Josh Gordon was one of the most promising talents in the National Football League (NFL).
Size? He has it at 6 feet, 3 inches and 235 pounds.
Speed? His nickname is "Flash."
Production? He led the league in receiving yards in 2013 with 1,646.
He's a freak athlete - one of those rare combinations of speed and strength that is almost impossible to defend. But his career has been derailed after repeatedly violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Ultimately, he's responsible for his decisions, but the NFL has needed an updated policy on cannabis use for players for some time.
Well, it looks like league executives finally see the writing on the wall. The prohibition approach they tried with Gordon and other players will be a thing of the past with a new policy that could change everything.
It's going to affect the cannabis industry in a big way, and I'm going to show you why today...
Potential Changes to the NFL's Policy
Under the new potential policy, players would not be suspended just for testing positive for cannabis.
The policy would reduce the number of players who could be tested. It would also shorten the time frame of when the tests could be administered.
Instead of the current time frame of four months, it could be reduced to just two weeks, which would be at the start of training camp.
I'm happy the players will have more options than just opioids for dealing with pain. As an aging gym rat, I know what it's like to wake up feeling like you got hit by a Mack truck after a tough workout.
I can only imagine the aches and pains NFL players deal with after each game.
But the bigger story here is actually about branding - and more specifically, influencers.
Cannabis Brands & Influencers
[mmpazkzone name="in-story" network="9794" site="307044" id="137008" type="4"]As sports leagues ease the prohibition of athletes using cannabis, you'll start to see more athletes talk about how CBD and cannabis-medicine have helped them improve their performances.
They'll sign on as brand ambassadors for certain companies.
Some athletes or former athletes will even start their own CBD companies.
And that's what will make big businesses more comfortable entering the cannabis market. I'm talking about Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) launching a CBD-infused Powerade and PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ: PEP) selling CBD-infused Gatorade.
After all, the athletes on their payroll will soon be allowed to use CBD products, so those two beverage makers will be looking for a way to cash in.
And when folks start seeing more CBD beverages on the shelves of their local grocery store, it will make the whole movement real to a lot more of those people.
CBD and cannabis will no longer just seem like a trend.
Joe Montana: “NOW Is the Time to Invest in Cannabis”
Through his investment fund, legendary quarterback Joe Montana started backing some of the most monstrous companies in the world way before they became household names. We’re talking tech industry giants like Dropbox – now worth $7.4 billion. Not to mention the $100 billion social media titan Pinterest. But now, he’s also got his eye on another market sector… and it’s going to surprise you. Click here to learn more.
The post What You Need to Know About the NFL's Proposed Cannabis Policy appeared first on NICI.
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About the Author
Don Yocham is Executive Director for the National Institute of Cannabis Investors (The Institute) and Director of Cannabis Investing Research for Money Map Press. Before starting his role with the Institute, he was the Head of Private Deals for the publication Cannabis Venture Syndicate. From his first foray into the trading pits of Chicago to introducing institutional investors to entirely new markets in the early 2000s, Don has pretty much covered the entire field of investing in his 25-year career. In the depths of the financial crisis, when the typical investor had lost more than half of their money, his portfolios were up.