Leagues say they won’t go to pot
Voter approval of recreational marijuana use in Colorado and Washington State ignited a burst of jokes on social media about how professional and college teams in those states would hold an advantage in attracting athletes who like to light up.
Reality shot down that smoke screen Wednesday.
“The NFL’s policy is collectively bargained and will continue to apply in the same manner it has for decades,” league spokesman Greg Aiello said. “Marijuana remains prohibited under the NFL substance abuse program, and the Colorado and Washington laws will have no impact.”
Responses from the NBA and Major League Baseball were almost identical. The NCAA said the votes would not affect its testing policy. NASCAR and Major League Soccer cited a looming obstacle: a potential challenge from the federal government over jurisdiction.
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, which prompted Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper to warn his constituents not to “break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly.”
“Anyone who thinks it’s a weed free-for-all in Colorado as a result of the legislation is mistaken,” said Bronson Hilliard, director of communications at the University of Colorado, where smoking anything on campus is against the rules.
If the law is enacted, students who are 21 or older will be allowed to use marijuana in private, but their fellow students who are athletes won’t be permitted.
“The NCAA banned-drug and testing policies are not tied to whether a substance is legal for general population use but rather whether the substance is considered a threat to student-athlete health and safety or the integrity of the game,” NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said.
John Infante, a former compliance officer at Colorado State and Loyola Marymount, said gradual reform might occur regarding penalties for athletes caught using marijuana.
“But I doubt it will ever be permitted, especially during the season, because, legal or not, coaches believe it will decrease performance, just like alcohol,” says Infante, an NCAA expert at AthleticScholarships.com.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said Wednesday that there had been no discussions on relaxing standards.
Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe told USA TODAY Sports, “It will never happen” in the NFL.
“Not in our lifetime, because of the way kids follow what NFL players do. If you look at Little League football, kids who play want to wear the pink towels and shoes for breast cancer awareness. They follow everything that the big guys do.”