Rutgers Athletics Reduces Punishments For Marijuana Use

Rutgers University's new drug policy eases the penalties against members of the Athletics Department when it comes to marijuana use.

According to NJ.com, the new rules cover all Rutgers teams, including football, and make a clear distinction between performance-enhancing drugs and marijuana.

The sanctions include:

- A first violation for a performance-enhancing drug (PED) or other hard-drug substance such as cocaine or heroin will result in the athlete receiving a suspension for between "0 to 10 percent'' of one season of competition. A first failed marijuana test won't result in a suspension.

- A second PED or hard-drug violation will result in a suspension from approximately 10-to-25 percent of a season, while a second marijuana failed test will require a suspension from 0 to 10 percent of the current or upcoming season.

- A third PED or hard-drug violation will result in a suspension from approximately 30 to 100 percent of the season, while a third marijuana violation will result in a 10-to-25-percent-of-the-season suspension.

- A fourth PED or hard-drug violation will result in the dismissal from the team, while a fourth marijuana violation mandates the 30-to-100 percent game suspension.

- A fifth violation for marijuana use will result in the dismissal from the team.

Athletes who successfully complete the mandatory treatment program without additional failed drug tests for one year can have a violation expunged once during the course of their time at Rutgers.

The NCAA does not require its member schools to adopt a drug policy, but once a school adopts a drug-testing policy, the college athletics governing organization requires that the guidelines are strictly followed.

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