4 key takeaways to NFL’s new collective bargaining agreement

The NFL and Player’s Association ratified a new CBA, guaranteeing 10 years of labor peace. Here are four key takeaways from the new CBA.

Takeaway No. 3: New drug testing and discipline

The NFL is seriously relaxing their policy on drug testing and disciplinary action, particularly in regards to marijuana.

The window for testing is narrowing from four months to just two weeks, at the start of training camp, and it will reduce the number of players who are subjected to testing.

Additionally, the amount of THC that qualifies as a positive test will increase from 35 nanograms to 150 nanograms, while the penalty for a positive test will no longer include suspension.

Finally, a neutral third-party decision-maker will be tasked with handling drug-related disciplinary actions, taking the power out of the hands of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

This will obviously have an impact around the entire league, but it seems likely to make more of an impact in states where marijuana use is already legal and widely accepted – including Washington.