Press Release: National Organization Decries NFL's $300K Fine for Marijuana Possession

For Immediate Release: September 4, 2008 National Organization Decries NFL's $300K Fine for Marijuana Possession In wake of Faulk punishment, group calling on NFL to stop steering players toward using alcohol -- which can contribute to violence -- instead of marijuana SAFER circulating on-line petition and delivering letter -- on Friday, Sept. 5 -- to NFL commissioner highlighting hypocrisy of league that accepts millions in alcohol sponsorships and punishes players for using less harmful drug NEW YORK -- A national marijuana policy reform organization is decrying the fine of more than $300,000 levied this week by the National Football League against New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk for marijuana possession. Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) is calling for changes to the NFL's marijuana policy via an on-line petition and an official letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell that the organization will hand-deliver to the league's head office in New York City tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. EDT. The petition and the letter highlight the hypocrisy of the NFL's excessive punishments for marijuana use by its players, while accepting and promoting the use of alcohol, a much more harmful drug (see http://www.saferchoice.org/petitions/nfl/ and petition language below). According to SAFER, the NFL's policy is steering players away from making the rational choice to use a less harmful substance, and driving them to use alcohol, which has been found to contribute to violent crimes and aggressive behavior. "The NFL has no problem with players using alcohol and it accepts hundreds of millions of dollars to promote booze to football fans of all ages," said SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert. "Yet the league punishes those players who make the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol to relax and recreate. The NFL is driving its players to drink." The NFL announced this week that Faulk would be suspended for one game and would have two games' salary withheld -- more than $300,000 -- because he was found to be in possession of a few cigars sprinkled with marijuana at a February concert in New Orleans. "Every objective study on marijuana has concluded that it is far less harmful than alcohol both to those who use it and to others around them," Tvert said. "It is a mystery why Commissioner Goodell and the NFL would want to steer the biggest, toughest guys in the country away from using marijuana and toward using alcohol, which contributes to aggressive behavior and countless violent crimes." SAFER first publicly criticized the NFL's marijuana policy in October 2007, when it erected a billboard across the street from Invesco Field in Denver that featured an image of NFL superstar Ricky Williams in a Denver Broncos jersey, urging the recently reinstated player to "Come to Denver: Where the people support your SAFER choice." (see story at http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7062771) WHAT: Delivery of letter to NFL Commissioner calling for changes to NFL marijuana policy WHEN: Friday, September 5, 11 a.m. EDT WHERE: NFL Head Office, 280 Park Avenue, New York City WHO: SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the harmful consequences associated with alcohol, as compared to the safer —yet illegal—substance: marijuana. For more information, see http://www.SAFERchoice.org. ----------------------------------------------------------------- SAFER's On-Line Petition Players with the National Football League who use marijuana instead of alcohol to relax and recreate are making a rational choice to use a less harmful substance. Suspending these players and taking away hundreds of thousands (or sometimes millions) of dollars for using marijuana is driving them to use alcohol, a drug that -- unlike marijuana -- contributes to violent and aggressive behavior. SAFER - Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation Unless the NFL plans to suspend every player who receives a speeding ticket -- which is considered an offense on par with marijuana possession in some states -- it has absolutely no reason to suspend players for the simple use and possession of marijuana. Doing so is not only irrational, but given the NFL's acceptance and blatant promotion of alcohol, it is exceptionally hypocritical. Marijuana is safer than alcohol and the National Football League's substance abuse policy should be changed immediately to reflect that fact. # # #