"Naive question," you may say.

[SissyBoyFloyd]

With so many many nfl players continuing to smoke weed, even when they are aware of the harsh consequences, is it reasonable to ask, "Maybe it is simply tied to the sport and the players need it as a safe way to medicate themselves, helping with their soreness, pain, and to relax their muscles and nerves.

With it becoming legal in so many places now, maybe the NFL is blindly going after this situation in the same way as the Reagans came up with "Just say NO to drugs."

The NFL is maybe in the wrong about this and needs to consult some progressive doctors and psychologists regarding the use of marijuana and their players.

 

[azmike74]

This may be a naive answer but I don't think NFL players are smoking to medicate themselves. I believe that if they were, we would have heard that excuse from at least one of the accused players by now.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Good question.

It is more of a P&R question tho.

My personal take ? Pot being illegal my be one of the most out dated, and ridiculous situations in the modern world, in general, and in society, not just the NFL.

It seems even crazier that Big pharmaceutical companies can push drugs that are way more harmful, and much less needed on national TV 24-7, yet certain substances are dubbed to harmful for society.

Just money, madness, power, and control at work.

And if you haven't noticed Goodell is trying to make what is at its core, a savage sport, and turn it into a Disneyland fun park. Thus why he is the worst thing to happen to the sport.....maybe ever.

The league is thinking about penalizing players for cursing, I don't see it being pro anything that is anti-establishment at the moment.

Not a naive question at all, just complex and full of topics that people will yell at each other over.

But as you said, a player cannot smoke a joint, but they can pop pain meds like M&Ms. Thus pot being illegal is just to toe the line with society, and not make waves, it, like most things in the NFL, has nothing to do for what is safe and best for the player, just what makes money.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Legal or not, if it is banned by your employer, you don't do it.

 

[Shaggy]

Legal or not, if it is banned by your employer, you don't do it.

Simple. If they don't want you doing it and you can be suspended for it, don't do it. If you want to take your career and flush it down the toilet for just some hits of the dubby, by all means toke it up!

 

[Dback Jon]

Legal or not, if it is banned by your employer, you don't do it.

Simple. If they don't want you doing it and you can be suspended for it, don't do it. If you want to take your career and flush it down the toilet for just some hits of the dubby, by all means toke it up!

And while valid currently, the question of whether the pain pills that are popped is more damaging long term is a valid one.


http://www.boston.com/health/2014/0...ug-epidemic/zyEpuqCV0H5xe9EhTfTYrM/story.html

 

[Chopper0080]

I don't have a problem if they punish for illegal offenses, but I do wonder why they test for it at all.

My only issue with legalizing drugs in general (and I live in a legalized state) is that inevitably, the tax payers have to pay for it. Yes, taxes on marijuana do generate revenue for the state, but the state pays out twice that in treatment for addicted criminal offenders who can't quit the suddenly addictive drug. Like many things, once people are held accountable for their actions, they then look for something else to blame it on.

That is the world we live in.

 

[Shaggy]

I don't have a problem if they punish for illegal offenses, but I do wonder why they test for it at all.

My only issue with legalizing drugs in general (and I live in a legalized state) is that inevitably, the tax payers have to pay for it. Yes, taxes on marijuana do generate revenue for the state, but the state pays out twice that in treatment for addicted criminal offenders who can't quit the suddenly addictive drug. Like many things, once people are held accountable for their actions, they then look for something else to blame it on.

That is the world we live in.

Pretty sad isn't it..

Reminds me of kids in school that cause all kinds of problems, and the parents get mad at the school for not handling it. Hmmm, who raised them?

 

[Iceman]

On the same subject, but different sport- Baseball. HGH is mainly used for players for recovery. Some players obviously use it for getting "jacked". These guys play 162 games in 180 days. I am 35 and I know my body would have a tough time recovering at my age. There are plenty of players that are in their mid 30's that have had injuries or just breaking down that need HGH to keep up with the young 20 year olds. Even though hitters get stronger on HGH, they still have to do the hardest thing in sports- hit a round ball with a round bat, then hit it square! Failing 3 of 10 times means you are great hitter. Anyhow, I understand HGH cannot be used in football because it would be used for 1 thing- strength. I know I kind of went off topic on this, but just wanted to see what others thought of the HGH in baseball.

 

[puckhead]

I don't have a problem if they punish for illegal offenses, but I do wonder why they test for it at all.

