Having seen the reports about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) being found in the brains of 87 out of 91 deceased NFL players, having seen the movie Concussion, and having heard the stories of former players dealing with lingering effects from football injuries, seven-year veteran Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan has joined Eugene Monroe in asking the NFL to research cannabis’ potential benefits on long-term health. More specifically, the players are calling for league research of cannabidiol (CBD), a compound in cannabis that is found to reduce inflammation and neuropathic pain without getting users high, as an alternative to the current standard treatment of harmful and addictive opioid drugs.
Morgan’s research also included the 2013 CNN documentary Weed about then-5-year-old Charlotte Figi, whose family successfully turned to cannabis as a last-ditch effort to significantly reduce her epileptic seizures.
“After researching, finding out more and more about it, I realized this is something guys should know about,” Morgan told Yahoo! Global News. “You don’t have to take it, but you should at least know about it if it’s going to help you protect your brain and protect your body.”
Morgan is joining Monroe to become the second active player on the “When the Bright Lights Fade” campaign, an initiative started in Colorado to raise funds and awareness for CBD research for NFL players.
“I feel like the NFL has a responsibility to look into it, to delegate time and money to research this for its players…Given how much influence that the NFL has on society, I think it would help the greater good. There’s a lot of people suffering and a lot of people that can benefit from cannabis as a medical treatment,” Morgan said.
Morgan isn’t concerned about the reaction to his stance.
“In thinking of the benefits that will come from spreading the awareness and the knowledge about this substance, I think greatly outweighs any backlash or ramifications that might come about it,” he said in the Yahoo! interview with Katie Couric. “It’s about not only us, but former players, future players and more so society as a whole.”
The Titans have not yet responded to a request for comment.
“I think it’s a lack of education. The stigma overrides everything,” said Morgan, a father of two and an MBA candidate at the University of Miami. “(The NFL has) to protect the shield, as they always say. But until you educate yourself, you can’t just be ignorant of it.”
Morgan, like Monroe, says he has never taken CBD because of the league’s policy.
“All I’m asking for is research,” Morgan said. “I’m not asking to let guys smoke weed and get high. I’m not asking for that. I’m just asking for the NFL and the NFLPA to take a look at the research.”
Morgan, who recently met with Atlanta mayoral candidate Ceasar Mitchell in support of his plans for the city, thinks coaches, league officials, and teammates will inevitably come around.
“Everybody has to go through a process…I went through a whole education process myself before I was comfortable coming out and talking about it…But I think that to be a responsible human being in looking out for your own health…once more guys see the research that’s backing this up, they’ll be more of an advocate for it,” Morgan explained.
Morgan, a 2010 first-round draft pick, has recorded 27.5 sacks for the Titans in 76 career games. He signed a four-year, $27 million contract in 2015 with $10.5 million guaranteed. His 2015 season was cut short by a shoulder injury, and the Titans held him out of team drills during organized team activities and minicamp.
