Lions legend Calvin Johnson gets candid on whether or not NFL will ever legalize cannabis

Calvin Johnson will go down as one of the greatest wide receivers of his generation. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is now speaking out on the issue of cannabis in the NFL. Johnson appeared on The Richard Sherman Podcast regarding the league and whether they'll make cannabis legal.

He spoke about the state of the cannabis industry in Michigan prior to sharing his thoughts on the matter with Sherman.

Johnson said:

"You know, the cannabis industry is shaky in Michigan, but we're still standing strong. Cannabis is still a schedule one so it's still federally illegal. So I'm not sure if they are willing to move against, you know, the federal guidelines."

"But if they were to make a statement and you know, we believe in cannabis, the healing powers of the planet and we're not going to test our players for, you know, that they say that we carry a lot of weight."

Both the league and the NFLPA agreed on changes to the league's marijuana policy in the offseason in 2021. Players must now be tested for marijuana once a year at the start of training camp. Players who fail the test may be fined, but not suspended for an extended period of time as in the past.

Last year, the NFL dedicated a million dollars toward funding research into the advantages of cannabis and cannabidiol (CBD) in pain management for players. The University of California San Diego and the University of Regina were selected by the league to do a three-year study on the matter.

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Calvin Johnson and his Hall of Fame career

Calvin Johnson was drafted second overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2007 NFL Draft. The Georgia Tech star shined in his second season in the league, tying for the most touchdown receptions with 12. He would also lead the NFL in yards twice and in receptions once in his career, with 122 receptions in the 2012 season.

In total, the Lions' star wide receiver had seven 1,000-yard seasons and five 1,200-yard seasons. Calvin Johnson had 88 receptions for 1,214 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015.

He would call it a career following the season, retiring at the age of 30. The receiver took his rightful place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He's the Lions' all-time leader in receptions (731), yards (11,619), and touchdowns (83).