Ricky Williams says ‘at least 80 percent’ of current NFL players smoke weed

Former Miami Dolphins star running back Ricky Williams believes that at least 80 percent of the players in the NFL smoke marijuana.

“These days, at least 80 percent of NFL players smoke weed,” Williams guessed. “I don’t think they’re smoking before games – I think there might be one or two guys on the team. But especially this day and age, it’s everywhere, it’s so easy, and the NFL only tests once during training camp. My opinion, if you’re in the NFL, why wouldn’t you?”

The NFL recently relaxed its rules on marijuana usage, and it no longer suspends players if they test positive. That rule change was a part of the new collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

Instead, players are now subject to fines. The league doesn’t test for marijuana until training camps open in August each year, giving players time to use the drug in the offseason.

“Players will be tested for THC once training camps open in August,” Insider’s Jackson Thompson wrote. “However, the new CBA has also raised the threshold for a positive marijuana test from 35 nanograms to 150 and eliminates suspensions for positive drug tests. Instead, the NFL will issue fines for up to three weeks’ pay.”

Williams is a known advocate for marijuana and even started his own cannabis company called Highsman.

Williams retired from the NFL during his prime, missing the 2004 season before returning to the field. He was likely facing a suspension at the time for multiple failed marijuana tests.

Now, the running back has made weed a big part of his professional life, and his company sells the drug in five states: California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington.

Williams never was the same player after he retired, but he still went on to have a very successful NFL career.

He played with the Dolphins for seven seasons and was a Pro Bowler for the team in the 2002 season. For his career, he compiled 10,009 rushing yards and 66 rushing touchdowns.

Miami gave up a ton of draft capital to acquire Williams from the New Orleans Saints, giving up two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick.

Williams became the main focus in the Dolphins’ offense, rushing for 1,853 yards in the 2002 season and leading the league in carries in both the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

He had three 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Dolphins, but one can only imagine how amazing his career would have been had his positive tests for marijuana not held him back.

Now, NFL players don’t face the same penalties that Williams did, so he believes many more players participate in the usage of the drug.