My only issue with legalizing drugs in general (and I live in a legalized state) is that inevitably, the tax payers have to pay for it. Yes, taxes on marijuana do generate revenue for the state, but the state pays out twice that in treatment for addicted criminal offenders who can't quit the suddenly addictive drug. Like many things, once people are held accountable for their actions, they then look for something else to blame it on.

That is the world we live in.

You may want to include the cost of enforcing the illegality in your equation. Cops, judges, prisons, etc.

 

[splitsecond]

The NFL is scared senseless that if they allow it their anti-trust exemption might be at risk. The Feds could pull it if they pleased and I would t put it past them to manipulate things that way, much like how they already manipulate drug laws that should be reserved for the states.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[D-Dogg]

Yes, taxes on marijuana do generate revenue for the state, but the state pays out twice that in treatment for addicted criminal offenders who can't quit the suddenly addictive drug.

Link?

 

[PortlandCardFan]

Good question.

It is more of a P&R question tho.

My personal take ? Pot being illegal my be one of the most out dated, and ridiculous situations in the modern world, in general, and in society, not just the NFL.

It seems even crazier that Big pharmaceutical companies can push drugs that are way more harmful, and much less needed on national TV 24-7, yet certain substances are dubbed to harmful for society.

Just money, madness, power, and control at work.

And if you haven't noticed Goodell is trying to make what is at its core, a savage sport, and turn it into a Disneyland fun park. Thus why he is the worst thing to happen to the sport.....maybe ever.

The league is thinking about penalizing players for cursing, I don't see it being pro anything that is anti-establishment at the moment.

Not a naive question at all, just complex and full of topics that people will yell at each other over.

But as you said, a player cannot smoke a joint, but they can pop pain meds like M&Ms. Thus pot being illegal is just to toe the line with society, and not make waves, it, like most things in the NFL, has nothing to do for what is safe and best for the player, just what makes money.

Your answer was in that one sentence...

 

[earthsci]

Yes, taxes on marijuana do generate revenue for the state, but the state pays out twice that in treatment for addicted criminal offenders who can't quit the suddenly addictive drug.

Are you saying that the state pays twice that in treatment of marijuana? I seriously need a link for that one.

 

[ozzfloyd]

I don't have a problem if they punish for illegal offenses, but I do wonder why they test for it at all.

My only issue with legalizing drugs in general (and I live in a legalized state) is that inevitably, the tax payers have to pay for it. Yes, taxes on marijuana do generate revenue for the state, but the state pays out twice that in treatment for addicted criminal offenders who can't quit the suddenly addictive drug. Like many things, once people are held accountable for their actions, they then look for something else to blame it on.

That is the world we live in.

Lol. Yeah right, I'm there are loads of marijuana 'addicts' in treatment costing taxpayers a lot of money. I call BS on that. Now, if you're including all other illicit drugs, sure, that's a cost for sure, but not at all relevant to cannabis users.

 

[CardLogic]

Even though hitters get stronger on HGH, they still have to do the hardest thing in sports- hit a round ball with a round bat, then hit it square! Failing 3 of 10 times means you are great hitter.

Failing 3 of 10 times means you are freakin' Superman!

j/k; Know you meant succeeding 3 of 10 times.

 

[Redneck Voodoo]

Good question.

It is more of a P&R question tho.

My personal take ? Pot being illegal my be one of the most out dated, and ridiculous situations in the modern world, in general, and in society, not just the NFL.

It seems even crazier that Big pharmaceutical companies can push drugs that are way more harmful, and much less needed on national TV 24-7, yet certain substances are dubbed to harmful for society.

Just money, madness, power, and control at work.

And if you haven't noticed Goodell is trying to make what is at its core, a savage sport, and turn it into a Disneyland fun park. Thus why he is the worst thing to happen to the sport.....maybe ever.

The league is thinking about penalizing players for cursing, I don't see it being pro anything that is anti-establishment at the moment.

Not a naive question at all, just complex and full of topics that people will yell at each other over.

But as you said, a player cannot smoke a joint, but they can pop pain meds like M&Ms. Thus pot being illegal is just to toe the line with society, and not make waves, it, like most things in the NFL, has nothing to do for what is safe and best for the player, just what makes money.

All of this.

 

[Redneck Voodoo]

Pretty sad isn't it..

