Eugene Monroe, the Baltimore Ravens lineman who donated $80,000 for medical cannabis research earlier this year, announced his retirement from the NFL earlier this morning. Monroe’s retirement leaves Tennessee Titans linebacker Derrick Morgan as the only current NFL player publicly urging the league to lift the ban on the use of medical cannabis.

Monroe, an 29-year-old offensive tackle, played five years for the Jacksonville Jaguars and three for the Baltimore Ravens before being released by the Ravens in May. He’s been outspoken about getting the NFL to lift its ban on medicinal marijuana use by players.

According to the New York Times, Monroe said recent injuries played a part in his decision to retire. Monroe missed several games due to injuries last year, including four games because of a severe concussion.

“It is a very demanding sport on your body, and it’s taken a toll on me time and time again,” Monroe said. The former Ravens lineman has damaged both his knees, has had surgery on one of his shoulders, and has an array of chronic ailments and injuries that have not required surgery. “They have accumulated to the point that I deal with enormous pain on a daily basis,” he said. “Just getting out of bed, especially during the season, can be difficult.”

It’s time I put my health and my family first. It’s time for me to retire. https://t.co/nW83Djhk0d

— Eugene Monroe (@MrEugeneMonroe) July 21, 2016

In announcing his retirement, Monroe voiced concern about continuing to ply his trade in a workplace that hands out addictive prescription pills like candy.

“I don’t want to have to continue to consume pills to do that; I don’t want to do that,” he said. “Anti-inflammatories or opioids, which I certainly don’t want to take, that is certainly the option to stay within the rules of the game.”

Monroe’s retirement doesn’t come as a complete surprise. Retirement before age 30 is quickly becoming the new normal in the NFL. A number of recently retired players, including Calvin Johnson, Marshawn Lynch, Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, Anthony Davis, Jerod Mayo, Jason Worilds, Jake Locker, and B.J. Raji, were all 30 or younger when they announced their retirement.

Those are just the well-known names from the past two seasons. Last year alone, 19 NFL players who were 30 or younger retired from the sport, continuing an upward trend in recent years.

Header photo by Jeffrey Beall