Jerry Jones Adds Serious Weight To Push For Ending Weed Ban
By Erik Lambert
Jerry Jones has always been one of those owners, love him or hate him who was never a big fan of the stuffy, strict and prudish NFL rule book.
While he understands the value of doing business, he also knows a few things. It’s a game and games are meant to be fun. For a player it’s hard to have fun playing this game when one is constantly in pain. Though painkillers can do their job, the addictive properties of the drug and long-term health risks have because to cause some serious concerns. It is for this reason that many current and former players have built a strong campaign to end the NFL ban on marijuana.
Not only is the drug highly effective at counteracting pain, it’s also proven less addictive or as big a long-term health risk. Yet it remains a taboo substance in the league. Players are repeatedly suspended if and when they’re ever caught using it. Josh Gordon of course is a prime example, having endured multiple bans for repeated failed tests for it.
Turning the tide
It seems Jones has been swayed on the subject. So he went about trying to persuade his fellow owners that it might be time to loose those restrictions according to Pro Football Talk.
"“Jones also raised the question of the NFL’s position on marijuana. Jones, per a source who heard the comments, wants the league to drop its prohibition on marijuana use. Jones was reminded that the issue falls under the umbrella of collective bargaining, which would require the players to make one or more concessions in exchange for significant changes to the marijuana prohibition.Separately, the league office reiterated to PFT its position that any changes to the substance-abuse policy would occur within the confines of labor negotiations, and that the league is willing to listen to the medical community about any potential changes to the rules regarding marijuana.”"
Jones has plenty of connections and financial sway in the league. He may just be one owner, but he’s one with a lot of pull. His pushing for a shift on the marijuana question is a major turning point. Provided the NFL Players Association picks up their attack on the subject with the new collective bargaining agreement discussions due in 2020, there is a good chance changes could be coming.
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That will be a welcome relief to many players. Though obstacles remain in this country regarding weed, enough progress has been made to a point it’s nowhere near the vilified drug it once was. Several medical outlets have provided evidence that medicinal marijuana can be a much more effective treatment for pain-related issues for football players. It would be quite a step for the NFL if they were the first to enact such a repeal.