Comments on: Legal marijuana use begins in Washington State, but NFL policy still bans it

By: thesmartestmanever

thesmartestmanever — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:53:41 +0000

it will never hold up in court. The NFL is the world’s most private Club, you’d have a better chance being a free mason. as long as there are no Federal funds going into the league they can set any policy they see fit. Remember congress couldn’t force teams to play blacks in fact the Washington Redskins were one of the last teams to do so. as a black man and a skins fan I’m not proud of this fact, but my point remains no court can force the NFL to alter it’s drug policy

By: ducksk

ducksk — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:51:38 +0000

Now after eating all the snacks in the house by halftime I will fall asleep and never see a 2nd half again. Of course if its soccer or NASCAR May not make it awake thru anthem.

By: myroncopesflask

myroncopesflask — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:55:21 +0000

This just in Nate Newton and Bam Morris are pull out all stops to buy a majority stake of the Seahawks. Plans are in place to include unlimited starbucks and sticky icky in all signing bonuses.

By: root4cleveland

root4cleveland — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:48:15 +0000

@ folkcrusader

Seattle will have a new NBA squad in no time renamed the Seattle Smoke.

====================================

…and I know where they can find the tax revenue to built them a stadium to rival that of the Dallas Cowboys. Here’s a hint: a retractable roof is probably going to be a valuable option, equipped with exhaust fans.

By: spac3mansp1ff

spac3mansp1ff — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:34:40 +0000

As long as marijuana use is not affecting a player’s production, then the NFL should support legalization. I’d rather have my players getting baked in their homes than have them binge drinking in the clubs. I’d be willing to bet that we would see a reduction in the number of player arrests for violent altercations.

By: csilojohnson

csilojohnson — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 12:22:02 +0000

Great step in the right direction. Stupid law though. What good is legalizing possession when it’s still illegal to buy it. Can we just for once have a law that makes just a little sense?

By: jetfanfolife

jetfanfolife — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 11:22:48 +0000

Rats, this means Santonio Holmes will likely stay with the Jets.

By: TheWizard

TheWizard — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 10:09:58 +0000

Anyone with a meaningful occupation is subject to random drug testing.

This new freedom will only benefit the slackers, who will become worse slackers now.

By: johnnyquick

johnnyquick — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:17:35 +0000

You want to see the league change its weed policy. Have ALL players smoke it.

We’ll see if the league will close shop for four weeks or more.

By: ishudbgm

ishudbgm — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 07:11:21 +0000

I hope the NFL makes it legal for players in Washington by next season and cause of it Lynch runs for over 2k yards by week 10.

By: ilovefoolsball

ilovefoolsball — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:27:30 +0000

Adderall is a legal substance if you have a prescription yet the NFL still has a ban on that.

By: 49erforlife

49erforlife — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:26:54 +0000

I see a flood of Free Agents wanting to sign with Seattle teams (NFL, MLB, MLS) in the neat future! And just imagine the college recruiting trips to UW!!

By: cynicalvision

cynicalvision — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:48:42 +0000

Today is a great day in the history of common sense.

By: kash71

kash71 — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 05:33:36 +0000

I also think the NFL can get away with this as long as it is illegal on a federal level. On the next election cycle in 2014, maybe consider voting for a candidate that will help you puff up in the safety of your own home.

By: parasonic

parasonic — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 04:49:29 +0000

just bc it is legal the employees have agreed to not use it. if the wording in the CBA only says controlled substances then they have an argument especially if the US legalizes it. this is no different than the argument for legalization of all drugs. just bc they’re legal doesn’t mean employers will no longer drug test if they already do. or they might even add it to their policy if drugs are legalized. if you want the job gotta abide by their rules. no different than the current situation in the world.

By: bigbluecrew420

bigbluecrew420 — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:58:17 +0000

Welcome to the new world. Marijuana is a very effective medicine. About time.

