Do professional athletes know about the best indoor cannabis seeds? Now that National Football League (NFL) players can smoke weed, subject to conditions, some may consider growing a personal stash.
It’s not surprising to know that sports performers use cannabis. Studies indicate the herb contains medicinal properties that help relieve pain and aid injury recovery. These benefits are critical for athletes who push their bodies to the limit.
The NFL allows players to smoke weed
The NFL has been very stringent on players smoking marijuana, suspending, sacking, and even permanently banning those who fail drug tests. In April 2021, the body eased its stand under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The league no longer tests for Delta 9 THC-carboxylic acid during the April to August off-season. The change means NFL players can smoke weed over the summer without worrying about consequences. Random checks resume when training starts in August.
With the new development, will more players openly declare using weed? Probably, as some NFL athletes already admit to using marijuana, and others have set up businesses related to the herb. Big names like Calvin Johnson, Marshawn Lynch, and Rob Gronkowski are either investors or endorsers of various cannabis products.
NFL players who admit to smoking marijuana
Here’s a list of NFL stars who smoked weed during their career. Some paid a high price for the practice under the earlier league rules.
Randy Moss
Randy Moss admitted during the prime of his career in 2005 that he had used cannabis since joining the NFL in 1998. The NFL Hall of Famer said it on an episode of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
Ricky Williams
Ricky Williams had a reputation for using weed during his professional career and faced two suspensions. He played for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, and Baltimore Ravens. Williams caused a stir in 2018 when he hosted a Super Bowl party, supplying weed to his guests.
Michael Vick
Michael Vick was one of the few NFL players smoking cannabis who admitted it while playing professionally. He told a 2010 radio interview that he regularly used marijuana. Vicks was also caught in possession of it at a Miami airport in 2007.
Calvin Johnson Jr.
In an interview with Insider, Calvin Johnson talked about using weed in college and smoking after every NFL home game he played. The Hall of Famer said the inspiration for his cannabis brand, Primitiv, came from his frequent use of it during his NFL career. His company in Michigan sells marijuana in plant form, concentrated THC wax, and THC-infused edibles.
Percy Harvin
Percy Harvin, a former NFL wide receiver, said in a podcast that he smoked cannabis before every league game. “There’s not a game I played in that I wasn’t high.” He claimed he took several drugs for his anxiety disorder and only marijuana helped. During his playing career, Harvin was Rookie of the Year in 2009 and won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014.
Randy Gregory
Next on the list of NFL weed smokers is Randy Gregory. He was an outside linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys from 2015 to 2021. During that time, he received several suspensions for marijuana use. There are indications he’s turned a new leaf. Joining the Denver Broncos in 2022, Gregory was clean in 2021, passing multiple drug tests.
Josh Gordon
Josh Gordon received six suspensions for weed use during his time with the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, and Seattle Seahawks. When asked by GQ, Gordon said he had weed in his system probably every game of his career. He didn’t face any violation while with the Kansas City Chiefs and signed for the Tennessee Titans in 2022.
Shaun Smith
Shaun Smith, a former defensive lineman, told Bleacher Report Magazine that he smoked weed before every fixture of his nine-season NFL career. He was one of several retired players interviewed. He said, “I smoked two blunts before every game.” Smith played with the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans.
Darren Waller
Darren Waller is a success story for NFL smokers for overcoming his addiction which began as a youth. Drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, he received suspensions for failed drug tests, including marijuana use. He claims to be sober since signing for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2018.
Laremy Tunsil
Laremy Tunsil joined the Miami Dolphins in 2016 despite a leaked 2014 video showing him smoking cannabis. The decision to sign the offensive tackle was unanimous, as the Dolphin’s homework showed Tunsil was a good kid. He didn’t fail any drug tests in college. The move paid off for Tunsil, who became a two-time Pro Bowl left tackle. He moved to the Houston Texans in 2019.
Martavis Bryant
Martavis Bryant joined the Pittsburgh Steelers after the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He missed the first four games of the 2015 season after failing a drug test. Testing positive again for weed in 2016, the league suspended Bryant for the whole season. He last played for the Oakland Raiders in 2018 after an indefinite ban. His application for reinstatement in 2019 failed.
