Is the NFL drug policy too soft?

[Doomsday101]

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.

Of course we live in law suit happy nation, we sue each other at the drop of the hat, you have a person in a company car get high or drunk and ends up in an accident injuring or killing another person that family is going to file suit on the business since the individual seldom will have any money to speak of. From a business stand point you better believe I would test employees if I am going to be held accountable for their actions.

 

[LittleD]

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.

It was meant as a very friendly warning. I agree that this type of thread can get out of control in a hurry. In this case though, it is
a work place rule voted on by the union and written into the CBA. Players should know and follow the rules they accepted in
their contract. It's really a mute issue up and until the CBA comes up again.

 

[Doomsday101]

People can argue this all day about testing, legalization and so on. One thing it does not change and that is the reality of now and that is all NFL players are subjected to drug test and if they fail them they can be suspended. As a fan what I expect of the players who wear the Cowboys uniform is follow the rules until you quit playing or move on to another team, after that if you want to get stoned 24 hours a day I could care less.

 

[Sinister]

People can argue this all day about testing, legalization and so on. One thing it does not change and that is the reality of now and that is all NFL players are subjected to drug test and if they fail them they can be suspended. As a fan what I expect of the players who wear the Cowboys uniform is follow the rules until you quit playing or move on to another team, after that if you want to get stoned 24 hours a day I could care less.

I agree to a certain extent and I don't want to give everyone a pass, but there is anecdotal evidence that marijuana might help with concussions, relieve chronic pain and even kill some types of cancer cells. As these issues come to the forefront are we willing to just deny people their livelihoods because we disagree with what they put in their body,

I completely agree that as it stands right now if the NFL says it is against the rules then players should hold to that, but if it turns out that marijuana does help with CTE then what?

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree to a certain extent and I don't want to give everyone a pass, but there is anecdotal evidence that marijuana might help with concussions, relieve chronic pain and even kill some types of cancer cells. As these issues come to the forefront are we willing to just deny people their livelihoods because we disagree with what they put in their body,

I completely agree that as it stands right now if the NFL says it is against the rules then players should hold to that, but if it turns out that marijuana does help with CTE then what?

In terms of business, I would say I don't want stoned people or drunk people handling many different jobs in America from pilots to plant operators and many other jobs. Again business is held accountable for your actions it is them who will be held liable for their actions. I don't see anyone hollering business should not be held liable for what their employees do.

In terms of football and other sports it is not a big issue one way or the other but I will say any substance that has control over you is not good and for many players who will sacrifice millions over weed really shows that some clearly do have issues.

 

[Sinister]

In terms of business, I would say I don't want stoned people or drunk people handling many different jobs in America from pilots to plant operators and many other jobs. Again business is held accountable for your actions it is them who will be held liable for their actions. I don't see anyone hollering business should not be held liable for what their employees do.

In terms of football and other sports it is not a big issue one way or the other but I will say any substance that has control over you is not good and for many players who will sacrifice millions over weed really shows that some clearly do have issues.

Many of the strains of marijuana that are beneficial actually have no or very low THC (the substance that gets you high). The bigger issue is testing marijuana and the different strains and how they affect people who have different conditions.

If, for example, a low THC strain of marijuana was found to help with concussions on a certain player would the NFL deny that player that medicine because marijuana is banned by the league?

The truth is I don't know of there is a low strain or high strain that helps with concussions, because all the evidence is anecdotal and untested.

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug as deemed by the the Federal Government so there are huge obstacles to testing marijuana.

The fact is unless you are dumb enough to enter the drug testing program in the NFL. The NFL will most likely not catch the player if they are using marijuana to self-medicate.

Gregory is just not very bright and probably is addicted to marijuana and might need help, but it's hard to have sympathy for a multi-millionaire who is throwing his livelihood away to get high. On the other hand the NFL is probably looking the other way knowing that a large portion of the players in the NFL are self-medicating.

Where is the line drawn? The line is drawn if you are dumb enough to get caught using and enter the NFLs drug program...

 

[JoeyBoy718]

Do you like watching the NFL?

Because if you institute a one strike policy, it's not going to be the same product on the field.

And the NFL isn't a normal job. It's more like a trust than a normal employer, and it's in the entertainment industry. Should someone be banned from their collective profession because they failed a drug test? It might make sense in the case of liability and malpractice, but this isn't such a career.

Really, the only reason drug testing is enforced in this instance is for PR purposes for the league, and maybe to a slight extent throwing some hesitation into some guys that might get tempted to adopt a partying lifestyle now that they're getting paid.

There are plenty of professions that don't drug test regularly. In fact, most non corporate jobs just see it as an added expense.

Good point. People act like the NFL is a normal "job." You can fired from McDonald's for smoking pot and still get a job at Burger King down the street. Heck, you can probably get a job at the nearest McDonald's. You don't get fired from a team in the NFL. You get blacklisted from an entire league and really the only league like its own in the world. Your career is ruined. Not the same as getting fired from McDonald's.

 

[YosemiteSam]

In terms of business, I would say I don't want stoned people or drunk people handling many different jobs in America from pilots to plant operators and many other jobs.

I'm pretty sure everyone agrees with this statement. Though what I person does when they're not at work pretty much isn't any of your business providing it doesn't affect you or your business.

 

[Doomsday101]

Many of the strains of marijuana that are beneficial actually have no or very low THC (the substance that gets you high). The bigger issue is testing marijuana and the different strains and how they affect people who have different conditions.

If, for example, a low THC strain of marijuana was found to help with concussions on a certain player would the NFL deny that player that medicine because marijuana is banned by the league?

The truth is I don't know of there is a low strain or high strain that helps with concussions, because all the evidence is anecdotal and untested.

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug as deemed by the the Federal Government so there are huge obstacles to testing marijuana.

The fact is unless you are dumb enough to enter the drug testing program in the NFL. The NFL will most likely not catch the player if they are using marijuana to self-medicate.

Gregory is just not very bright and probably is addicted to marijuana and might need help, but it's hard to have sympathy for a multi-millionaire who is throwing his livelihood away to get high. On the other hand the NFL is probably looking the other way knowing that a large portion of the players in the NFL are self-medicating.

Where is the line drawn? The line is drawn if you are dumb enough to get caught using and enter the NFLs drug program...

Morphine has a medical use and I would not hold the use of any drug that can help a person. As for NFL testing I don't think the NFL is looking the other way I think the way the rules are set up that a player can flunk drug test up to 4 before they are suspended. I have no doubt some guys who have tested positive and have been warned have taking the warning seriously while others continue on until they are caught.

All I know is I am also subjected to drug test, last year 4 months in a row I was tested and had I failed there would not have been a 2nd chance I would have been terminated. I know the rules many of us avg workers must abide by are much less than what is placed on NFL players so I have no sympathy to those who are dumb enough to throw away a once in a life time opportunity over something as meaningless as weed. Frankly weed is not that important or at least should not be

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Guys,

Lets get this discussion back to football. I acknowledge the fact that I helped to get it off point and for that, I am sorry. I should not have done that so mea culpa.

If you want to discuss the social and political ramifications of weed, please do so over PM. We should not continue to discuss it in open forum. It is a political issue as well as a social one. Lets get back to football.

Sorry and thank you,

ABQ

 

[Doomsday101]

I'm pretty sure everyone agrees with this statement. Though what I person does when their not at work pretty much isn't any of your business.

That is true however it becomes much harder to prove exactly when a person last smoked weed. Did he some on his way into work that day or was that the past weekend? Very hard to tell and when an accident happens one of the 1st things done will be a test and if results come back showing a positive then tell it to the jury which I doubt they will buy. So it puts business in a dilemma of doing what they must do to protect themselves.
Is it fair that a person on cocaine can pass a drug test much easier than the guy who smokes weed since the drug does not stay in the body for a long period of time? NO but that is how it is.

 

[DandyDon52]

Funny, one of the sports top figures got hooked on pain meds, Favre. The team gave those to him. Prescription drugs are now the hottest, and most abused things on the market. Yet, team docs still give them out like candy.

There has to be way they can make smoking pot ok, or less punishment. Grow up NFL, it's the new millennium already!

The only way is to make it legal on the federal level, so write your congressmen, and if they are not for legalization vote them out.

The pharmaceutical and beer/ alcohol industry does not want pot legal.
They probably lobby against it.

The nfl's biggest sponsor is the beer industry, I think one beer is the official beer of the Cowboys lol.

So I would think that if the nfl went soft on pot, the beer industry would threaten to pull their ads, or cut back, which would
then affect the next tv contract.

Pot is legal in a few states, and I salute those states, but really the legality is a grey area since it is still illegal
in federal law.
The feds could go into those states and bust whoever they want, then try them in federal court.

So the whole key is to get pot legal on the federal level.
But 2 big industry's against it, and politicians like their lobby money.

So vote out the current senators and Rep's, and keep voting out whoever is in till they get the message.

 

[cowboyblue22]

it still stands is illegal in the nfl if u want to play in the league you don't use it. Its up to an adult player to know that he cant do that and the consequences that will follow, he has failed not one but four tests and one more fail and its 10 games. so he has to stop if he wants to play for the dallas cowboys in the nfl.

 

[DFWJC]

Or is it too hard? Maybe take pot off the list.

This.

It certainly isn't performance enhancing, unless it's a Doritos eating contest.

 

[Doomsday101]

Good point. People act like the NFL is a normal "job." You can fired from McDonald's for smoking pot and still get a job at Burger King down the street. Heck, you can probably get a job at the nearest McDonald's. You don't get fired from a team in the NFL. You get blacklisted from an entire league and really the only league like its own in the world. Your career is ruined. Not the same as getting fired from McDonald's.

Your right not a normal job but it has every right to set the rules which the players union agreed to. It is set up that a person has to fail 4 times before a 4 games suspension is handed down.

 

[cml750]

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 disagree with you as far as learning from mistakes but that is something I and many more people in this country are not privileged to when it comes to drugs. If I smoked pot and then tested positive in a random drug test, I lose my job. Now the pot legalization debate has been raging for years and I agree it is finally starting to swing toward it being legal but at this time it is still illegal. I am just curious if the NFL had a zero tolerance policy if it would deter some people from doing it. I am not advocating it rther just posting the question if they had to follow the same rules so many American have to follow to keep their job, would they do it?

 

[YosemiteSam]

I don't disagree with you as far as learning from mistakes but that is something I and many more people in this country are not privileged to when it comes to drugs. If I smoked pot and then tested positive in a random drug test, I lose my job. Now the pot legalization debate has been raging for years and I agree it is finally starting to swing toward it being legal but at this time it is still illegal. I am just curious if the NFL had a zero tolerance policy if it would deter some people from doing it. I am not advocating it rther just posting the question if they had to follow the same rules so many American have to follow to keep their job, would they do it?

It's an interesting question for sure. If every America that smoked marijuana was fired. There would be a ton of unemployed people and a ton of job openings. I'm willing to bet, some of those companies would change their policy just so they could get people to fill the job. Hiring good people is hard to do. Especially when you're hiring for a skilled position.

 

[cml750]

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.

Being religious I cringe when anyone takes the Lords name in vane (that is not to debate just how I feel). On the painkiller thing, if they are given prescriptions then that in effect "legalizes" the painkillers. Even with the zero tolerance policy where I work we can take pain killers prescribed to us as long as we are not on them at work.

 

[cml750]

It's an interesting question for sure. If every America that smoked marijuana was fired. There would be a ton of unemployed people and a ton of job openings. I'm willing to bet, some of those companies would change their policy just so they could get people to fill the job. Hiring good people is hard to do. Especially when you're hiring for a skilled position.

If they knew they would be fired for smoking it in the first place, I believe many would not do it in the first place. Again, I am not arguing whether it should be legal just pointing out the differences in the average worker vs. NFL players.

 

[cml750]

Guys,

Lets get this discussion back to football. I acknowledge the fact that I helped to get it off point and for that, I am sorry. I should not have done that so mea culpa.

If you want to discuss the social and political ramifications of weed, please do so over PM. We should not continue to discuss it in open forum. It is a political issue as well as a social one. Lets get back to football.

Sorry and thank you,

ABQ

Agreed. I was just pointing out the difference between the NFL policy vs. the policy that many Americans have to live with