The NFL has been clear with its views on marijuana use within the professional football league: nope.

Last year, a player was suspended for using weed to cope with Crohn's disease all because marijuana falls under the league's controlled substance policy, with no exceptions for medical use.

But that could be changing soon.

SEE ALSO: NFL players get one step closer to pot as a pain treatment

The Washington Post reported late Monday that the NFL has offered to work with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) to study the effects of marijuana use for pain management. The union has been working on its own marijuana study.

The news about a potential collaborative study comes shortly after a massive study from Boston University on the chances of suffering brain damage in the form of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, from playing the sport.

According to the WaPo, the NFL wrote a letter to the players association and offered to work together. Joe Lockhart, NFL executive vice president of communication, told the news outlet, "We look forward to working with the Players Association on all issues involving the health and safety of our players."

We reached out to the NFLPA for additional comment.

This isn't an official change in policy or anything close to it. But this is a first step toward the NFL opening up to the possibility of using marijuana for chronic and acute pain management.

Related: See the best-selling NFL jerseys this week:



10 PHOTOS Best-selling NFL jerseys this week See Gallery Best-selling NFL jerseys this week 10. Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) 9. Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 8. Marshawn Lynch, Oakland Raiders (Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) 7. Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (Max Faulkner/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) 6. Von Miller, Denver Broncos (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images) 5. Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) 4. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) 3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) 2. Tom Brady, New England Patriots (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) 1. James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

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