In the United States, there are several states that allow the use of cannabis recreationally as well as medicinally. It has been under debate whether or not players should consume this substance for medicinal purposes, on the one hand, activists supporting the cannabis consumption movement have been against federal prohibition.
As a result of all this outcry, and the complaints of activists, many sports franchises in the NFL have also expressed their dissatisfaction. The U.S. professional football league is looking for a way to make therapies that are safe for the players, and for this, they donated amount of 1 million dollars for research purposes.
It is normal that this movement will continue to gain strength and continue to expand throughout the United States, and even spread to other sports leagues such as the NBA, MMA, and also the NHL. The NFL specified in its statements that it would investigate what is necessary to begin marijuana therapies.
The legalization of this substance in North America is still a complicated issue since 19 states have approved and legalized the consumption of this substance for adults, but at the federal level, it is still totally illegal. The DEA still does not consider this plant something safe, so it does not approve it for medicinal use.
Impediments to Research in the U.S.
When someone belonging to or related to a sports league, such as the NFL, decides to consume this plant, they would be committing a federal crime, in the eyes of the U.S. government. The results of the investigation have shown promising results.
Currently, many impediments are being put in the way of the scientists who are conducting these studies. For example, they are not given access to quality samples, but to marijuana grown in a bad way, which does not allow them to advance in the research, giving erroneous results continuously.
The league decided some time ago that it would not test and would be more permissive regarding marijuana, thus allowing players to consume this substance without a problem also with this new policy, players would be avoiding many sanctions.
Marijuana has been an advantage for active and retired players, not only because of the effect it causes, but also because this substance has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and it is possible that the herb heals traumatic brain injuries.
One of the purposes of the research is to demonstrate that marijuana offers more advantages than negative aspects and that once and for all, an organization as important as the DEA sides with the activists.
Does marijuana really work as a tool for gamers?
One of the advantages that marijuana offers is pain relief, which means that consuming small doses of this substance can help to cope with injuries in a better way.
This would help to reduce the number of painkillers that players usually consume, these drugs can cause damage to other parts of the body, such as the liver. This treatment usually also works for fractures or wear and tear in the tissue that affects the bone. This condition is known as osteoarthritis.
Another common problem in gamblers is a traumatic brain injury, also known as boxer’s disease, where the brain becomes smaller and smaller, causing problems such as memory loss, mood swings, confusion, and slurred speech. The use of marijuana would alleviate this problem.
Many players also suffer from anxiety, either because of the pressure of each game or because there are thousands of people watching them. This can cause high levels of stress in the player, as they always want to give their all and win the championship.
In the end
Medical marijuana is the perfect tool to combat anxiety, making players feel calmer, thus relieving the pressure they have due to high-level competition. Products of medicinal weed can be found outside the US easily, including several services, where high-quality and regulated products are displayed.
The most likely outcome of all this discussion is that a historic change will occur in the league, without a doubt the protests will end up being louder and the competent bodies will eventually give in to regulation instead of prohibition.
