Roger Goodell doesn't rule out medical marijuana use by playersBy John Breech | CBS SportsJanuary 8, 2014 5:08 pm ET
Roger Goodell hasn't ruled out the possibility of medical marijuana use in the NFL. (USATSI) Since Jan. 1, it's been legal to purchase and use marijuana in the state of Colorado. However, that doesn't mean NFL players in Colorado can start lighting up. Despite marijuna being legal in the state, it's still illegal under the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. Under the CBA, a player who tests positive for marijuana can be suspended, but that could change sometime down the road. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell left the door open for medical marijuana use when he was asked about the subject on Tuesday.Specifically, Goodell was asked if there would ever be a time where players would be permitted to use medical marijuana in states where it's legal. Instead of saying no, Goodell offered the following, "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," the commissioner said, via ESPN.com.That's the NFL's first comments about marijuana since November 2012 when Colorado and Washington voted to legalize pot. Back then, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told USA Today that the legalization of pot wouldn't change anything. "The NFL's policy is collectively bargained and will continue to apply in the same manner it has for decades," Aiello said in November 2012. "Marijuana remains prohibited under the NFL substance abuse program."However, as Pro Football Talk has pointed out, the CBA only outlaws the 'illegal use' of marijuana. And beginning later this year, marijuana will be legal in not only Colorado, but the state of Washington as well, although it's still against federal law.If the use of marijuana has to be worked into the CBA, the players will have to wait awhile. The players and owners are only three seasons into the 10-year CBA that was agreed upon in 2011.
However, as Pro Football Talk has pointed out, the CBA only outlaws the 'illegal use' of marijuana. And beginning later this year, marijuana will be legal in not only Colorado, but the state of Washington as well, although it's still against federal law.So, in other words any player in Washington or Colorado could smoke and get away with it, although they would have to fight the NFL. Also, if the illegal use is only outlawed, then medical users should be safe as well.Cannabis protects the brain from secondary brain damage after brain injury. It should be legal, in fact MANDATORY for anyone with brain trauma. Israel treats it's soldiers who have brain injuries with exact doses of cannabinoids. http://www.lycaeum.org/research/researchpdfs/2002_mechoulam_1.pdf Mounting in vitro and in vivo data suggest that the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, as well as some plant and synthetic cannabinoids, have neuroprotective effects following brain injury. Cannabinoid receptor agonists inhibit glutamatergic synaptic transmission and reduce the production of tumour necrosis factor-? and reactive oxygen intermediates, which are factors in causing neuronal damage. The formation of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol is strongly enhanced after brain injury, and there is evidence that these compounds reduce the secondary damage incurred. Some plant and synthetic cannabinoids, which do not bind to the cannabinoid receptors, have also been shown to be neuroprotective, possibly through their direct effect on the excitatory glutamate system and/or as antioxidants.
^ but but weed is bad lol
Ganja - the protection your brain needs.
have u had a conversation with a pot head? lmao. its definitely not protecting anyones brains. i remember watching a special in colorado on weed and they showed a weed university with all old people and young people on how to grow weed and learn about different weeds. Then they showed this mixed couple at a house with a white picket fence and a beagle. they were weedshop owners. they were referred to as entrepeneurs...i almost died laughing bc the guy doing the interview says to them. "in my town you definitely would not be referred to as entrepeneurs. youd be called a drug dealer" in a wtf kind of tone. its so true. this shows how fucked up the united states is. on one side of the world people are getting thrown in jail, cant jobs, considered dirt bags....on the other side the same people doing the same thing.....yep you guessed it the pillars of society and entrepeneurs lmfao. unbelievable this country sometimes.
I don't get the people that are against weed. This is medicine that has literally killed nobody. Meanwhile alcohol and cigarettes kill people daily. Whether it be long term use or drunk driving. Even pain medicine and all sorts of medication people die from because of overdosing and accidentally overdosing. Nobody has overdosed or died from weed yet it's illegal. If anything should be illegal it should be alcohol and cigarettes NOT weed. I get why all the other illegal drugs are illegal and they should be. But weed hasn't harmed anyone.
I think the competition committee is doing some "research"...
have u had a conversation with a pot head? lmao. its definitely not protecting anyones brains. i remember watching a special in colorado on weed and they showed a weed university with all old people and young people on how to grow weed and learn about different weeds. Then they showed this mixed couple at a house with a white picket fence and a beagle. they were weedshop owners. they were referred to as entrepeneurs...i almost died laughing bc the guy doing the interview says to them. "in my town you definitely would not be referred to as entrepeneurs. youd be called a drug dealer" in a wtf kind of tone. its so true. this shows how **CENSORED**ed up the united states is. on one side of the world people are getting thrown in jail, cant jobs, considered dirt bags....on the other side the same people doing the same thing.....yep you guessed it the pillars of society and entrepeneurs lmfao. unbelievable this country sometimes.
you really need to get out more. and stop watching fox news
--- Quote from: ufcguy32 on Today at 11:10:46 AM ---have u had a conversation with a pot head? lmao.--- End Quote ---I'm a pothead. And unlike you, I'm able to construct an entire sentence. Perhaps your blanket statements are not as accurate as you would like to believe.
recreational use of pot is one thing and I have no issue with it. "Pothead" is a term referring to someone who smokes all the time multiple times during the day and cannot function without it. i have plenty of friends who smoke once in a while and use it here and there. I'm sure not every person has the same reaction to it, however my experience with people ive come across who make it their whole life is that they are not that bright. so before you get all self righteous about your drug use, maybe you should reread it. I could care less about what types of drugs people use as long as they don't hurt someone else. The main point I was making is how hypocritical we can be in america. One part of the country someone can sell weed and be looked at in a way that is positive. In another part of the country, "the war on drugs" is a big focus and they are looked at it in a way that is negative. Law enforcement will go after these people and prosecute them to "clean up " the streets and reduce violence. When in fact , if it was legal there would be much less crime and violence associated with it in my opinion.