Reminds me of kids in school that cause all kinds of problems, and the parents get mad at the school for not handling it. Hmmm, who raised them?

Many parents don't necessarily get mad at the school. Whether or not there is agreement between the schools and the parents; some parents raise their kids to be ahead of the evolution of society.
Thinking people are ahead of the curve and raise their kids accordingly. This is how we move ahead in society. Otherwise we remain static.
I realize my statement doesn't always hold true in the case of troublemakers, but by the same token, you can't pigeonhole all parents either.

 

[TRW]

Most use marijuana for one reason...to get high, period.

The "medicinal" use is just a ploy to get it more accepted and legalized, at least IMO. I know that is an "all inclusive" statement and I know that marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes and is effective in certain medical situations.

BUT, like alcohol, the main purpose is to get the euphoria and "buzz" that comes with the substance. It really is that simple to me.

Like most causes that people are championing the ancillary benefits of the situation are added in to make it more palatable and less sinister to get the goal accomplished. In marijuana's case, it is to get it legalized under the guise of the "benefits" it carries with it.

I am in favor of its legalization across the board. Don't care what it is used for or why someone would smoke it. I believe it is no more of a danger (and maybe less) than pounding down a bunch of beers or mixed drinks. If people want to be trashed and get wasted then that's up to them. Of course, that goes with the caveat that they don't endanger others by driving their car while being trashed and wasted, for instance.

The health care costs from abusers being physically affected won't be any different than rehab for alcohol, pain killers or any other substance that people already abuse anyway. Rugby had it right as far as those issues being present, madness, power and control.

It is a complex issue due to many, many years of laws and control of what drugs are legal/illegal and those in control won't let go easily. The "war on drugs" for the last 25 or 30 years is a farce and has done NOTHING to stop anything.

As far as the NFL guys continuing to be caught doing it, they are stupidly ignoring the consequences for the pursuit of selfish pleasures. As I said before, they just want to get high, period. It isn't to soothe their pain or medicate themselves, it is to be wasted. At least, that's what I think.

As long as it is illegal and as long as the league determines that it is not acceptable, then the players take the risk and must live with the consequences. Until that changes they will forfeit their privilege of playing in the league for a while or, eventually, permanently.

Maybe this wasn't the forum for all of that but I get tired of the excuses, the arguments over the penalties and the constant rationalizations of why it SHOULD be OK in these cases. It ISN'T OK at this time, it is illegal and that's the fact. Maybe it will change but until it does the players need to "just say no" until it does.

Forgive my soap box diatribe, but I had to vent. Sorry if it offends anyone, these are just my thoughts.

/rant off

 

[Iceman]

Failing 3 of 10 times means you are freakin' Superman!

j/k; Know you meant succeeding 3 of 10 times.

Ha! Too funny. Ya, you are right. Batting .300, but .700 would be just a little better!

 

[Iceman]

Quick question on this matter, how did Prater not pass an alcohol test? Did someone spy on him? I am confused on how they (NFL) found out.

 

[Darkside]

Most use marijuana for one reason...to get high, period.

The "medicinal" use is just a ploy to get it more accepted and legalized, at least IMO. I know that is an "all inclusive" statement and I know that marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes and is effective in certain medical situations.

BUT, like alcohol, the main purpose is to get the euphoria and "buzz" that comes with the substance. It really is that simple to me.

Like most causes that people are championing the ancillary benefits of the situation are added in to make it more palatable and less sinister to get the goal accomplished. In marijuana's case, it is to get it legalized under the guise of the "benefits" it carries with it.

I am in favor of its legalization across the board. Don't care what it is used for or why someone would smoke it. I believe it is no more of a danger (and maybe less) than pounding down a bunch of beers or mixed drinks. If people want to be trashed and get wasted then that's up to them. Of course, that goes with the caveat that they don't endanger others by driving their car while being trashed and wasted, for instance.

The health care costs from abusers being physically affected won't be any different than rehab for alcohol, pain killers or any other substance that people already abuse anyway. Rugby had it right as far as those issues being present, madness, power and control.

It is a complex issue due to many, many years of laws and control of what drugs are legal/illegal and those in control won't let go easily. The "war on drugs" for the last 25 or 30 years is a farce and has done NOTHING to stop anything.

As far as the NFL guys continuing to be caught doing it, they are stupidly ignoring the consequences for the pursuit of selfish pleasures. As I said before, they just want to get high, period. It isn't to soothe their pain or medicate themselves, it is to be wasted. At least, that's what I think.

