The Current NFL Cannabis Policy: What Players Can and Can’t Do in 2025

The NFL’s cannabis policy in 2025 reflects a league attempting to balance evolving public attitudes, player wellness needs, and workplace standards. Cannabis is still officially prohibited, yet the practical rules surrounding its use have relaxed significantly. Today, players face fewer tests, lower penalties, and no suspensions for cannabis alone—but important limits remain.

How the Policy Evolved

The 2020 collective bargaining agreement marked the beginning of the NFL’s shift away from punitive cannabis enforcement. It eliminated suspensions for marijuana use alone, reduced testing to a short preseason window, and raised the threshold for a positive THC test. These changes acknowledged the widespread legalization of cannabis and the sport community’s growing interest in cannabinoids for recovery and pain relief.

Further updates in late 2024 raised the allowable THC limit again and reduced fines for violations. Instead of escalating suspensions, players now receive financial penalties that reset each year, preventing past positives from following them indefinitely. The policy also emphasizes treatment programs over disciplinary action, reflecting a health-first model rather than a zero-tolerance approach.

Today’s Testing Rules

For players, the biggest difference is the limited testing schedule. The NFL only tests for THC from the start of training camp through the first preseason game. Outside this short window, players are generally not screened for cannabis unless a legal incident or conduct issue triggers a test.

Every player still receives one annual substance-of-abuse test, but THC is excluded from this assessment. This setup means cannabis use is primarily a concern around training camp, not throughout the regular season.

What Players Can Do in 2025

Use cannabis most of the year, with timing in mind.
Since THC testing occurs only during a narrow preseason period, many players consume cannabis during the offseason to help with recovery, sleep, and stress. The raised THC threshold also gives athletes more buffer room, provided they stop early enough before the test window.

Avoid suspensions for cannabis alone.
The NFL no longer suspends players solely for marijuana use. Instead, violations lead to fines and, in some cases, entry into an intervention program. Careers are no longer derailed by repeated positives, a major shift from earlier eras.

Explore CBD for wellness.
The league and the NFLPA have funded studies on cannabinoids, particularly CBD, for pain and concussion-related symptoms. Players commonly use vetted CBD products, though they must ensure products contain no detectable THC to avoid unintentional violations.

What Players Cannot Do

Treat cannabis as fully permissible.
Even with lenient enforcement, cannabis remains a banned substance. A positive test during the preseason window can still result in fines and mandatory treatment. The NFL also does not grant therapeutic-use exemptions for cannabis, even in states where it is legal.

Be impaired at work or violate the law.
Players cannot attend practices, meetings, or games under the influence. Cannabis-related DUIs or legal charges fall under the league’s personal conduct policy and may lead to suspensions unrelated to THC testing.

Participate in cannabis endorsements while active.
Retired players promote cannabis openly, but active players remain restricted due to league sponsorship rules. Cannabis remains a prohibited commercial category for endorsements.

The Bottom Line

The NFL’s 2025 cannabis policy offers players considerably more freedom than in the past, reflecting cultural change and emerging science. Still, it maintains boundaries around workplace professionalism, testing windows, and commercial activity. For players, cannabis is no longer a career-threatening issue—but it’s far from unrestricted.