For decades the NFL suspended players for cannabis while simultaneously tolerating opioid dependency. The 2020 CBA changed that. Here is the complete history and what it means.
The NFL began drug testing in 1987 as part of its Substance Abuse Program. Cannabis was included from the start despite its fundamentally different pharmacological profile from performance-enhancing drugs. The programme tested for cannabis metabolites (THC-COOH) which can remain detectable in urine for weeks or months after use — metabolites that have no relationship to impairment at the time of play. A player who smoked cannabis during the off-season could test positive weeks into the season for metabolites of an activity that had no bearing on their performance or safety. The original threshold for a positive test was 15 ng/mL — extremely sensitive compared to workplace drug testing norms of 50 ng/mL. The programme sent players with multiple positive tests for suspension: one to four games depending on the number of violations. Star players including Randy Moss, Marshawn Lynch, Josh Gordon and Ricky Williams were suspended or had careers derailed by cannabis violations. Josh Gordon, one of the most talented wide receivers of his generation, missed 39 games to cannabis suspensions between 2014 and 2019. These consequences were widely viewed as disproportionate to any actual harm. Learn about the broader sports policy context in our cannabis and sports guide.
The NFL cannabis prohibition existed in parallel with an opioid crisis inside the league that was documented but largely ignored institutionally until advocacy from players and researchers forced attention. A 2011 Washington University study surveying retired NFL players found that 52% reported misusing prescription pain medication during their NFL career, and 71% of those obtained medication from non-medical sources (teammates, coaches, trainers). Players described being given opioids by team physicians and trainers as a matter of course to enable injured players to continue performing. The collision between opioid tolerance and cannabis prohibition was stark: a player could receive prescription oxycodone from a team physician to play through a significant injury, but was subject to suspension if he used cannabis in the off-season for pain management. Former players Eugene Monroe and Marvin Washington became the most prominent advocates for changing this equation, arguing publicly that cannabis was a safer alternative to the opioids that had created addiction problems in a substantial portion of the player population. Washington, a Super Bowl champion, co-founded iAnthus Capital Holdings to invest in the cannabis industry after his advocacy work demonstrated commercial opportunity aligned with his beliefs.
The 2020 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and NFLPA, ratified in March 2020, included the most significant changes to the NFL's cannabis policy since testing began. Key changes: the testing window was reduced from four months to two weeks at the start of training camp (effectively eliminating off-season testing); the positive test threshold was raised from 35 ng/mL to 150 ng/mL; first positive tests trigger clinical evaluation and optional treatment rather than automatic fines; and suspension is now reserved for players who refuse treatment or show a pattern of repeated violations. The NFL also committed to funding joint research with the NFLPA into the use of cannabis and other alternative pain management methods. The practical effect was immediate: cannabis violations declined substantially in 2020 and subsequent seasons as fewer players triggered the higher threshold and off-season use became effectively invisible to the testing programme.
The 2020 CBA cannabis reform had ripple effects beyond the NFL itself. It validated the argument that cannabis prohibition in professional sports was a policy choice rather than a safety necessity. The NBA, WNBA and NHL all implemented similar or more progressive changes within three years. College football and basketball programmes, operating under NCAA rules that remain more restrictive, began facing pressure to follow. The change also created a significant commercial opportunity: former NFL players are among the most credible spokespeople for cannabis wellness products in sports markets. The Marley Natural brand, CBD companies including JuJu Royal (co-founded by former players), and multiple cannabis companies have built their marketing strategies around athlete advocacy. The cannabis celebrities landscape now includes a substantial cohort of former professional athletes. Read the scientific case for cannabis in recovery in our CBD guide and relaxation effects page.
Yes, but with significantly reduced scope since 2020. Testing is limited to a two-week window at training camp start. The threshold for a positive test is 150 ng/mL (raised from 35 ng/mL). Positives trigger clinical evaluation, not automatic suspension for first violations.
Josh Gordon missed 39 games to cannabis suspensions and is the most prominent case. Ricky Williams retired in 2004 citing cannabis prohibition as a factor. Randy Moss, Marshawn Lynch and dozens of others received fines or suspensions.
The NFL's substance abuse programme treated cannabis as a drug of abuse based on its Schedule I federal status. Prescription opioids, being Schedule II with medical approval, were permitted with physician prescription. This created the paradox of teams prescribing addictive opioids while suspending players for non-addictive cannabis use.
The NBA effectively ended random cannabis testing in 2023. The NFL still tests during a training camp window with a high threshold and offers treatment rather than suspension for first positives. Both leagues have moved significantly away from zero tolerance since 2020.
CBD itself is not prohibited by the NFL. However, NFL players cannot guarantee that commercial CBD products are free of THC above the 150 ng/mL threshold. The NFL recommends caution with CBD products given the risk of THC contamination in inadequately tested products.