National Football League

Roger Goodell explains why the NFL isn’t changing its stance on marijuana use

Published Apr. 28, 2017 11:46 a.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The NFL has a fairly firm stance against the use of marijuana, both medically and recreationally. Commissioner Roger Goodell has made that clear with the league’s substance abuse policy, handing out four-game suspensions for positive tests.

With the country seemingly accepting marijuana use more widely, legalizing it in a number of states, some believed the NFL would do the same, allowing players to use it for medical reasons. Goodell didn’t completely slam the door shut on that idea, but he did make it clear the league’s policy isn’t changing.

He joined ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” Friday to explain how the NFL views marijuana use:

"We look at it from a medical standpoint. So, if people feel that it has a medical benefit – the medical advisers have to tell you that. We have joint advisers, we also have independent advisers, both the NFLPA and the NFL, and we’ll sit down and talk about that. But we’ve been studying that through our advisers. To date, they haven’t said this is a change we think you should make that’s in the best interests of the health and safety of our players. If they do, we’re certainly going to consider that. But to date, they haven’t really said that.

“But as you point out, there are changes in this. Medical marijuana is something that is evolving and that is something that at some point the medical advisers may come to us and say 'this is something you should consider.’ ”

The main reason for the NFL to stand pat on preventing players from using marijuana is the long-term health effects. Goodell argues that it’s not exactly the healthiest option for players, even if it does have short-term benefits. It also comes with addictive consequences that can have a negative impact on players.

"I think you still have to look at a lot of aspects of marijuana use. Is it something that can be negative to the health of our players? Listen, you’re ingesting smoke, so that’s not usually a very positive thing that people would say. It does have addictive nature. There are a lot of compounds in marijuana that may not be healthy for the players long-term. All of those things have to be considered. And it’s not as simple as someone just wants to feel better after a game. We really want to help our players in that circumstance, but I want to make sure that the negative consequences aren’t something that is gonna be something that we’ll be held accountable for some years down the road."