Under the proposed new CBA, the NFL will no longer suspend players for smoking weed.
NFL players will no longer be suspended if they fail a drug test for smoking marijuana. Under the proposed new CBA, the penalties for players testing positive for THC will be reduced and suspensions will be eliminated.
This doesn’t mean former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Greg Robinson who was arrested with 157 pounds of marijuana in his car would not be subject to a suspension by the NFL personal conduct policy.
You know, if he’s not in prison after being charged with possessing 157 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute.
With recreational marijuana now legal in 11 states and Washington D.C. and medicinal sales legal in another 22 states, many wondered why the NFL would continue testing for it and suspending players for using it.
It is legal in the states many of these players live but it’s still a banned substance at their job.
And when you consider the NBA, MLB and NHL have dropped their drug-testing policy for marijuana or removed it from their list of banned substances, it was only a matter of time until they got chilled out.
Former players such, including but not limited to, Chris Long, Ricky Williams and Kyle Turley have advocated for the benefits of marijuana compared to using prescription drugs which are handed out like Halloween candy.
NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero tweeted the news about the elimination of suspensions for marijuana and fans were quick to commend the NFL.
The list of players who have been suspended for marijuana use is too long to list. Wide receiver Josh Gordon may be the poster boy for marijuana use in the NFL. He’s been suspended several times, including one for an entire year that was later reduced to 10 games, and is currently suspended indefinitely after his latest failed test for violating the policy on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse.
Cowboys defensive lineman Randy Gregory is also facing an indefinite suspension stemming from his failed tests for violating the substance abuse policy.
The NFL had to give the players something if they are going to ask them to play a 17-game regular-season schedule and cap what they can earn in that 17th game. It’s why Houston Texans star J.J. Watt is already vocalizing his displeasure with the proposed CBA.
Welcome to the new NFL where the players can get just as lifted as the fans watching from home.