Count NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell among the various leaders willing to experiment with marijuana.
USA TODAY Sports is reporting that Goodell has stated that the league would consider allowing its players to use marijuana to treat concussions and other head injuries as long as medical experts certify it as a viable treatment.
Goodell was in New York, appearing with General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt to announce winners of the "Head Health Challenge" that the league and GE co-sponsored.
More than 400 applicants sought to receive $300,000 grants for research into innovations and in diagnosis of head injuries, USA TODAY Sports reported.
"I'm not a medical expert, Goodell was quoted as saying. "We will obviously follow signs. We will follow medicine and if they determine this could be a proper usage in any context, we will consider that. Our medical experts are not saying that right now."
HBO's "Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel" recently reported that at least half of the players in the NFL regularly use marijuana. Many of those players use it for pain management.
USA TODAY added that both the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks play in the two states - Colorado and Washington - in which recreational use of the drug is legal, is adding to the popularity of the argument.
Currently, recreational marijuana is considered a banned substance under the NFL's drug policy. One of Goodell's mandates as Commissioner is to find a way to reduce the number of head injuries. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league's focus continues to be on reducing serious injuries of all sorts.
"Is the game safer than it was 35 years ago, or even five years ago? We would say yes, just based on the rule changes that prohibit a variety of dangerous techniques that were once allowed," Aiello said. "There are injuries in any sport, whether it's a 'contact' sport or (not). Things happen, accidents, all sorts of non-contact knee injuries.
"It's a risk in any physical activity, from running to riding a bike, playing lacrosse or soccer or football. Our mission is to continue to evolve the game, to make it better and safer."
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