NFL’s Eugene Monroe Donates $80,000 to Medical Marijuana Research

Eugene Monroe is in the NFL and plays for the Baltimore Ravens. He has decided to donate $80,000 to scientists deciphering the effects of medical marijuana on NFL players, CSN says. The money funds a campaign called “When the Bright Lights Fade” from the University of Pennsylvania and John Hopkins University School of Medicine research. The study will be looking into whether or not medical marijuana is an appropriate method for treating injuries related to sports. This includes pain, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and traumatic brain injury (TBI).

“What we are looking at is a first stab at documenting cannabis use among current and former players, including the types of cannabis being used,” says Marcel Bonn-Miller, who works on the study. “We are also going to document the impacts of cannabis use on players’ recovery from injury. We know NFL players get banged up a bit, from concussions to chronic pain to inflammation. There is mounting evidence that certain cannabinoids, like cannabidiol, might have some beneficial effects for these conditions.”

Monroe has asked the NFL to get rid of its policies that do not allow medical marijuana. He adds that he is the first active NFL player to speak out on the subject. On his website, he has called the NFL out and asked that policies change. He writes: “It’s time for the NFL to change its archaic standards to better protect its players and set an example for our young athletes (high school athletes are more commonly using drugs than their peers, and football players are most likely to use drugs). For too long, I’ve watched my teammates and good friends battle with opioid addiction and leave the game with a long road still ahead; it’s time to make a change.”

“Due to the NFL’s strict anti-cannabis policies, it’s difficult for current players to speak in support of the plant and its potential therapeutic uses,” a press release from The Realm of Caring, an organization supporting medical marijuana, said. “[Monroe] recognizes the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) for pain management and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and fully supports this research that could help professional and amateur athletes as well as anyone suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. Eugene hopes that his actions will influence the NFL in changing their policy on cannabis and recognize it as a viable treatment option.”