College and weed fit together like corn and squash. So until last week, the strict rules against marijuana in the systems of college basketball players were difficult to swallow.
It seems the NCAA have come to their senses and relaxed these rules quite a bit. A positive test of marijuana was previously set at 35 nanograms per milliliter. It has now been risen to 150 nanograms. This is in accordance with rules established by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Slowly, the worldwide sports organizations are coming to the acceptance of marijuana NOT being a performance-enhancing drug. At least, in the physical sense of the claim (focus, a better control of heart rate, and any other mental benefits are off the table). Their response to this understanding is to slowly reduce penalties over time, and along with raising what constitutes a positive test, the NCAA are also recommending a less punitive response.
One positive test used to mean missing out on half of a season of playtime, and two positive tests would wipe you out of the entire season.
Now, a positive test would put the student on an education plan, and a second positive test would be just more education as long as they were compliant with the first batch of education. Even a THIRD positive test won’t mean missing out on actual games if they proved compliant in the last education plans.
I can get behind any repercussions that deal with more education and the space for the student to make their own decisions going forward. This is clearly a step in the right direction.
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