The NBA will no longer test for marijuana. This comes as a new deal was signed between the league and the National Basketball Players Association. Both sides announced last week the collective bargaining agreement. Although announced, the agreement still needs to be ratified before it becomes official.
If the agreement is ratified, players will no longer be tested for marijuana for the next seven years. Other drugs will still be in the drug testing program but marijuana will no longer be a punishable offence. On Twitter, the National Basketball Players Association stated: “Specific details will be made available once a term sheet is finalized.”
“Since day one, the goal of the NBPA in this negotiation was to protect our players, enrich their lives on and off the court, and establish a framework that recognizes our players as true partners with the governors in both the NBA and the business world at large!” NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio said in a tweet.
During the pandemic the NBA announced they would no longer test players randomly for marijuana use. Mike Bass, NBA spokesman said they would rather focus on performance enhancing drugs instead.
This new era of marijuana in the NBA shows the progress that has been made in the political and professional landscape here in the US. Will other sports organizations follow the NBA’s lead or be left in the past?
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