Matt Black calls it a step in the right direction.

The Toronto ArgonautsB次元官网网址� veteran defensive back fully supports the legalization of marijuana in Canada. Recreational pot use becomes legal across the country starting Wednesday.

The issue of marijuana use isnB次元官网网址檛 a big deal in the CFL. It tests only for performance-enhancing substances and not recreational drugs like cannabis.

B次元官网网址淭hat, to me, is so much bigger than the game of football but I think itB次元官网网址檚 a step in the right direction,B次元官网网址� Black said. B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of energy and money going into the criminalization and locking people up through marijuana thatB次元官网网址檚 really unfortunate and unnecessary.

B次元官网网址淗opefully once the, no pun intended, smoke cloud clears and people realize itB次元官网网址檚 not going to be as crazy as they think itB次元官网网址檚 going to be and itB次元官网网址檚 not going to turn Canada into the wild, wild west, the attention to it will die down and life will continue as normal.B次元官网网址�

Marijauna remains on the World Anti-Doping AgencyB次元官网网址檚 banned-substance list. A CFL spokesman said the league is expecting little to no change with the drugB次元官网网址檚 legalization in Canada.

B次元官网网址淟ike many businesses and employers, we are working to assess the potential impact of the legalization of marijuana later this month,B次元官网网址� the spokesman said in an email. B次元官网网址漈his is uncharted territory, of course, but at this point it appears the effect on the CFL will be minimal.B次元官网网址�

The CFL and its players will begin talks this off-season on a new collective bargaining agreement. The spokesman added the league will continue testing only for performance-enhancing drugs.

B次元官网网址淲e expect all of our employees, those working in our business offices as well as those who compete on the field, to act responsibly and in compliance with the law,B次元官网网址� the spokesman said. B次元官网网址淭hat obviously includes not coming to work impaired from any substance.

B次元官网网址淲e have faith our employees will display that sort of common sense. Medical marijuana has been legal for several years. The use of any medication is a matter between physician and patient. The league would not interfere in that relationship.B次元官网网址�

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But Jonathan Hefney, a former defensive back who played six years with Winnipeg, Calgary and Montreal before suffering a career-ending neck injury in 2015, told the Winnipeg Free Press last weekend a huge majority of CFL players use marijuana.

B次元官网网址淚 guarantee thereB次元官网网址檚 90 to 95 per cent of those boys smoking weed out there,B次元官网网址� Hefney said. B次元官网网址滻 know our meeting room used to have a good smell to it.

B次元官网网址淪ay when we do the whole-team room, you know who the smokers are because theyB次元官网网址檙e all in the same section. Everybody just did their thing and it was on the low. I donB次元官网网址檛 know if itB次元官网网址檚 all a secret still but the players, they know who smokes or not.B次元官网网址�

For many players, marijuana is a much more favourable pain remedy than possibly addictive prescription drugs. Veteran Toronto tackle Chris Van Zeyl, in his 10th CFL season, sees many benefits to the new legislation.

B次元官网网址淚 honestly donB次元官网网址檛 know anything about marijuana but I know it helps many people,B次元官网网址� said Van Zeyl. B次元官网网址滻 think medicinally it will allow us to explore those remedies a little further and hopefully we can use it for the right things.

B次元官网网址淭here are many other evils in this world we permit and we create boundaries around them. The legal aspect of it, I trust the government will do the right thing.B次元官网网址�

Running back Ricky Williams spent the B次元官网网址�06 CFL season with the Argos while serving an NFL suspension for a fourth violation of its substance abuse policy. He was suspended multiple times during his NFL tenure for marijuana use.

The former Heisman Trophy winner, who retired from football for good in 2011, has advocated for the legalization of marijuana in the U.S. In April, Williams launched his own line of marijuana-based products called Real Wellness by Ricky Williams.

Although he played just one season in Canada, Williams had a lasting impact upon the league. In November 2006, then commissioner introduced the Ricky Williams rule, which prevented a player suspended by the NFL from playing in the CFL.

But it was grandfathered so players already in the league like Argos tackle Bernard Williams B次元官网网址� who was suspended by the NFL for drug use and didnB次元官网网址檛 seek reinstatement when the ban ended B次元官网网址� could continue playing here.

Recently, the CFL has suspended players for using steroids, D-amphetamine and methylenedioxyamphetamine, a psychedelic hallucinogenic drug closely related to ecstasy. But it did nothing last off-season when Duron Carter, then a receiver with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, received two separate marijuana possession charges.

In June, Carter, now with Toronto, pleaded guilty to a possession charge in Winnipeg and received an absolute discharge. HeB次元官网网址檚 scheduled to stand trial Dec. 3 after pleading not guilty to another marijuana possession charge in Saskatchewan.

Carter said marijuana is a hot-button topic among CFL players.

B次元官网网址淲e had this discussion in the locker room actually B次元官网网址� guys are on both sides of the fence,B次元官网网址� Carter said. B次元官网网址淚 think people need to be responsible.

B次元官网网址淛ust because all of a sudden itB次元官网网址檚 legal that doesnB次元官网网址檛 give you the where-with-all to be crazy or do anything that you wouldnB次元官网网址檛 normally do.B次元官网网址�

Carter also praised Canada for being a progressive country.

B次元官网网址淐anada is one of the most forward-thinking countries IB次元官网网址檝e been in,B次元官网网址� said Carter, in his sixth CFL season. B次元官网网址淐anada has always been a step ahead and I think this is another step ahead in providing people a service to help them.B次元官网网址�

But Black offered a different perspective.

B次元官网网址淚n certain areas yes weB次元官网网址檙e progressive but in other areas weB次元官网网址檙e really not,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e saying weB次元官网网址檙e going to legalize marijuana but people still arenB次元官网网址檛 responsible enough to go to the corner store and buy alcohol on a Saturday afternoon.B次元官网网址�

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

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