Is the NFL drug policy too soft?

[SilverStarCowboy]

Why is pot Illegal again?


I can't seem to remember a good reason.....except BECAUSE IT'S ILLEGAL!

 

[Shinaoi]

Also I'm a big believer in freedom. I don't understand the idea that I'm getting repressed so others should too. Shouldnt you argue that you should have the same freedom as others, and not that others should be as repressed as you are?

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I'm not overly concerned about recreational drugs. I think marijuana should be fully legalized, but don't get me wrong...what Randy Gregory did was stupid and irresponsible. Whether we like it or not, it's illegal in most states and it's against the rules in the NFL...so if he wants to play in the NFL, he has to abide by those rules.

There's many factors that have to be considered when it comes to drug tests. For instance, Josh Gordon's positive test was so small that it was deemed likely to be from 'second hand smoke.' Have a '1 and done' policy would mean that somebody like Sean Lee could happen to be at a party where somebody is smoking marijuana and he could test positive and 'be done' for the rest of his career.

I think the drug testing and penalties are about right. I would like to see better ways to test for HGH like the Olympics does, but I think they do a pretty good job unless Goodell steps in and screws everything up.





YR

 

[Doomsday101]

Marijuana is legal in many states. Therefore, marijuana needs to be legal for those NFL teams.

Because it is legal does not mean business in those state can't test employees for drug use and hire and fire based on the results of the test.

 

[Doomsday101]

I think the NFL has rules that they require players to abide by, in return a player has a chance to make more money than he would ever make doing anything else. I'm sorry but if you can't avoid drugs for a few years since that is all a career tends to last then you got a real problem. Hell if someone told anyone here that they would give you say 4 million over the next 5 years and in return you are to avoid any and all illegal substance would you do it? Current rules I think are soft when comparing them to what avg working class people faces who are required to take drug test. I would not change any of the rules currently in the NFL when it comes to giving players chances but there is nothing overly harsh about these rules

 

[LittleD]

Marijuana is legal in many states. Therefore, marijuana needs to be legal for those NFL teams.

Wrong, Pot is a federally controlled substance which is ruled by Federal Law at least for distribution. Just because they
don't enforce it doesn't mean it is not on the books, In the regular working world it you test positive for pot or any other
controlled substance, see how long you keep your job. I don't think that once and your out is a good practice but,
3 strikes and you're permanently out is a pretty good plan.

 

[Kevinicus]

I don't think the league should test for anything that isn't performance enhancing. I, and I suspect the vast majority of people, don't care what someone else puts in their bodies. That's their business.

I am okay with each team having their own policy as any negative effects with performance would impact them, and not the league. The PR argument is BS as the testing and suspensions sheds a lot more light on drug use in the league than arrests ever will.

 

[Bullflop]

I could see where it'd be a problem if the NFL took pot off the forbidden list and players started showing up for practice and games stoned. I'm inclined to think pot should be legalized but at the workplace, things could easily get muddled and messy. There's no clear solution to be legislated, other than to demand moderation but enforcing that could well be quite problematical also.

 

[Sinister]

"Because cannabinoid receptors, unlike opioid receptors, are not located in the brainstem areas controlling respiration, lethal overdoses from Cannabis and cannabinoids DO NOT occur." -- WebMD

Randy Gregory is an idiot not because he smokes weed, but because he is costing himself millions of dollars for smoking weed.

 

[cowboyblue22]

randy Gregory is the type of player you will never be able to trust as a team. He is a adult he knows pot is a banned substance where he works. He fails four tests not one four and his team will suffer for it most of next year missing four games willtake him three more to get in game shape that's if he don't smoke more and get it for the year.

 

[LittleD]

Guys, this argument is really bogus as to legal or not legal. Work rules in most states say that you can
be "fired at will" and tested regularly at work for drug use. Most companies will not take a continued risk
with an employee that uses drugs that are not prescription. Even then, if use of pot would expose the
company to lawsuits if something bad were to happen due to drug use, the company is never going to
fade that risk with insurance. Smoking, which is not legally banned is banned in most workplaces. Employees have to
obey the rules and pot/other drugs can get you fired quick. Same should hold true in the NFL because if someone
gets hurt and drugs were found to be central to that injury, the lawyers would have a field day.

 

[Doomsday101]

randy Gregory is the type of player you will never be able to trust as a team. He is a adult he knows pot is a banned substance where he works. He fails four tests not one four and his team will suffer for it most of next year missing four games willtake him three more to get in game shape that's if he don't smoke more and get it for the year.

I agree. People say weed is no big deal then what is the deal with smoking it when you know you will be tested yet are unable to stop? That is pretty sad that something that is not a big deal can control your life.

