What about NFL cheerleaders and cannabis as laws change nationwide? Inside contracts, conduct rules, and where teams draw the line.
As the Super Bowl spotlight once again turns to the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, questions around cannabis in professional football continue to expand beyond players and into the wider NFL ecosystem. One which comes up with increasing frequency is simple but nuanced: what about NFL cheerleaders and cannabis or CBD? The most accurate answer is also the most familiar in modern sports policy— it depends.
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Cheerleading has been part of American football culture for well over a century. What began on college campuses in the late 1800s evolved into an NFL tradition in the 1950s, when teams began forming official sideline squads. Over time, cheerleaders became ambassadors for their franchises, representing teams not only on game days but also at charity events, military visits, and major moments like the Super Bowl. With visibility came strict standards of conduct still shaping the profession today.
When it comes to cannabis and CBD, cheerleaders exist in a different regulatory universe than NFL players. Players are governed by the non-profit NFL league-wide collective bargaining agreement including drug testing rules and penalties. Those rules have loosened considerably in recent years as public opinion and state laws around marijuana have changed. The league now imposes fines rather than suspensions for positive marijuana tests, and discussions around CBD and player recovery are increasingly mainstream. Former players have publicly credited CBD with helping manage pain and inflammation, and the NFL itself has funded research into cannabinoids as alternatives to opioids.
Cheerleaders, however, are not part of the NFL Players Association and are not subject to league drug testing. Instead, they are typically employed by individual teams or third-party management companies under contracts emphasizing personal conduct and brand representation. These contracts often include language about behavior which could reflect poorly on the organization, particularly while in uniform or at official events.
That is where the “it depends” comes in. In states where cannabis is legal, some teams appear to have quietly adjusted their expectations to reflect local law and cultural norms. Off-duty, legal cannabis use is not automatically prohibited in every cheerleader contract, especially in states like Washington, where the Seahawks are based. However, public use, impairment while representing the team, or activity conflicting with team image standards can still result in discipline.
In more conservative or medically limited states, or on teams with stricter conduct clauses, the door may be far less open. CBD products present another gray area. While federally legal if derived from hemp, many teams remain cautious due to quality control concerns and the risk of THC contamination, even though cheerleaders are not tested under NFL drug programs.
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As the Seahawks and Patriots prepare for the Super Bowl stage, their cheerleaders are focused on performance, travel, and high-profile appearances rather than policy debates. Still, their situation reflects a broader shift happening across professional sports. Cannabis is no longer a fringe topic, and in legal states, the conversation has moved from prohibition to discretion.
For NFL cheerleaders today, cannabis and CBD use is not governed by a single league rulebook. It is shaped by state law, team culture, and contract language. In some markets, the door is clearly opening. In others, it remains firmly closed.
