Marijuana ban rescinded for minor league players

Marijuana will be removed from Minor League Baseball’s banned substance list, according to a joint announcement Thursday by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association.

The action will become effective for the 2020 season beginning with spring training, including for the Triple-a Aviators.

“Times are changing,” said Don Logan, Aviators president, who last week was named Minor League Executive of the Year by Baseball America. “Things in baseball and the world are changing.”

Marijuana already is not among the substances for which Major League Baseball players are tested for during random drug tests, though players could face disciplinary action if found to be under the influence of the drug.

Marijuana will now be treated like alcohol at both levels of professional baseball. If a player has an off-field incident involving violence and is suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or marijuana at that time, he could face disciplinary action. Treatment also could be sought by a team if a player is suspected to have a substance abuse problem with either alcohol of marijuana.

The exclusion of weed from minor league testing comes as new substances are being added to the testing list for the majors. Those substances were already tested for in the minor leagues.

Drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, opioids, fentanyl and synthetic THC, will be part of the random drug test protocol in the MLB.

“The opioid epidemic in our country is an issue of significant concern to Major League Baseball. It is our hope that this agreement — which is based on principles of prevention, treatment, awareness and education — will help protect the health and safety of our players,” MLB Deputy Commissioner and Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem said in a statement.

The policy shift followed the opioid-related overdose death of Anaheim Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs earlier this year and marijuana becoming legal in many states, including Nevada.

Players who test positive for prohibited drugs will be admitted to a substance abuse treatment program and not suspended. Players who fail to cooperate with their initial treatment plan may be subject to discipline.

If a player is found to be under the influence of marijuana during a game or practice, it would be treated the same as alcohol and the player would face disciplinary action.

Contact Mick Akers at makers@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on Twitter.