Roger Goodell Unwilling to Change Substance Abuse Policy

Jan 31, 2014; New York, NY, USA; NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the media at Rose Theater in advance of Super Bowl XLVIII. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is not ready to change the NFL substance abuse policy on marijuana at this time. Even though a couple of states have legalized the drug, Goodell still is not ready to allow it in the league for the players.

Reporters asked Goodell if he was willing to take a random test for marijuana and he responded:

“I am randomly tested, and I am happy to say that I’m clean,” Goodell said during his state of the league address.

Goodell said the he was willing to consider changing the policy based on some research on it’s effect on people with concussions. That study still is incomplete, so Goodell is not willing to make the change just yet.

The league’s substance abuse policy will remain the same for now. If more and more states legalize marijuana, then I don’t know how he would be able to prevent players from doing it in their spare time. The results from the study on marijuana and concussions will also help legalize the drug in the NFL.

Should Goodell change the substance abuse policy now?