The NBA will no longer test players for marijuana, reports The Athletic, citing unnamed sources. It’s a provision included in the league’s new collective bargaining agreement and the NBPA.
The league and the players’ association still have to ratify a new long-term deal that will include a clause that would remove marijuana from the league’s drug testing program, and players would no longer be penalized for smoking marijuana or using THC products, according to The Athletic. Players Association NBPA did not disclose details of the deal, saying in a statement on Twitter: “Specific details will be made available once the list of conditions is finalised.”
Starting in 2021, there are no more random tests for marijuana
The NBA’s previous marijuana policy was stricter. The player in which they are he was found to be smoking marijuana, they are placed in a treatment and counseling program for the first offense, $25,000 for the second offense, and $25,000 for the third offense they are banned him from playing in five league matches. In 2021, the NBA announced that it would no longer randomly test players for marijuana use.
Approximately 21 US states, specifically the District of Washington and the Territory of Guam they are fully legalized the recreational and medical use of marijuana, and according to ESPN, the use of THC is legal in 73.7 percent of all states with NBA teams. Former NBA players they are have supported marijuana legalization, including JR Smith and Al Harrington, who lobbied for legalization in New York in 2019. Harrington is for the magazine GQ said that 85 percent of NBA players smoke or use “some form of cannabis.”
Nine penalties in recent years
Due to the use of marijuana they are in the NBA in recent years, nine players have been fined. Lastly they are Malik Beasley was suspended 12 games without pay in 2020-21 after being arrested for possession of marijuana and concealing stolen property, costing him $1.1 million. Beasley played for Minnesota.
Dion Waiters was suspended without pay for ten matches in the 2019/20 season after suffering a panic attack on a plane after consuming food containing THC. Waiters was a member of Miami. Among the players who were fined by the NBA for using marijuana, they are were also Al Jefferson, JJ HickmonJR Smith, Larry Sanders, Arnett Moultrie, Terrell Harris and Maurice Taylor.
Source: Rtvslo
