You wake up!!! Dazed, confused and your head feels about 100 pounds heavy. What happened? Amongst the four major professional sports in the United States, the National Football League is arguably the most competitive, entertaining but yet dangerous one. There has been a recurring problem for the past 20 years about the long term damage of concussions for NFL players. Due to the results of severe hits to the head, concussions and other traumatic brain injuries have led to memory loss, depressions and suicide in many recent cases. Debates regarding the health effects and permanent damage of these concussions for football players has led to a settlement between NFL owners and the players’ association. More than 4,500 former players including Hall of Famers, Dan Marino and Tony Dorsett who suffer from dementia, have filed suit in January claiming lifetime coverage for head trauma they received during their tenure in the league”(nfl.com).

A month later, the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos participated in the league’s annual Super Bowl. Ironically, Seattle and Denver are located in the only two states where recreational marijuana is legal which speculated ideas of marijuana being allowed in the league for medical purposes. After years of constant pressure on the NFL’s commissioner to ensure the safety of professional players, Roger Goodell addressed the media in a press conference how medical marijuana could be used by players to treat symptoms and relieve pain from serious injuries. Coaches and players agreed on the notion that medical experts should explore alternatives. The head coach of the Seahawks, Pete Carroll stated “we have to continue finding ways that are going to make our game a better game and take care of our players in the best way possible”(cbssports.com). He also added that “regardless of what other stigmas may be involved, I think we have to do this because the world of medicine is trying to do the exact same thing and they’re coming to some conclusions.” One of his players, Michael Robinson confirmed “ anything that makes our job easier without sacrificing our health is good for the league” (cbssports.com). Should the NFL explore medical marijuana if it helps players?

There’s an immense amount of evidence that supports the beneficial use of medical marijuana for NFL players. It has been proven that marijuana can prevent or treat long term disorders, provide an alternative treatment for painful injuries, and eliminate double standards that separate the players from society. Collegiate professors have pushed the league to fund medicine and extensive research of marijuana to treat psychological and physical disorders including dementia, suicide, seizures, etc. One of the most common disorders among retired NFL players has been CTE. CTE stands for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and is described as a progressive degenerative disease of the brain (bostonuniversity.edu). Athletes with this condition have a history of repetitive sub concussive hits to the head. CTE slowly results in memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, and aggression.

There are two active ingredients in marijuana that have medicinal use. Cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), both contains properties to relieve pain and pressure from the brain. 10 years ago, a study was conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University where a group of scientists gave synthetic marijuana to epileptic rats (businessinsider.com). The rats were seizure-free for about 10 hours. The group of scientists analyzed how the THC controlled seizures by binding to the brain cells of the rats causing them to relax and function at a normal rate. CNN covered a documentary on the controversies of recreational marijuana. A family was interviewed who give their daughter doses of a marijuana strain high in cannabidial and low in THC to treat her seizures. According to the film, the drug has decreased her seizures from 300 to one every seven days (businessinsider.com). Forty other children in the state are using the same strain and it seems to be working.

Whenever athletes are dealing with severe pain they tend to take high doses of pain killers such as vicodin and oxycodone. These brands are strong opioids which become very addictive over time and leave you in a groggy, unresponsive state. Athletes and their doctors already engage in illegal self medicated remedies overseas. A lot of times NFL players are administered drugs without any knowledge of the harm it may cause to their body. There are willing to do anything to recover quicker and get back on the field to assist their team. It’s clear that the players should have the option to treat their head trauma with marijuana to prevent severe effects at a later age. Retired NFL players also suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other muscle disorders. Toxicology studies show how the THC in marijuana slows the formation of plagues in brain cells, and binds receptors in nerves to help ease & relieve pain. Doctors believe marijuana has powerful neuro properties that will protect the brain from severe hits.

NFL players should have rights to use medical marijuana at least during the offseason if state statures apply . It’s a clear double standard that society is able to have access to medical marijuana but not athletes. America is all about change and we as a society need to embrace it in all aspects of life. Marijuana is the not the right medicine for everyone. It alters your mood and appetite over a hourly period. A small percent of the general public view it as a “miracle” drug that cures disease which is completely false (Zimmerman 6). For some patients with terminal illnesses, they’ve found marijuana as the most effective medicine and more beneficial than over the counter drugs. If the NFL does legalize cannabis for medical purposes, players should only have access to the drug under medical supervision (Zimmerman 7). Through heavy research over the past decade, it’s proven that marijuana is capable of relieving pain and reducing severe symptoms. The NFL continues to progress as a league of equality with players “coming out” and being open with their sexuality. It’s a matter time until this issue is voted on, giving the chance of medical marijuana being accepted as medicine.

Works Cited

Zimmerman, Bill. “Marijuana Not a Cure, But a Way to Reduce Symptoms.” Is Marijuana the Right Medicine for You? New Canaan: Keats, 1998. Print.

Breech, John. “Pete Carroll: NFL Should Explore Medical Marijuana If It Helps Players.” CBSSports.com. N.p., 27 Jan. 2014. Web. 9 July 2014.

“What Is CTE? » CTE Center | Boston University.” CTE Center RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 July 2014.

Loria, Jennifer Welsh and Kevin. “23 Health Benefits Of Marijuana.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 20 Apr. 2014. Web. 12 July 2014.