Besides the NFL Combine, the most talked about topic is the Collective Bargaining Agreement proposal. An updated proposal was issued to players Thursday morning stating that the league will no longer suspend players after testing positive for marijuana or drug abuse but will be ordered to pay significant fines depending on what stage they are in the program.
There are two stages: one for players who face no penalty and the other for those to test positive where they may have to forfeit half of their game check, a full weeks’ pay, a two weeks pay and so on and so on. The only way players can be suspended is if they refuse to cooperate with testing.
Duane believes that states where marijuana is legal, “you might as well just go ahead and give those teams a waiver because of the type of job they do, because it helps them recover, because of the medical benefits.” For example, Denver Broncos, Duane says he wouldn’t mind if they got a medical clearance letter.
There is significant evidence that marijuana medical benefits outweigh anything negative such as seizure, autism, post-traumatic stress. Duane points out that the use of cigarettes leads to death, “so why are the decision-makers, why does the government…. Why are people permitted to smoke when we know it leads to death…” Duane finishes his thoughts by saying, “It makes no sense!.”