It appears that team’s are softening their position and changing their perception when it comes to marijuana and may not consider a failed marijuana test at the NFL combine as such a serious issue.
According to a report from Bleacher Report, team’s aren’t viewing a failed marijuana test in the same light as they have before.
“We just don’t care as much about marijuana as we used to,” one longtime AFC team official said, via Bleacher Report’s story.
With the focus not as much on marijuana, several team officials claim that they are putting far more emphasis on domestic violence and other severe criminal acts as opposed to pot.
While failing a pot test will cause a dip in a player’s draft stock, it is believed that that “dip” won’t be as severe as we have seen in year’s past.
While Miami Dolphins tackle and former Ole Miss prospect Laremy Tunsil fell in the 206 NFL Draft after a video surfaced of him smoking pot out of a gas mask bong, it doesn’t appear as though teams will be that harsh if something similar happens in the future.
Tunsil was widely projected as a Top 3 pick and was a #1 overall pick on many mock draft boards, but fell to the Dolphins at #13.
Even NFL suspensions are proving that the perception of marijuana is changing and some players aren’t even suffering a suspension for a failed test.
The NFL seems to be reacting to the shift in the United States stance on medical marijuana, with a number of marijuana dispensaries opening up around the country for both medicinal and recreational purposes.
On top of that, there are now a number of marijuana doctors that specialize in all things medical marijuana, which will only help push the new perception of marijuana.
Even the economy is changing their view as marijuana stocks are becoming a big thing in the US, and are becoming a game changer in Canada.
While the NFL, and all 32 teams, will likely never come out and say that marijuana is becoming more and more acceptable, it’s hard to ignore and dismiss the signs.
Times are changing and sports leagues are starting to change as well.