- The NFL won't drug test for THC in players from April 20 to Aug. 9.
- The new CBA that was passed last year includes a relaxed drug testing policy.
- The policy means that 2021 is the first year players can celebrate 4/20 without discipline from the NFL.
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The NFL opened its random drug test window on Tuesday, but this will be the first year the league doesn't test for the chemical found in Marijuana.
Under the league's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), which was passed last year, players will not be tested for Delta 9 THC-carboxylic acid, which is the prominent chemical found in cannabis, from April 20 to Aug. 9.
-Ben Volin (@BenVolin) April 20, 2021
The start date of April 20 coincides directly with the popular cult holiday 4/20, which is dedicated to celebrating marijuana. The holiday has become so popular among mainstream Americans in recent years that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer went so far as to call it "an unofficial American holiday" on Tuesday.
Players will be tested for THC once training camps open in August. However, the new CBA has also raised the threshold for a positive marijuana test from 35 nanograms to 150 and eliminates suspensions for positive drug tests,. Instead, the NFL will issue fines for up to three weeks' pay.
The NFL will be moving away from severe discipline for marijuana use to an approach focused more on treatment. If a player tests positive during training camp, his test is reviewed by a board of medical professionals appointed by both the players and league. The board then decides if the player needs treatment.
The NFL's previous guidelines on marijuana usage were much harsher. All players were tested at least once during the offseason. Also, 10 players from each team were selected for tests each week during the regular season.
One positive test previously resulted in a referral to the substance abuse program, a second positive test resulted in a fine of two game checks, a third violation was a fine of four game checks, a fourth violation was a four-game suspension, a fifth violation was a 10-game suspension, and a sixth violation resulted in a one-year ban.
Players like wide receiver Josh Gordon and defensive Randy Gregory missed entire seasons of their respective careers due to suspension for testing positive for marijuana on repeated occasions. Under the new CBA, that is far less likely to happen to any player.
Reform to these policies was one of the biggest changes that the NFLPA was pushing for during negotiations for the new CBA last year and was a key tradeoff that allowed the regular-season schedule to expand to 17 games starting this year.
Overall public support for cannabis reform has grown in recent years as several states have moved to end restrictions on the recreational drug. In November, a Gallup poll revealed that a majority of Americans -68% - favor legalization.
Current and former NFL players have ventures into the cannabis industry. Rob Gronkowski, Marshawn Lynch, Joe Montana, Brett Favre, and Calvin Johnson have entered the industry as either endorsers or investors for institutions focused on commercializing marijuana or testing its medical benefits.