How different sports leagues treat weed use by players

By Elliott Almond, Mercury News

Different sports leagues have different regulations and thresholds for marijuana use by their players. Here’s a look at the variations in policy.

NFL

Players are tested once in the offseason from mid-April to mid-August. Players test positive if found to have 35 nanograms of extracted THC per milliliter of urine. Players must enter an intervention program after one violation. Penalties increase with more violations: from a two-game fine to a 10-game ban for a fifth infraction.

Related: NFL Kickoff: The drive for medical marijuana and CBD in football

NBA

Players are subject to four random drug screens during the season, but the league doesn’t test for marijuana in the offseason. The league’s threshold of 15 ng/ml is among the strictest, but not its punishment structure. Players must complete a substance-abuse program after their first infraction. Violators face a $25,000 fine for a second positive test. The third violation leads to a five-game ban. Five more games are added on…