NFL Relaxes Cannabis Policy for Players

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By A.J. Herrington Published December 11th, 2024

The National Football League last week relaxed its cannabis use policy for players, building on a 2020 change in the rules governing cannabis and other drugs. Under an agreement between the league and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), the fines imposed on athletes for testing positive for cannabis will be reduced significantly. The new policy, which went into effect on December 6, also increases the allowable THC threshold when players are tested for cannabis.

The agreement between the league and the players union revises the NFL’s Substances of Abuse Policy and Performance Enhancing Substances Policy, according to a report from cannabis news source Marijuana Moment. Under the revised policy, the allowable limit of THC before triggering a positive drug test has been raised from 150 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) to 350 ng/ml. 

Players Who Test Positive for Cannabis Face Reduced Fines

The new policy also reduces the fines imposed on players who test positive for cannabis. The penalty for a first positive result for THC will be $15,000, down from the previous fine of one-half a game’s pay. For a second offense, players will be levied a fine of $20,000, down from a fine of a full game’s pay. 

Fines for additional positive drug tests for cannabis have also been reduced, with players testing positive a third time incurring a fine of one game’s pay, down from a two-game fine. Players who test positive fourth and subsequent times will be assessed a two-game fine, down from a fine of three games’ pay.

The penalties for NFL players who miss a required drug test have also been revised. The fine for missing a drug test once remains at $20,000, while the penalty for a second missed test has been reduced from a one-game fine to a fine of $45,000. The penalties for a third missed test and fourth and subsequent tests have been maintained at a two-game fine and a four-game fine, respectively.

The agreement also revises the policy governing the cumulative count for positive and missed drug tests. Under the new policy, the counts will reset at the beginning of each season instead of accumulating from year to year. Additionally, the NFL has agreed to notify teams only that a drug test has been missed or failed rather than reporting the specific substance a player tested positive for.

The changes in the NFL’s cannabis drug testing policy continue revisions begun in 2020 under a collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NFLPA, which ended suspensions for players who test positive for cannabis and other drugs. Under that agreement, the allowable THC level was raised from 35 ng/ml to 150 ng/ml.

The 2020 collective bargaining agreement also narrowed the window for cannabis drug testing. Players are now subject to testing for THC metabolites only between the start of the pre-season training session and the first pre-season game. The testing window for other drugs begins on April 20 of each year and continues until August 9.

Other Leagues Also Revising Cannabis Rules

The NFL’s new cannabis use policy for players is consistent with efforts by other collegiate and professional sports leagues and associations to revise rules governing the use of cannabis, which some athletes have found to be an effective recovery aid. Earlier this year, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Council voted to remove cannabis from its list of banned substances.

In June 2023, the National Basketball Association and its players union signed a new collective bargaining agreement that similarly removed cannabis from the league’s list of banned substances. The contract also established guidelines for players to invest in and promote regulated businesses in the cannabis industry.

In 2020, Major League Baseball announced that players would no longer face discipline for cannabis use, although players are prohibited from being under the influence of cannabis while at work. The league also clarified, however, that players are not permitted to enter commercial agreements with cannabis companies.

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The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.

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