NFL's First Medical Marijuana Advocate Released by Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday released tackle Eugene Monroe, an outspoken advocate for the consumption of medical marijuana among NFL players.

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"Despite the current uncertainties, one thing is for sure: whatever happens in terms of my professional football career, I will never stop pushing for the League to accept medical cannabis as a viable option for pain management," Monroe said in a statement Thursday via Twitter.

Monroe recently donated US$80,000 to medical researchers at Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania in order to evaluate the impact of cannabinoid therapies on current and former NFL players.

“I can't say for sure whether or not my stance on medical cannabis was the reason the Ravens released me," the offensive tackle told The New York Times immediately following his release from the organization.

In May, Monroe became the first active player to openly lobby for the use of medical marijuana to combat pain from injuries.

The NFL currently plays in 20 franchised states where medical marijuana is legal

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Monroe, who has been plagued with injuries, started only 17 games in two seasons since receiving US$17.5 million in guaranteed money as part of the five-year US$37.5 million deal he signed with the team in 2014.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh insisted Thursday that the decision to release Monroe was due to football related issues.

“Football circumstances, 100 percent football circumstances. That’s it, that’s all it ever was. It’s well documented the circumstances and situation,” Harbaugh stated.

Since his contractual split with the Raves, the San Francisco 49ers have shown preliminary interest in Monroe, a source told ESPN.