As long as it is illegal and as long as the league determines that it is not acceptable, then the players take the risk and must live with the consequences. Until that changes they will forfeit their privilege of playing in the league for a while or, eventually, permanently.

Maybe this wasn't the forum for all of that but I get tired of the excuses, the arguments over the penalties and the constant rationalizations of why it SHOULD be OK in these cases. It ISN'T OK at this time, it is illegal and that's the fact. Maybe it will change but until it does the players need to "just say no" until it does.

Forgive my soap box diatribe, but I had to vent. Sorry if it offends anyone, these are just my thoughts.

/rant off

I'm only going to address the first few paragraphs of your diatribe. You're wrong about the medicinal effects and the reason some people take it. Horribly wrong. Not everyone takes it to get high. I know several people who take it in pill or other forms without the high. They don't even get high. I know, because I like getting high. And high they ain't.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Japes]

This may be a naive answer but I don't think NFL players are smoking to medicate themselves. I believe that if they were, we would have heard that excuse from at least one of the accused players by now.

Thats simply not true. Many players medicate themselves with cannabis. I heard Jake Plummer talking about this a week or so back on local radio (relating to the NFL player drug lawsuit). He said J. Gordon uses marijuana for body relaxation and self-medication for pain relief. He mentioned a few other players as well. Football is super painful with all the sprinting and jarring collisions I'm certain a good percentage of active players could benefit from its medicinal properties. But the NFL is stuck in the stone age. As well I can't believe domestic assault gets you two games and a guys repeat minor drug offense gets an entire season suspension.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Lol. Yeah right, I'm there are loads of marijuana 'addicts' in treatment costing taxpayers a lot of money. I call BS on that. Now, if you're including all other illicit drugs, sure, that's a cost for sure, but not at all relevant to cannabis users.

Well, the people whom are caught smoking and doing something in society that is deemed unacceptable have to go to treatment center per court order.

Whether it is sane or not to do so is irrelevant, so in reality taxpayer do need to pay for treatment, but the treatment is made mandatory by the government, so again, I am not saying there is sanity in any of this, just that we do in fact, whether we like it or not, pay for people to be "rehabbed" from smoking pot.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Most use marijuana for one reason...to get high, period.

The "medicinal" use is just a ploy to get it more accepted and legalized, at least IMO. I know that is an "all inclusive" statement and I know that marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes and is effective in certain medical situations.

BUT, like alcohol, the main purpose is to get the euphoria and "buzz" that comes with the substance. It really is that simple to me.

Like most causes that people are championing the ancillary benefits of the situation are added in to make it more palatable and less sinister to get the goal accomplished. In marijuana's case, it is to get it legalized under the guise of the "benefits" it carries with it.

I am in favor of its legalization across the board. Don't care what it is used for or why someone would smoke it. I believe it is no more of a danger (and maybe less) than pounding down a bunch of beers or mixed drinks. If people want to be trashed and get wasted then that's up to them. Of course, that goes with the caveat that they don't endanger others by driving their car while being trashed and wasted, for instance.

The health care costs from abusers being physically affected won't be any different than rehab for alcohol, pain killers or any other substance that people already abuse anyway. Rugby had it right as far as those issues being present, madness, power and control.

It is a complex issue due to many, many years of laws and control of what drugs are legal/illegal and those in control won't let go easily. The "war on drugs" for the last 25 or 30 years is a farce and has done NOTHING to stop anything.

As far as the NFL guys continuing to be caught doing it, they are stupidly ignoring the consequences for the pursuit of selfish pleasures. As I said before, they just want to get high, period. It isn't to soothe their pain or medicate themselves, it is to be wasted. At least, that's what I think.

As long as it is illegal and as long as the league determines that it is not acceptable, then the players take the risk and must live with the consequences. Until that changes they will forfeit their privilege of playing in the league for a while or, eventually, permanently.

Maybe this wasn't the forum for all of that but I get tired of the excuses, the arguments over the penalties and the constant rationalizations of why it SHOULD be OK in these cases. It ISN'T OK at this time, it is illegal and that's the fact. Maybe it will change but until it does the players need to "just say no" until it does.

Forgive my soap box diatribe, but I had to vent. Sorry if it offends anyone, these are just my thoughts.

/rant off

Well put.

I agree with all of it, and happy you shared.