The nation’s laws, and its perspective, on marijuana are shifting, and the NFL is trying to keep pace. But, just as is still the case in nearly all of the country, using it in the NFL has a price, as top-five draft prospect Randy Gregory found out when he tested positive at February’s NFL Scouting Combine.

Still, could America’s most popular and profitable sports league legalize marijuana one day — not just medicinally but recreationally, as four states and the District of Columbia have done? Now that the NFL has updated its drug policy and reduced the punishment for a positive test, could a day come where players are no longer tested and no longer punished for using it?

“I’m not a doctor, but I will say I think as things change and evolve, where the league is and where the players association is, it brought us current,” said NFL executive vice president Troy Vincent. “And I think both organizations will continue to look and evaluate, so that certain substances are in the proper category.’’

On the other hand, it’s not likely any time soon, most observers agree — and it’s not because of the emerging research on its health benefits or its relative danger compared to other drugs, including alcohol. [Read more at The Sporting News]