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Marijuana may be off limits to National Football League players, but that doesn鈥檛 stop many players from using the drug, according to a new report. A league general manager shared his views on聽pot prevalence in professional football, leaving some wondering if the strict consequences for marijuana violations are justified.

Two first-round draft prospects for the 2015 season have already had trouble with marijuana. After former Nebraska player Randy Gregory failed a drug test and former Missouri player Shane Ray was cited for possession, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report discussed marijuana with an NFL general manager, who estimated that around 30 percent of players in the league use marijuana.

In January former NFL players聽Marvin Washington, Brendon Ayanbadejo, and Scott Fujita argued that it's time for the NFL to rethink its marijuana policy in the Huffington Post:

The NFL's limits on marijuana are stricter than other leagues. In late 2014, the NFL relaxed its testing standards. USA Today reported:

The difference is slight. Major League Baseball allows 50 nanograms, and the organization that does Olympic testing (the World Anti-Doping Agency) caps the threshold at 150 nanograms.

The discussion around marijuana use in the NFL has garnered increasing attention. Marcellus Wiley, a retired defensive lineman for multiple NFL teams, says he thinks the number of NFL pot users is higher than 30 percent. He estimated that during his NFL career, which ended in 2006, up to half of NFL players used marijuana.

鈥淭hey are leaning on it to cope with the pain,鈥� said Wiley,聽reported the Huffington Post. 鈥淭hey are leaning on it to cope with the anxiety of the game.鈥�

In the NFL, players take a drug test once a year, in the offseason between April 20 and August 9. Violations lead to intervention programs. But players who test negative need not worry about testing again until the next year.

Ricky Williams, a former Pro Bowl running back, was suspended twice for failed drug tests. He told USA Today that he thinks the strict standards give the appearance of 鈥渧igilant enforcement,鈥� even though it is well known that many players smoke marijuana throughout the season.

鈥淚 think if you ask the NFL, they'd say the drug program is for our safety," Mr. Williams told USA Today. "But I think it's more to protect the image of the league.鈥�

The NFL Draft 2015 begins on April 30. Many speculated Mr. Ray would have been a first-round draft pick. Now, with a citation under his belt, he is viewed as a riskier player, and some suspect it may drop him to the third or fourth round. Such a drop could cost him millions.

Ray said in a statement:

Some have said that Ray鈥檚 citation for pot possession was less about the drug and more about bad decision making, especially so close to draft time. Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik told ESPN鈥檚 鈥淢ike & Mike鈥�: