Jerry Jones and NFLPA working to change NFL Marijuana policy

[Sage3030]

Not sure about Moss except to say he was a unique athlete, but Stepnoski used it for pain management/after games no?

That and recreation as well. He was the president of the Texas chapter of NORML for a while.

http://norml.org/advisory-board/item/mark-stepnoski

 

[waldoputty]

The National Institute of Drug Abuse would consider how much weed Randy Moss or Mark Stepnoski smoked to be serious abuse. They played the game at the highest level.

regarding moss/stepnoski, when did the pot policy get enforced seriously?
is gregory just completely incompetent beyond bipolar?

 

[Alexander]

I worked with a former offensive lineman for the Cowboys in the early '80s and I heard some stories. It was wild. That's all I'll say.

No question. The Landry Cowboys, yes, those teams of virtue, were just like the Steelers with steroids.

 

[Idgit]

Is the role of my employer law enforcement? Is the role of most of them? Yet they have drug policies in place. We can be tested and if we test positive, we can be fired. I don't see anything different here.

If you take part in a legal activity, then your employer has the right to take action on that activity. Right now, smoking marijuana is an illegal activity on the federal level. The NFL is not law enforcement because it cannot put you in jail for that activity, but it can punish you as your boss, and I agree that it should as long as it is illegal.

It's the difference between action being mandatory and action being at the league's discretion.

I wonder if they really need to change the policy all that much to begin with. Is the league obligated to test players randomly? Do they have discretion re: what that means? And are they obligated to follow through with testing once a player gets in the program? If not, or if the NFLPA can allow that to be discretionary as long as it doesn't exceed the current standard, the league could just internally adopt a don't-ask, don't-tell policy and stop testing for pot. It's stupid. It hurts the players. And it gives the league an unnecessary black eye each time somebody gets popped and suspended for a weed infraction. They need to be looking for performance enhancing drugs. If individual teams have issues with their employees using recreational marijuana inasmuch as it affects their performance, they can write their recourse into their contracts and fine or discipline their personnel accordingly.

 

[waldoputty]

You get it.

problem is that only 3 or so players are suspended?
so what real incentive does the nflpa have?

 

[Gaede]

Where would the NFL be without the players? Eventually these billionaire owners need to realize that without people to play, their stadiums would be empty and their merchandise wouldn't sell.

It's ridiculous the profits they make, and they have the gall to 'get something back' from the players for treating them like human beings and allowing them to live their lives

 

[Proof]

Is the role of my employer law enforcement? Is the role of most of them? Yet they have drug policies in place. We can be tested and if we test positive, we can be fired. I don't see anything different here.

If you take part in a legal activity, then your employer has the right to take action on that activity. Right now, smoking marijuana is an illegal activity on the federal level. The NFL is not law enforcement because it cannot put you in jail for that activity, but it can punish you as your boss, and I agree that it should as long as it is illegal.

This is dumb. Employers have the right to test for and punish as they see fit. They do not have a responsibility to test for and enforce punishment "because it's illegal ".

Should you get fired for receiving a speeding ticket? Downloading a movie? Bringing back a box of Cohibas on vacation? Also police aren't running around piss testing citizens. If you get caught with weed in your possession by police and arrested, the league should probably punish you as well. Beyond that it's ridiculous.

 

[Alexander]

problem is that only 3 or so players are suspended?
so what real incentive does the nflpa have?

Pain management for the mass population of NFL players. This is not a new thing. It is just marijuana is more "accepted" and more players believe they can beat the system. And a lot do.

It will take real leadership and advocacy from the NFLPA to make it work.

 

[haleyrules]

Will it matter? The commish and a lot of owners think Weed is dangerous.

Goodell is a lapdog. Its the old farts that run the NFL that make this stupidity work. The league simply needs to get with the fan base and just stop testing. What good does it do the NFL or the PA to destroy young people for no logical reason or cause!!?? A famous American President once said, long, long ago..." My General wants me to hang a 15 yr old boy for an act of cowardise in the face of the enemy...to hang a boy for being afraid...seems unfair to me and excessive...I mean, what good would it do him...

 

[StarBoyz83]

So maybe Gregory can play in 2020?

 

[waving monkey]

Weed is dangerous. And for the sake of all the players, the commish should ban anything that endangers their health...besides football, that is.

Look, I am not a user but show me how weed dangerous?

 

[waldoputty]

Pain management for the mass population of NFL players. This is not a new thing. It is just marijuana is more "accepted" and more players believe they can beat the system. And a lot do.

It will take real leadership and advocacy from the NFLPA to make it work.

but are the players already gaming the system?
or are you saying they can use it a lot more frequent if allowed?

