Nearly three-quarters of 226 NFL players surveyed anonymously by ESPN are in favor of legalizing medical marijuana nationwide and more than half think if they were allowed to use it fewer players would need or use painkillers.
The survey, posted on ESPN.com under the headline "Cannabis Confidential," showed that the majority of players surveyed worry about the long-term risk of painkillers and more than 40 percent said they suspected a teammate "became an addict because of NFL painkiller abuse."
MORE: NFL players hope to start revolution for medical marijuana
Several former players have come out in recent years in favor of cannabis as a form of pain management.
Interestingly, while the NFL continues to stand firmly against medical marijuana, two-thirds of the players surveyed said it was not difficult to beat the league's drug tests for recreational drugs, an umbrella that includes marijuana.
ESPN surveyed 226 players, asking them questions on the state of pain treatment in the league.
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) November 2, 2016
The results https://t.co/Zhur9Bi59a pic.twitter.com/9gd5GBPtob
Former Ravens lineman Eugene Monroe is one of many current and former players advocating for the legalization of marijuana in the NFL.
It’s not even about bashing the current practices, but we now know that there’s a better way, that there’s a healthier way," Monroe told Sporting News for a special report last year. "It’s hard to be a member of a league where myself and all the other athletes sacrifice so much, especially with our bodies, and currently, the solution for our problems is being prescribed various pain pills, which have a highly addictive nature and damaging effects."
