NCAA and Power 5 Conferences Look to Lessen Marijuana Penalties

NCAA schools are taking a more relaxed approach when it comes to enforcing penalties for students' use of marijuana. According to an investigation by the Associated Press, at least one-third of the Power Five conference schools (Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC, SEC) are not punishing athletes as toughly as they used to for positive marijuana tests, and other so-called recreational drugs.

Last year, the NCAA cut in half the penalty for athletes who tested positive for substances like marijuana. Furthermore, the chief medical officer is advocating for the NCAA to stop testing for rec-drugs altogether, that according to the Associated Press.

Since 2005, 57 of the 65 schools in the Power 5 schools--plus Notre Dame, because they're independent but still want to be considered a major player (they're weird)--were analyzed by the Associated Press. 23 of those schools have either reduced penalties or allowed an athlete to test positive more times before facing sanctions.

Take Utah, for example, who used to dismiss a player for a third failed drug-test. That same infraction is now just a half-season suspension.

"It's a moving target, and we have to find that balance between being too punitive and not punitive enough, and making sure that we help people that have a problem," Chris Hill, Utah's athletic director said, via the Associated Press.

In states where marijuana is legal, like Oregon and Washington, but still against NCAA regulations, you have even lesser penalties still. At Oregon, you aren't punished until after a third failed test. At Oregon State, a third failed test used to mean dismissal from the team, now players are given a fourth chance. And at Washington, a third failed test used to be a year-long suspension, now it's just 30 days.

"the change was intended to make the policy more rehabilitative," Carter Henderson said, a spokesperson for the University of Washington, via the Associated Press.

Out of the Power 5 conferences, the Big 12 and Big Ten are the only conferences to do additional testing along with the testing from the NCAA. The Big 12 does test for recreational drugs, too, however it leaves the punishment up to each individual school.

The lesser--more relaxed--penalties at the school level are a direct result of how marijuana is viewed in society. Four states have already legalized the substance, while many more are taking actions to do the same. Instead, the NCAA will look to focus their drug-testing efforts more on performance enhancing substances.

If all that still doesn't make sense, watch this video (you'll also learn about how a runner's high isn't all that dissimilar to lighting up a joint):