 

[slomoxn]

If Randy Gregory has anxiety or depression he may have a good lawsuit on his hands

I've said this may be an issue before concerning him; they've never checked to see if he has anxiety issues. Smoking weed may help him focus by slowing things down for him. My sister is a child psychologist and we've had this issue come up in our family in which the person was self medicating. She diagnosed him after several conversations and helped him deal with his issue which is general anxiety disorder. Problem she said with self medicating is it stops working eventually and you move on to harsher drugs for the same effect. I'm sure he cares but given his career for his sanity and not knowing how to deal with it he chooses a little sanity. Not saying that's the problem but....

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Look, I am not a user but show me how weed dangerous?

You can't complete full sentences?

Just kidding, WM. The post was meant to be sarcastic. When Goodell came out and said marijuana was bad for players, he was displaying his hypocrisy. Football is bad for players yet he is all for it.

 

[Doc50]

Weed is dangerous. And for the sake of all the players, the commish should ban anything that endangers their health...besides football, that is.

Seriously, a player can be prescribed THC by using the Rx drug Marinol, strictly for medical purposes, much like other such substances that are banned in the workplace, like opiate analgesics. In most cases, the metabolites of these Rx drugs are specifically identified on drug screening, and the patient is safe due to his prescription.

Now, I'm not saying that the team Doc should be writing blanket Rx's, but a bona fide diagnosis through appropriate subspecialists may warrant THC therapy, and in such a case the NFL should allow such treatment since the medical field does.

A similar conundrum exists with the use of low-dose amphetamine salts for the treatment of ADD or ADHD.
If your car is searched ('cause you look suspicious) and your bottle of Adderall is found in the glove box, there is not a problem as long as it it current, has your name on it, and the count is correct relative to the dosing schedule.

OTOH, if you have crushed a few of those pills and put them in a sandwich ziplock, your dumb*** is goin to the slammer.

Even if you have some lose pills, intact, no printing on them, just laying in the drink holder, you're probably gonna be hauled in on suspicion.
They have to stay in the bottle even if you have an Rx, or you might be diverting them; that would be a controlled substance uncontrolled.

So, weed in its raw form is still federally illegal, just like methamphetamine. In Rx pill form, on a controlled dosing schedule and monitored by a certified professional, it's not.

 

[Alexander]

but are the players already gaming the system?
or are you saying they can use it a lot more frequent if allowed?

It is like a lot in our society. Protect us from our own stupidity. Legislate it. Then it gets twisted into other avenues.

I don't have sympathy for players that flunk tests now. But I know enough about society in general to know the tide is shifting. Couple that will opiod use, which is far worse and rampant, it is a smart compromise.

 

[haleyrules]

So maybe Gregory can play in 2020?

2120!!

 

[Doc50]

I've said this may be an issue before concerning him; they've never checked to see if he has anxiety issues. Smoking weed may help him focus by slowing things down for him. My sister is a child psychologist and we've had this issue come up in our family in which the person was self medicating. She diagnosed him after several conversations and helped him deal with his issue which is general anxiety disorder. Problem she said with self medicating is it stops working eventually and you move on to harsher drugs for the same effect. I'm sure he cares but given his career for his sanity and not knowing how to deal with it he chooses a little sanity. Not saying that's the problem but....

He's been evaluated by several psychiatrists.

 

[waldoputty]

Seriously, a player can be prescribed THC by using the Rx drug Marinol, strictly for medical purposes, much like other such substances that are banned in the workplace, like opiate analgesics. In most cases, the metabolites of these Rx drugs are specifically identified on drug screening, and the patient is safe due to his prescription.

Now, I'm not saying that the team Doc should be writing blanket Rx's, but a bona fide diagnosis through appropriate subspecialists may warrant THC therapy, and in such a case the NFL should allow such treatment since the medical field does.

A similar conundrum exists with the use of low-dose amphetamine salts for the treatment of ADD or ADHD.
If your car is searched ('cause you look suspicious) and your bottle of Adderall is found in the glove box, there is not a problem as long as it it current, has your name on it, and the count is correct relative to the dosing schedule.

OTOH, if you have crushed a few of those pills and put them in a sandwich ziplock, your dumb*** is goin to the slammer.

Even if you have some lose pills, intact, no printing on them, just laying in the drink holder, you're probably gonna be hauled in on suspicion.
They have to stay in the bottle even if you have an Rx, or you might be diverting them; that would be a controlled substance uncontrolled.

So, weed in its raw form is still federally illegal, just like methamphetamine. In Rx pill form, on a controlled dosing schedule and monitored by a certified professional, it's not.

so my question is whether d9-thc would be detected by the drug test?

 

[Alexander]

Look, I am not a user but show me how weed dangerous?

Gateway. I don't have to show you. I just can cite examples of stupid people who moved on to worse to prove it. Stop asking questions.