Cannabis use in professional sport has become a contentious issue in recent years as states loosen restrictions for both recreational and medicinal purposes.
Most professional sports bodies in the United States still impose a ban on marijuana for its athletes but more and more players are revealing that they partake in the plant. The latest to do so is free agent running back Le’Veon Bell, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets.
“Looking back on this, that’s what I did,” Bell said on Steelers-focused NFL podcast ‘Steel Here’. “When I was playing football, I smoked, bro. Even before the games, I’d smoke and I’d go out there and run for 150, two [touchdowns].”
What are the rules on marijuana use in NFL?
Marijuana is still considered a banned substance in NFL but the league’s policy has become much more lenient in recent years.
In 2021 the NFL Players Association changed the testing requirements to ensure that players are only required to test for marijuana at the start of training camp, once a year.
Even if players fail that annual test they will only be subject to a fine of up to three weeks’ pay, rather than a suspension.
In addition to lighter punishments the threshold for a positive test has also been raised substantially. In the past 35 nanograms was enough to trigger a positive, the threshold has now been risen to 150 nanograms.
Which NFL players used marijuana?
The softening of marijuana rules was a key concession that the Players…
