Eugene Monroe Takes A Stance: He Is Absolutely Right

Eugene Monroe Is 100% right:

Eugene Monroe has become a voice for the use of medicinal marijuana in the National Football League. Monroe recently raised this voice for The Player’s Tribune. In his article “Getting Off The T-Train” he outlines his stance. Before reading Monroe’s thoughtful essay it felt like he had a strong point. After reading what he had to say, I completely agree with Monroe.

Monroe’s article details the use of opioid pain killers to treat the brutality of playing in the NFL. He argues that marijuana is the answer. He touches on his emotional connection to this issue and how he has seen drug addiction ruin lives. Monroe strikes a chord that we should be willing to hear.

That seems to be the story when it comes to marijuana in general. There is much debate about cannabis for a reason. It is a relatively harmless drug that is legally classified with heroin and cocaine. Most people believe it should be legal for medicinal purposes. Many people believe it should be legal all together. In Colorado and Washington it is.

There is a lot to talk about with this THC touting drug. It is easy to get lost in all the arguments on both sides of the issue. Monroe focuses us to the impact marijuana can have on professional athletes. Monroe writes that “The NFL and its athletes are not immune to the opioid epidemic in our country.”

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The argument that Monroe is making is pretty simple to understand. The NFL currently used pain killers that are dangerously addictive. Research has shown us over and over again that marijuana is less addictive and comes without many of the alarming pitfalls of depending on opioids. By investing into research of medicinal marijuana and allowing their players to use it, the NFL would be doing the responsible thing.

That’s Monroe’s thesis in a nutshell. That is the take home message and quite literally the moral of this story. NFL football creates pain, the least they can do is give the players the safest alternative of medication. Monroe understands that is an illegal substance, but he does not understand why the NFL seeks to punish use of marijuana. This excerpt of Monroe’s post to the Players Tribune is especially logical.

"I’m not here advocating for NFL players (or anyone) to get high and party while breaking the law. What I’m talking about is the responsibility of the NFL to care for its players. Nineteen players were suspended last season for testing positive for “substances of abuse,” and for some, their careers may be over. Why? For using something that can actually help people? How can a league so casual about the use of addictive opioids take such a hard line on a drug that might provide a safer alternative?"

I have never had any experience with marijuana. I never wanted to experience it. I must say that I am at the point where I think it should not be a big problem. Nicotine continuously does damage to millions of people every day; yet I have to dodge second-hand smoke on sidewalks. Alcohol abuse destroys the liver, and there are liquor stores in every shopping center. I don’t get why marijuana is the legal quagmire that it has become.

But I really don’t get the NFL’s high horse about it. It just seems like a frivolous pursuit of bad press. Every time a player fails a drug test for marijuana and is disciplined, it news. The NFL is desperate for good press. Roger Goodell seems to be addicted to media firestorms. He took Brady to court over and over again for deflated footballs. He has botched the situations with Ray Rice and Gregg Hardy. He may never be Mr. Positive Press, but turning a blind eye to an NFL player’s high could help.

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Monroe is taking a stand for something he believes in. He made very compelling points. Whether or not you agree with Monroe; you have to respect the way he brings this matter to our attention.

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