--- Quote from: ufcguy32 on Today at 11:10:46 AM ---have u had a conversation with a pot head? lmao.--- End Quote ---I'm a pothead. And unlike you, I'm able to construct an entire sentence. Perhaps your blanket statements are not as accurate as you would like to believe.
A cousin of mine comes to mind right away. The guy smokes massive amounts, can't even make a sandwich for himself, but the guy is a wiz at all things math related.Incidentally, he works for governments all over the world and pretty much no one questions his use. He tells me some wild stories about his yearly Amsterdam trips.Next year he's supposed to take me with him. Can't wait.
The ban against pot is ridiculous, illogical, and has it's roots in racism. Unfortunately, it is too useful politically and too lucrative for certain parties to get repealed easily. Even though the country generally supports a repeal, the government makes political hay from it, cops find it easier to go after potheads than methheads or crackheads, and they make bank with RICO. And I would bet there are a lot of campaign donations flowing in from Budweiser and other manufacturers of alcoholic beverages.
recreational use of pot is one thing and I have no issue with it. "Pothead" is a term referring to someone who smokes all the time multiple times during the day and cannot function without it. i have plenty of friends who smoke once in a while and use it here and there. I'm sure not every person has the same reaction to it, however my experience with people ive come across who make it their whole life is that they are not that bright. so before you get all self righteous about your drug use, maybe you should reread it. I could care less about what types of drugs people use as long as they don't hurt someone else. The main point I was making is how hypocritical we can be in america. One part of the country someone can sell weed and be looked at in a way that is positive. In another part of the country, "the war on drugs" is a big focus and they are looked at it in a way that is negative. Law enforcement will go after these people and prosecute them to "clean up " the streets and reduce violence. When in fact , if it was legal there would be much less crime and violence associated with it in my opinion.
--- Quote from: ufcguy32 on Today at 11:10:46 AM ---have u had a conversation with a pot head? lmao.--- End Quote ---I'm a pothead. And unlike you, I'm able to construct an entire sentence. Perhaps your blanket statements are not as accurate as you would like to believe.
Ohh. Guys like Carl Sagan, Joe Rohan, Brad Pitt, and Woody Harrelson?You may be amazed that some of the people who function just as well as other members of society actually are very heavy cannabis users. In the construction industry cannabis is preferred over alcohol because it can be used after work to alleviate pain and yet still allows you to function the next day, whereas alcohol and opiates do NOT allow you to function. You really should get out more.
I don't get the people that are against weed. This is medicine that has literally killed nobody.
Brain cells ?I am not a big fan of the weed, just never had a taste for it. But I know people who can't go a single day without it. I know a former NFL player who, as soon as he heard the Colorado news, said he would be moving to Colorado asap, and he did.I see both sides of the argument, if they legalize it everywhere, it would bring in some much needed tax money for states and municipalties. I saw a report a day or two ago, on the Colorado sales, and man, that stuff is not cheap, very pricey. I am glad I don't have any use for it, I work for a substance abuse testing company, and they like to try out their new panels on employees first. So no one here is getting away with ANYTHING.
I don't get the people that are against weed. This is medicine that has literally killed nobody.
Brain cells ?I am not a big fan of the weed, just never had a taste for it. But I know people who can't go a single day without it. I know a former NFL player who, as soon as he heard the Colorado news, said he would be moving to Colorado asap, and he did.I see both sides of the argument, if they legalize it everywhere, it would bring in some much needed tax money for states and municipalties. I saw a report a day or two ago, on the Colorado sales, and man, that stuff is not cheap, very pricey. I am glad I don't have any use for it, I work for a substance abuse testing company, and they like to try out their new panels on employees first. So no one here is getting away with ANYTHING.
From WebMD Long-term and even daily marijuana use doesn't appear to cause permanent brain damage, adding to evidence that it can be a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of diseases, say researchers. The researchers found only a "very small" impairment in memory and learning among long-term marijuana users. Otherwise, scores on thinking tests were similar to those who don't smoke marijuana, according to a new analysis of 15 previous studies. In those studies, some 700 regular marijuana users were compared with 484 non-users on various aspects of brain function -- including reaction time, language and motor skills, reasoning ability, memory, and the ability to learn new information. Surprising Finding "We were somewhat surprised by our finding, especially since there's been a controversy for some years on whether long-term cannabis use causes brain damage," says lead researcher and psychiatrist Igor Grant, MD. "I suppose we expected to see some differences in people who were heavy users, but in fact the differences were very minimal." The marijuana users in those 15 studies -- which lasted between three months to more than 13 years -- had smoked marijuana several times a week or month or daily. Still, researchers say impairments were less than what is typically found from using alcohol or other drugs. "All study participants were adults," says Grant, professor of psychiatry and director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research Center at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. "However, there might be a different set of circumstances to a 12-year-old whose nervous system is still developing."
