Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Eugene Monroe was active on Twitter Tuesday morning voicing his opinion on a number of subjects. Monroe stated somewhere along the line he was donating $10,000 to marijuana research and called on his fellow NFL players to do the same.
The legalization of marijuana continues to be a topic of conversation in the United States, with states having the authority to decide what to legalize and what not to legalize, while a growing national conversation continues to evolve. The increased legal use of medical marijuana has a number of supporters from around the sports world, and it is not simply just to have an excuse to get high. Monroe’s call to action comes a day after some inside the NFL admitted there is a link between playing football and CTE, a suggestion the NFL is changing the way it thinks and views health-related concerns. Could that lead to a change in philosophy when it comes to marijuana? One step at a time, perhaps.
If 100 players gave 1,000 for research. Or 200 gave 500, We can get Realm of Carings initiative in conjunction with John Hopkins U started
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Many of you will triple that expense this weekend in Miami
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Let's put our hard earned money towards our health and wellness futures
— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) March 15, 2016
Monroe has been an advocate for the NFL taking a hard look at the use of medical marijuana. We are still learning more and more about a number of health-related issues, including the impacts of medical marijuana in the sports world. The NFL has long been on the sideline when it comes to the legalization of marijuana and has chosen to follow the lead of the medical experts. As more and more states consider the substance to be legal to some degree, could one day change the policies in the NFL as well?
The conversation spans across sports, of course. Last month Jay Williams opened up about his use of marijuana and explained how it helped him get through pain. Williams also called for more open conversation about the use of the drug as a legal method to manage pain. At the NCAA level, the change is settling in at some programs as well with less harsh penalties to players using marijuana. The NFL has an opportunity to be a leader in the field, but it must do some with confidence that may only come from more research being done.
[ESPN]
