Lagging behind the NBA, NHL, and MLB, the NFL weed policy has changed with increased support for cannabis use by players and fans.
Do you want to know the rules for your favorite quarterbacks, running backs, or linemen? Then, let’s take a deeper look at weed and football in the United States.
Can you Smoke Weed in the NFL?
Yes, as of March 2020, the NFL weed policies have become more progressive. The updated procedures allow NFL players to consume marijuana products within set regulations.
Off-Season
From April 20th until August 9th, players are free to consume cannabis, and the league will not test them. This new rule aligns with the holiday 420, which is excellent news for those who celebrate and play football. In addition, if a player resides in a state where growing is legal, they can cultivate autoflower marijuana seeds without fear of penalty.
During this time, the NFL will continue doing off-season drug testing. The league tests each player randomly once, but they will not test the level of THC. The tests will continue to look for other recreational drugs like cocaine, heroin, and performance enhancers like steroids.
In-Season
Once training starts, the NFL weed policies change. Does the NFL test for weed? Yes.
The league will test players for THC during the regular season. Ten players from each team are randomly selected each week. The updated policy (in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s levels) has increased the threshold of THC to be considered a positive result.
Before, it was 35 nanograms/ml, and as of March 2020, 150 nanograms/ml of THC are needed to test positive. This is excellent news for football players who smoke weed. Also, the league doesn’t look for CBD, so players can use products with no THC without any fear of testing positive.
There have been progressive moves toward NFL players smoking marijuana in the last few years. As of March 2020, players can consume cannabis products freely from April until August. During the rest of the year, they must remain below 150 ng/ml of THC to pass a drug test.The change in the NFL policy is a huge step forward for the league. Hopefully, it reduces the use of opioids, which have harsh side effects and abuse. Many NFL players can use cannabis products for both physical and mental health.
