Born: April 18, 1987

Hometown: Plainfield, New Jersey

College: University of Virginia

2009 NFL Draft: Round 1, Pick 8

NFL Career History: Jacksonville Jaguars (2009-2013); Baltimore Ravens (2013-2016)

“On March 9, 2016, I became the first active NFL player to openly advocate for the use of cannabinoids to treat chronic pain and sports-related injuries. It’s time for the NFL to change its archaic standards to better protect its players. For too long, I’ve watched my teammates and good friends battle with opioid addiction and leave the game with a long road still ahead; it’s time to make a change.” – Eugene Monroe

Eugene began his football career as an offensive lineman in high school, where he was ranked the number three player in the United States and graduated eighth in his class. Eugene was a unanimous All-ACC selection, voted the ACC’s top blocker, and was regarded as the most dominating offensive lineman in college football. He was drafted eighth overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. In October 2013, Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens orchestrated a trade to acquire the star left tackle. During his time in the NFL, Eugene was consistently graded as one of the League’s best pass blockers. On July 21, 2016, after 18 years of playing football, Eugene made the difficult decision to retire from the NFL so he could focus on his personal health and spend more valuable time with his wife and three children.

Since retiring, Eugene has become the lead advocate for medical cannabis research and policy reform in the NFL. Eugene demonstrates his commitment to education and policy reform by serving as a board member of the NFLPA Pain Management Committee and the HealthyUNow Foundation (supporting the Autism community), and is the Athletic Ambassador for Doctors for Cannabis Regulation. He is also co-author of the book Youth Sports: Start Here: Everything You Need to Know About Promoting Health and Preventing Injury for Your Young Athlete. Eugene looks to add value in communities by partnering, donating and investing in community programs and medical research, and educating the broader community by speaking at healthcare and medical cannabis conferences. He is also a partner at Green Thumb Industries (GTI), one of the country’s leading medical cannabis cultivation and dispensary facilities. At GTI, Eugene works towards bringing dignified and safe access to medical cannabis patients in need. Eugene is dedicated to educating the public on how these medications can be used safely and as non-addictive alternatives to prescription opioids.