Marijuana Use Should Be Accepted in All Pro Sports
The NBA season is now in full force after the shortest offseason in the league’s history. There were many trades and free agent signings during the offseason, but one of the biggest pieces of news of the offseason was the major change to NBA’s Drug Test Policy. Before the season began, the NBA announced that they would continue not be testing players for marijuana for this upcoming season. They did not test when they were in the “bubble” in Orlando. When this news came out, the only thing I could is, “It’s about time.” For many years, marijuana use has been looked down upon from medical professionals, pharmaceutical companies and even at times the government. However, the more research that has been done the more people have found the positives to using marijuana. It can help with chronic pain, chronic illness, and mental health issues. It has also been proven to be safer than some prescription medications. Marijuana is technically on the banned substances list for the NBA, but due to the circumstances we are in they have suspended.
When these circumstances are over, the NBA will still have punishments for positive marijuana tests unless they remove marijuana off the prohibited substances lists. The current punishments in the NBA include treatment and counseling for the first offense, a $25,000 fine for the second offense and a five-game suspension for the third offense. MLB, NFL, and the NHL currently do not punish their players for positive tests. They look at each situation case by case and often may send an athlete to the treatment board where they may be sent to a treatment program. From my perspective, the only time there should be treatment when it comes to marijuana is when an athlete is showing up to a game “high out of their mind.” I do believe that you should not be allowed to use marijuana on gamedays until after the game is over and you are in the hotel room. If you show up to a game “high” than you should be punished a little more severely. It would be like showing up to a game drunk, and we all know that would be frowned upon.
While some sports have been more relaxed on their stance on marijuana use, there are other sports who still will not allow it and have punishment for those who test positive. It is still on the prohibited list for NASCAR, which is surprising considering that a few years ago, Denny Hamlin revealed that seventy percent of the drivers were taking Adderall. I am no expert, but Adderall seems more dangerous to take than marijuana. Years ago, NASCAR was so against marijuana, they forced Carl Edwards to remove a marijuana sponsor from his car. Considering, NASCAR is still allowing alcohol sponsors in the sport, I found that to be very hypocritical. In NASCAR, if you test positive for anything on their prohibited substance list, the drive is suspended indefinitely and must undergo a treatment program as well as applying for reinstatement. Like the other sports I mentioned, NASCAR drivers should be allowed to use marijuana once the race and race weekends are over. The only way punishment occurs is if a driver gets behind the wheel “high.”
The other sports organization that still has punishment for marijuana use is the UFC. Since the UFC must be regulated by State Athletic Commissions, each commission has their own rules. Nevada is still behind the times when it comes to relaxed rules when it comes marijuana use. If a fighter tests positive, they lose a percentage of their fight purse, face fines and may even be suspended. Most other State Athletic Commissions and USADA have relaxed their stance on marijuana use. In years prior, testing positive for marijuana resulted in a huge punishment for a fighter. In 2015, after his second offense of testing positive for marijuana, Nick Diaz was suspended for five years. Later, when USADA got involved with the UFC, the suspension was reduced. This would not be the first time that strict rules in the past for using marijuana would hurt an athlete’s career. Former NFL Running Back Ricky Williams had a tumultuous career due to testing positive for marijuana. He studied holistic medicine when he was not playing football, which is partly the reason he failed the drug test multiple times. Ricky Williams could have gone down as one of the all-time greats had there been more relaxed rules when it comes to marijuana.
When I look at the grand scheme of things, I would rather hear about an athlete getting “high” than about an athlete dying of a drug overdose, being under the influence other drugs or alcohol and making terrible choices at it relates to those substances or medications. Allowing marijuana use in all professional sports would cut down the use of opioids and other drugs that athletes use to manager their pain. I honestly think had been marijuana been allowed to be used, I also feel like steroids would not have been as big of an issue as it was in the 80’s and 90’s. Many athletes used steroids to recover from injuries faster, but eventually it became an excessively big issue to due roid-rage and the preconceived notion that those who took steroids had an advantage. I believe the day will come where all major sports will allow the use of marijuana without any punishment. Until then, the athletes and the fans who understand the positives of marijuana use will have to be patient.
