Article by TG Branfalt Jr, Ganjapreneur

A group of former and current players for the National Football League is funding a cannabis oil study to determine its use as an effective alternative to opioid-based therapies,KPIX 5 reports. According to a 2011 study, NFL players are three times more likely to abuse prescription painkillers than the general public.

The study is funded by the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition, a nonprofit comprised primarily of former and current NFL players, and Constance Therapeutics, a California-based cannabis producer.

The 30 former players who participate in the eight-week pilot study must hold a California medical marijuana card, undergo a medical assessment before and after taking the oil, and provide a complete medical history, including their past cannabis use.

Chris Kluwe, a former punter who spent most of his seven-year professional career with the Minnesota Vikings, said the study could help a lot of players long term if the oil proves to be a viable alternative to opioids for pain relief.

“You’re essentially going through multiple car accidents over the course of, like, three-and-a-half hours,” Kluwe said in the report, describing the toll a professional football game has on the body.