The drug in and of itself I don't care about nor do I care who smokes it or not, what I do care about is the reality which is it is a banned substance in the NFL and I expect players to stay off of it and get clean. It is not just themselves that pay the price the 52 other players on the team pay the price when players miss games due to their own selfishness

 

[Doomsday101]

Guys, this argument is really bogus as to legal or not legal. Work rules in most states say that you can
be "fired at will" and tested regularly at work for drug use. Most companies will not take a continued risk
with an employee that uses drugs that are not prescription. Even then, if use of pot would expose the
company to lawsuits if something bad were to happen due to drug use, the company is never going to
fade that risk with insurance. Smoking, which is not legally banned is banned in most workplaces. Employees have to
obey the rules and pot/other drugs can get you fired quick. Same should hold true in the NFL because if someone
gets hurt and drugs were found to be central to that injury, the lawyers would have a field day.

It really is that simple. I smoked weed for a long time, once testing was implemented and we were told the consequences of testing positive the choice was easy to make. My job means more to me than smoking weed, they are not asking my opinion they are setting down the rules it is up to me to choose do I want to work for them or not. Same can be said for players it is the players choice.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Would a zero tolerance policy (one strike and your out) keep NFL players from using drugs? The latest Gregory failed test got me thinking NFL players get an awful lot of chances. Many businesses around the country have such a policy. If I failed a drug test at my job I will be immediately fired. While I am not into illegal drugs it has kept me from taking any narcotic cough medicine or pain medication prescribed to my wife or kids that is left in our medicine cabinet for a cough, hurt back, etc.... Would this deter NFL players if they didn't get umpteen chances before they are permanently banned from the league??

People make mistakes, some learn from those mistakes. Others do not. Under this type of hardline, so many people who could end up successful would be condemned to failure due to one mistake.

Besides at the current rate. Marijuana will be legal throughout the country in the next few years. Two states already have it and Connecticut almost had it a couple of months ago. Several other states are on track to legalize it too. Whether you endorse it or not isn't the point. There are already lawsuits happening for people being fired in Washington and Colorado for companies firing employees for participating in something that is completely legal.

 

[Doomsday101]

Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that businesses can fire employees who use marijuana during their off-time, including those with a legal prescription for medical pot. The vote was 6-0

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-ff-colorado-high-court-employee-marijuana-20150615-story.html

 

[Clarkson]

oh, jesus christ.

it's funny for the NFL to be holier-than-thou about weed, but encourages rampant pain killer use. pain killers are far more addictive and far more destructive to the body. but those are ok! hand them out like candy! but don't DARE take a puff of that joint that makes you laugh and eat a little too much food.

they sweep the concussion issue under the rug, but steal player's pay for smoking weed. the NFL has been, and remains, corrupt.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that businesses can fire employees who use marijuana during their off-time, including those with a legal prescription for medical pot. The vote was 6-0

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-ff-colorado-high-court-employee-marijuana-20150615-story.html

Once the legalization becomes more wide spread, that will change. That ruling is solely based on the fact that the Federal Government still has it illegal. Once it spread, the US law will also be repealed. Once that happens, that ruling will be overturned just for the fact that the Federal Government will no longer have it as illegal.

 

[Doomsday101]

Once the legalization becomes more wide spread, that will change. That ruling is solely based on the fact that the Federal Government still has it illegal. Once it spread, the US law will also be repealed. Once that happens, that ruling will be overturned just for the fact that the Federal Government will no longer have it as illegal.

Maybe, then again alcohol is legal but companies can test for that as well. Right now what matters is it is a banned in the NFL and any player caught doing it will be suspended and if it was no big deal then why they hell can't players avoid it? You would think something so minor a player would have enough common sense to avoid it. I think any player who can't does have a problem. If a avg working class guy such as myself can stop over a job that pays around 60 grand a year you would think a person who can make millions would have enough will power to stay the hell away from it

 

[LittleD]

oh, jesus christ.

it's funny for the NFL to be holier-than-thou about weed, but encourages rampant pain killer use. pain killers are far more addictive and far more destructive to the body. but those are ok! hand them out like candy! but don't DARE take a puff of that joint that makes you laugh and eat a little too much food.

they sweep the concussion issue under the rug, but steal player's pay for smoking weed. the NFL has been, and remains, corrupt.

Yea, talk about holier-than-thou... The NFL is doing all it can to protect players from concussions but, you have to realize that this is a
dangerous sport and no one has to play NFL football. To play is totally by choice and anyone can refuse to play. Employment
work rules and courts have said that employers can test employees for drugs as often as they want. The rules are that if you want to
play NFL football you have to stay off drugs. How hard is that to do when you get paid so well for doing it. It's as simple as that.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Marijuana is legal in many states. Therefore, marijuana needs to be legal for those NFL teams.

It is illegal in many more but that's really not the issue. It's against the rules, according to the
CBA. The players agreed to it so all else is pretty much unrelated. If they want weed to be an exception, then negotiate that. I'm sure if the players were willing to give up something the owners were interested in, that could be an option. Until then, it's against the rules.