NFLPA to study marijuana use for pain management after new legalization

After another seven states legalized marijuana as part of Tuesday's vote, the NFLPA has decided to take a serious step towards allowing players to use the substance as a pain-management tool.

With marijuana now legalized - medically, recreationally, or both - in 29 states, the players association will be forming a pain management committee that will study players' use to determine if an adjustment to football's ban is needed.

"Marijuana is still governed by our collective bargaining agreement," George Atallah, the NFLPA’s assistant executive director of external affairs, told The Washington Post on Wednesday. "And while some states have moved in a more progressive direction, that fact still remains.

"We are actively looking at the issue of pain management of our players. And studying marijuana as a substance under that context is the direction we are focused on."

Many players have spoken out about their belief that marijuana should be legalized as it is less harmful than the painkillers allowed by the league. Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Jared Odrick voiced his pleasure about Florida's new legalization Wednesday.

"I'm hoping and I'm wondering when the NFL wants to be a leader in taking the right steps and leading a social movement," Odrick said.

"We can enter a stadium where Bud Light is being promoted in your face and (fans can watch the game) in the Bud Light Zone. We can push alcohol but we can't push something that's being prescribed medically?"