the ones who requested the conference call.
"They are interested in learning more about the potential for cannabinoids to help current and former players, as is evidenced by them taking the call, and also expressed a desire to learn more," said Marcel Bonn-Miller, an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania school of medicine. "They are definitely showing genuine curiosity, and they are definitely not throwing up roadblocks."
In May, Monroe became the first active NFL player to call on the league and players union to remove cannabis from the list of banned substances. He donated $80,000 to the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins to study the issue of medical marijuana for football players.
The NFLPA did not respond to The Post's request for comment, and an NFL spokesperson referred to previous comments made by Roger Goodell.
"We always review our drug policy," the commissioner said at his Super Bowl week press conference. "That is something that our medical professionals do on a regular basis. We have had discussions with them in the past about that, not recently."
Monroe's cause seems to have support within the Ravens organization. A team doctor was interested in his findings, and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in March, "I respect Eugene a lot, and I think all he asked for is more studying on the subjects."
MORE: Faces of NFL head trauma crisis
Not only do many medical experts believe marijuana is a more effective and less harmful pain treatment than NFL-approved opioids, research also suggests cannabis could help prevent and treat concussions – a top-of-mind topic at league offices.
Monroe told The Post of his efforts, "I want to break down the doors. And if I can get a huge organization like the NFL to acknowledge this is something we can do to help people, if the NFL can say we're looking into marijuana research for our players, the stigma is going to leave."
News Moderator: Christine Green 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: NFL curious about marijuana as potential medical alternative | NFL | Sporting News
Author: Marcus DiNitto
Contact: wbender@sportingnews.com
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: Sporting News - NFL | NCAA | NBA | MLB | NASCAR | UFC | WWE
