NFL players have spoken, and they believe allowing medical marijuana would greatly reduce the usage of chemical painkillers.

ESPN.com's NFL Nation and ESPN The Magazine recently surveyed 226 players (via ESPN's Kevin Seifert), asking various questions about pain treatment in the league.

The results were telling. Close to two thirds (61 percent) of the players said that the usage of pain-killing shots, like Toradol, would stop if marijuana was allowed. 64 percent said they have taken Toradol or another painkiller, with 60 percent worried about the long-term consequences of doing so. Another 42 percent believe they have or had a teammate who became addicted to painkillers.

Currently, marijuana is one of eight substances that the league has banned. It's legal, for medicinal purposes, in 25 states and Washington D.C. The side effects of marijuana are much lower than Toradol.

Finally, 71 percent of the players surveyed said that the league should make marijuana use legal. If more states legalize its usage over the next few years, the league will probably have to adjust its substance policies:

“It's legal where I live,” said one player, “but not where I work.”