By: cwwgk

cwwgk — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:57:57 +0000

Any suit filed against the NFL over this issue would get laughed out of court. The NFL is a private employer, it can set its own workplace rules. In addition, the players agreed to the ban. Absent fraud, the law does not recognize people who complain about something to which they agreed.

By: matckeeper

matckeeper — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:44:06 +0000

Well, that sucks for the Seahawks….as someone who lives in Seattle and isn’t opposed to the green from time to time, it is pretty awesome to live in a state not wasting millions to billions on a drug no more dangerous than alcohol.
I wonder if the 12th man would be as loud if pot was legal and alcohol not??? Everyone would be in line for garlic fries and diet cokes instead of watching the Seachickens…well I would at least, but I’m a Pack fan.

By: dartwick

dartwick — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 03:30:50 +0000

That the NFL(or any other business) can ban you from using pot is directly a function of the CBA.

The only possible challenge to it will be on whether or not the CBA still covers pot.

There is no reason a business cant have behavior rules as long as they dont infringe on a specific protection or cical right granted by the government.

By: abninf

abninf — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:55:30 +0000

I don’t think players are being tested much for it anyway. Why else would players be getting busted with it on traffic stops in the middle of the season?

By: 52crabcakes

52crabcakes — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:50:29 +0000

It’s about time states start legalizing weed. Weed definitely does not enhance their performance on the field but may ease what football does to their bodies. Fire it up baby!

By: juliusanonymous

juliusanonymous — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:47:28 +0000

OH, and the NFL does have the right to ban marijuana use among employees.

The Supreme Court ruled years ago that private employers could have policies banning the use of alcohol and tobacco. I believe it was some airline company or something. All I remember is that the employees sued over the company policy that any drinking or smoking tobacco was forbidden and the Supreme Court ruled that it was okay for them to have that policy. And yes, that covered use while not at work.

By: oneandonlyramsfaninpa

oneandonlyramsfaninpa — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:45:45 +0000

there are a lot of things that are legal that NFL players can’t take cause of the NFL rules. just cause its legal doesn’t mean an NFL player can take it. how can so many fans not know this fact!?

By: juliusanonymous

juliusanonymous — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:44:31 +0000

Gotta love the Seattle Police Dept’s ongoing reaction to the new law. Their blog is especially entertaining.

The only problem… by the time we legalized marijuana, I’m just like meh… who cares. Wish they would have done this when I was in my early 20′s.

By: majbobby

majbobby — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:37:22 +0000

Go ahead and do it NFL players and take the suspension from the substance abuse program that your union collectively bargained.

On a side no many jobs test against it. So is FT Lewis lighting up because it is legal. Sure if they want to face UCMJ.

By: fluffybunny74

fluffybunny74 — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:33:14 +0000

The NFL isn’t a public entity in terms of ownership or expectation; they can restrict whatever they see fit. Case in point, Adderall and ADD meds are legally prescribed but you still can’t take them without approved exception in the NFL.

Here in Washington all the pot law change means is that we’re setting the country up to finally have a big fight over government restriction v. States’ rights.

By: ndnut

ndnut — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:27:33 +0000

Don’t take shots at Seattle. No NBA team anymore.

By: seahawks4alltime

seahawks4alltime — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:27:00 +0000

“I say no, they can’t. But that’s a matter for a judge to deal with… in time.”

I agree with you VBE2.

It won’t be long before judges are asked to make ruling exactly of the type you are picturing, and then those rulings will get appealed, making their way through the system, ultimately to the supreme court and that’s going to be the pebble that starts the landslide.

It’s only a matter of time.

By: rajbais

rajbais — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:15:03 +0000

Diuretics are legal throughout the country, but are banned in all professional sports!!!

There’s no crying about this!!!

Diuretics = Steroids = HGH???

By: folkcrusader

folkcrusader — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 02:14:27 +0000

Seattle will have a new NBA squad in no time renamed the Seattle Smoke.