The NFL may participate in a marijuana study exploring the effects the substance has as a form of pain management amongst players after the league offered to work with the NFL Players Association on the issue.
Last year it emerged the union was looking into allowing the use of marijuana amongst athletes to help manage pain.
At the time, NFLPA assistant executive director of external affairs George Attalah confirmed this on social media when he replied to a tweet claiming that a committee was being formed to explore the medicinal use of marijuana.
"Yes. It's a committee that will look at pain management for NFL players, not a marijuana committee. Nuanced but important distinction," he said.
The NFL is still to confirm its cooperation in the marijuana related research but sources familiar with the deliberations told The Washington Post the league had shown an interest in working together with the NFLPA.
In a letter addressed to the union, the NFL highlighted potential areas for research that included using marijuana for acute and chronic pain management.
This comes after NFLPA’s executive director, DeMaurice Smith, revealed earlier this year that the union would submit a proposal to the league calling for a more relaxed approach to the players using marijuana recreationally.
"I do think that issues of addressing it more in a treatment and less punitive measure is appropriate," he told The Washington Post.
"I think it’s important to look at whether there are addiction issues. And I think it’s important to not simply assume recreation is the reason it’s being used."
Rolling Stone magazine noted that, in April, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he wouldn't lift the ban on marijuana because it was addictive and may not offer long-term health benefits to players.
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