Is the NFL drug policy too soft?

[ABQCOWBOY]

Why aren't NFL and team execs randomly tested for drugs? Shouldn't they be subject to the same standards as players.

Owners are never subjected to the same things employees are. That's true in any walk of life. Get used to it because it's been that way since forever and will always be that way.

 

[YosemiteSam]

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

They are fired due to being hired at an "at-will employee". The problem is, the employee can use discrimination as the cause of the firing and all the sudden the employer must then defend themselves as if it's proved discrimination. The employee will have recourse again being fired.

Alcoholism is considered a disability under the ADA, and therefore is protected against discrimination in the workplace.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

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.

I don't know about this. There are studies, only come to light now, that suggest weed is a lot more serious an issue then has been publicized. I wouldn't bet on it becoming legal in the US any time soon but I guess we'll see.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

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 Once it spread, the US law will also be repealed.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.

Have you been to Colorado recently? I don't think this is true Sam. I think that Colorado is learning that their decision to make weed legal is creating a huge set of problems that they did not anticipate. It's starting to get very expensive and the entire reason they got behind this is not materializing. Colorado thought they would gain a windfall off of taxation and that's not really happening. Weed is and always has been a cash and carry business in this country. They have hundreds of years to master that practice. How are you going to consistently tax that?

 

[guag]

Why is pot Illegal again?

Racist, xenophobic, anti-Mexican lawmakers in early 1900's America.

 

[LittleD]

Racist, xenophobic, anti-Mexican lawmakers in early 1900's America.

Oh boy!!! get ready for the grenades to come your direction. No racism or politics on the zone fellow.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I'm happy to live in a state where marijuana is legal. Being able to just go to a store a few blocks from my house, look around, ask the dude behind the counter about the products, buy some, and then walk out just like a normal store is legitimately awesome.

The fact I can do that in my state and yet people who play for the NFL in the same city I live in can't do that seems silly to me. I mean, I understand why, but it's still silly.

 

[Sinister]

Have you been to Colorado recently? I don't think this is true Sam. I think that Colorado is learning that their decision to make weed legal is creating a huge set of problems that they did not anticipate. It's starting to get very expensive and the entire reason they got behind this is not materializing. Colorado thought they would gain a windfall off of taxation and that's not really happening. Weed is and always has been a cash and carry business in this country. They have hundreds of years to master that practice. How are you going to consistently tax that?

Sorry way off topic, I'm here to talk football and not to argue drug policy. I don't want this thread to close, but you really should read up on what is going on with Marijuana:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/health/charlotte-child-medical-marijuana/
I also have friends in Colorado who are seeing the benefits of Marijuana, their little girl has epilepsy and has been taking cannabis oils to help with her seizures. They say it is working, and I believe them.

Here is an interesting interview with the senior director of enforcement at Colorado Department of Revenue:
http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/...rwedidntanticipateproblemswithpotedibles.html

Jim Mcmahon (not the best source but interesting).
http://larrybrownsports.com/football/jim-mcmahon-marijuana-painkiller/294553

The medical improvements that are occurring right now with medical marijuana are a direct result of the wholesale change of attitude that Colorado made when they approved marijuana for use for everyone over 21.

Is it perfect in Colorado? No, absolutely not, but I think my friends would say that there is absolutely no regrets for giving their child a chance in this world. In fact the movement has created a whole set of families who left their families behind to give their children a chance at a better life.

http://www.wcpo.com/video/newsv/ohi...r-daughters-medical-marijuana-weed-revolution
https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/wisconsin-family-to-move-to-colorado-so-daughter-117202093802.html
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/10/health/medical-marijuana-refugees/

I could post hundreds of similar articles they are out there, but people need to educate themselves.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I don't know about this. There are studies, only come to light now, that suggest weed is a lot more serious an issue then has been publicized. I wouldn't bet on it becoming legal in the US any time soon but I guess we'll see.

You should check the poll numbers. Support for legalization is growing at a breakneck pace across the entire country.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Have you been to Colorado recently? I don't think this is true Sam. I think that Colorado is learning that their decision to make weed legal is creating a huge set of problems that they did not anticipate. It's starting to get very expensive and the entire reason they got behind this is not materializing. Colorado thought they would gain a windfall off of taxation and that's not really happening. Weed is and always has been a cash and carry business in this country. They have hundreds of years to master that practice. How are you going to consistently tax that?

It's an implementation problem. They will have hundreds of more years to get the growing and distribution figured out. (they did with Tobacco and Alcohol) A huge part of the problem right now is it's only legal in those states and now those states legal product is being illegally exported to the other states due to the quality of the product is much higher than the stuff being smuggled in from Mexico and similar countries.

 

[LittleD]

You should check the poll numbers. Support for legalization is growing at a breakneck pace across the entire country.

You couldn't be more wrong... Yes, in a few liberal states but not in the south and never in Texas.
Even if it was, the courts have sided with businesses who don't want drug users in the workplace.
You will still get fired if you use them and your employer finds out.

 

[YosemiteSam]

You couldn't be more wrong... Yes, in a few liberal states but not in the south and never in Texas.
Even if it was, the courts have sided with businesses who don't want drug users in the workplace.
You will still get fired if you use them and your employer finds out.

Someone here is wrong. So for now, you can speak to the hand!

https://lh3.***BROKEN***/-PVQolAQN3xs/VtRZoZgznPI/AAAAAAAA7Nw/dOFPsXnNa8E/w346-h194/stretching.gif

 

[LittleD]

Someone here is wrong. So for now, you can speak to the hand!

https://lh3.***BROKEN***/-PVQolAQN3xs/VtRZoZgznPI/AAAAAAAA7Nw/dOFPsXnNa8E/w346-h194/stretching.gif

Dude, you just stepped one toke over the line and now you're "dead to me".

 

[YosemiteSam]

Dude, you just stepped one toke over the line and now you're "dead to me".

I've never actually lived. I'm Live Undead!

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

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??

I have zero tolerance for zero tolerance

 

[Doomsday101]

You couldn't be more wrong... Yes, in a few liberal states but not in the south and never in Texas.
Even if it was, the courts have sided with businesses who don't want drug users in the workplace.
You will still get fired if you use them and your employer finds out.

Of course because a business can be held liable for the actions of their employees. There have been many cases where a worker under the influence caused an accident that either injured or killed another person and the business is sued.

 

[LittleD]

I'm happy to live in a state where marijuana is legal. Being able to just go to a store a few blocks from my house, look around, ask the dude behind the counter about the products, buy some, and then walk out just like a normal store is legitimately awesome.

The fact I can do that in my state and yet people who play for the NFL in the same city I live in can't do that seems silly to me. I mean, I understand why, but it's still silly.

Now, if you work? And, your employer tests you and you get fired, don't complain because we warned you.

 

[LittleD]

Of course because a business can be held liable for the actions of their employees. There have been many cases where a worker under the influence caused an accident that either injured or killed another person and the business is sued.

You are 100% correct. That is especially true in my industry (Electric Utility). They have a zero-tolerance policy and pot is
especially prohibited because it leads to diminished capacity.

 

[LittleD]

I have zero tolerance for zero tolerance

Well then, better hunker down there in Canada I'd say.

 

[guag]

Oh boy!!! get ready for the grenades to come your direction. No racism or politics on the zone fellow.

Well I think most of the comments and opinions pertaining to legalization in this thread are also political in nature... when it comes to this sort of topic, it's almost inevitable. The longer this type of thread goes on, the more likely the conversation focuses on the national and/or state legality of cannabis and/or alcohol. With that said however, it seems it's too late for me to make an edit. It's up the the mods now I suppose.