For decades, the NFL maintained a strict stance against cannabis use, with players facing fines, suspensions, and even bans for testing positive for the substance. The league’s policy reflected broader societal attitudes toward cannabis, which was long stigmatized and criminalized. However, as more states have moved to legalize cannabis for medicinal and recreational use, and as research has highlighted the potential health benefits of cannabis, the NFL has begun to reconsider its position.
The latest changes to the NFL’s cannabis policy significantly reduce the penalties for cannabis use. Under the new guidelines, players will no longer be suspended solely for testing positive for cannabis.