PGA Tour Suspends Robert Garrigus for Violating Drug Policy (Marijuana)

[billchao]

5 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

So will this make it difficult for RG to keep his card regarding playing enough tournaments? 

He's exempt for the year, isn't he? 

1 minute ago, chspeed said:

I think that’s a generalization. I’ve run three businesses, employed hundreds, rarely paid 6 figures, and have never tested anyone for drugs.

That said, I don’t know what many industries do nor what kind of testing happens across the country.

But if companies are testing for THC for jobs in which it does not affect performance (again, unless it’s on the job), I think that should, and will, change.

I think you're reading something into what I wrote that I didn't. 

[Vinsk]

16 minutes ago, billchao said:

He's exempt for the year, isn't he? 

Well he hasn't won since 2010..his only win. He's currently ranked 203. I'm not sure how it all works but I don't see how he could be exempt. 

21 minutes ago, chspeed said:

But if companies are testing for THC for jobs in which it does not affect performance (again, unless it’s on the job), I think that should, and will, change.

There's no 'if'. They are, many large industries as well. My clinics do drug testing and THC is always one that is tested for. I get hundreds of new hires coming through for drug tests from industries of many different areas.

[billchao]

8 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Well he hasn't won since 2010..his only win. He's currently ranked 203. I'm not sure how it all works but I don't see how he could be exempt. 

Top 125 in FedEx Cup points from the previous year.

Edit: actually he's in under exemption 32 which is 126-150 FEC points (reordered) whatever that means.

[Vinsk]

5 minutes ago, billchao said:

Top 125 in FedEx Cup points from the previous year.

Is that from any given point in the year? I'm asking because the PGA Tour stats site shows his FedEx ranking at the end of 2018 to be 131.

[billchao]

2 minutes ago, Vinsk said:

Is that from any given point in the year? I'm asking because the PGA Tour stats site shows his FedEx ranking at the end of 2018 to be 131.

Yea I made a correction to my post.

[chspeed]

44 minutes ago, billchao said:

I think you're reading something into what I wrote that I didn't. 

My apologies -easy to do online 🙂

[cutchemist42]

Incredibly lame.....wish other countries would leave the 20th century in the rearview mirror like my country has.

Just find some countries and states are clearly on the wrong side of history on this issue and are just too stubborn to admit they got duped by American lobbyists and pressure in the early 1900s.

Edited March 26, 2019 by cutchemist42

[downbylaw11]

I felt sort of scummy when I read about his suspension.  Mostly because I was high at the time.  Legally of course because I live in Canada, but still I felt a little awkward. 

[RussUK]

I have to agree with his suspension. Regardless of whether its legal in certain states/countries its still a breach if the doping rules.

Slightly , Its still illeagal here in the UK but the police dont do anything about it as it's not worth their hassle. It's a shame as you cant seem to go far without smelling weed, not nice when you're in the park with your kids and there are groups of teenagers openly smoking it.

[boogielicious]

9 hours ago, billchao said:

A job that doesn't involve getting paid six to seven or even eight figures a year to play a game. The kind most of us have.

I make eight figures if you include all the decimals! Nano dollars could too!

[iacas]

9 hours ago, cutchemist42 said:

Incredibly lame.....wish other countries would leave the 20th century in the rearview mirror like my country has.

Just find some countries and states are clearly on the wrong side of history on this issue and are just too stubborn to admit they got duped by American lobbyists and pressure in the early 1900s.

What’s progressive about allowing people to get high? It’s just like cigarettes and alcohol.

It’s not as “bad” as some drugs but it’s not great or anything.

[saevel25]

By choosing to be on the PGA tour he agrees to obey by the rules. He took a risk and got nailed.

Note, if the USA legalized Marijuana, the PGA Tour could still consider it a banned substance. Alcohol is legal, but you can get fired if you come to work drunk.

I have my personal views on Marijuana, but that has nothing to do with this.

[chspeed]

45 minutes ago, iacas said:

What’s progressive about allowing people to get high? It’s just like cigarettes and alcohol.

It’s not as “bad” as some drugs but it’s not great or anything.

IMO, progressiveness is in decriminalizing a drug that, as you said, is like cigarettes and alcohol (really more like alcohol than cigarettes in that it alters mood significantly). And like alcohol, it's got a lot of downsides, potential health risks, etc. but has become socially acceptable in many places around the world.

I think one the biggest problem with legalization is that there is no good spot-check right now. There is no widely available "breathalyzer" to tell if someone is, for instance, high while driving. And since THC lingers in the body, blood test or urine show exposure in the last week or two.

19 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Alcohol is legal, but you can get fired if you come to work drunk.

Yes. And if RG had been drunk three days before his round, nobody would care. We don't know if he was high on the course or just got high in the days before.

I just think that the severity of the suspension seems out of line with the times. I'm wondering if there is more to this story than just getting caught with some THC in his bloodstream.

Edited March 26, 2019 by chspeed

[3jacker]

I don't get all the stuff about this somehow being "harsh" punishment. 

Seems very mild to me. Missed the cut in 7 of the last 9 tournaments of 2018.  This suspension is gonna save him money.

[billchao]

12 minutes ago, 3jacker said:

I don't get all the stuff about this somehow being "harsh" punishment. 

Seems very mild to me.

Right, which is what I pointed out. He got a three month suspension for violating the tour's drug policy. A regular person that violates their company's drug policy likely gets terminated.

I think he got off pretty good here.

[TN94z]

Just now, billchao said:

Right, which is what I pointed out. He got a three month suspension for violating the tour's drug policy. A regular person that violates their company's drug policy likely gets terminated.

I think he got off pretty good here.

Agreed. That's why I said I would take that punishment and hush...haha

[chspeed]

This is what the PGA Tour gives as examples of Drugs of Abuse. IMO, one of these is not like the others.

Examples:

• Cannabinoids (hashish and marijuana)
• cocaine
• methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy)
• phencyclidine (PCP)
• dimethylamphetamine (DMA)
• benzylpiperazine (BZP)
• methylenedioxyamphetamine

The PGA Tour also goes on to differentiate how it treats drugs of abuse vs. anti-doping, as well as its flexibility in sanctioning. To me, it seems that the "program administrator" and tour have wide berth in meting out punishment however they see fit. This only strengthens my suspicion that this 3 month ban has something more behind it than just getting caught with THC in the bloodstream.

How are Drugs of Abuse Violations different from Anti-Doping Rule Violations? Drugs of Abuse Violations, as determined in the discretion of the Program Administrator, shall be referred for evaluation and disciplinary action under the Tournament Regulations for Conduct Unbecoming a Professional. Anti-Doping Rule Violations shall be evaluated under the provisions of the Program and subject to the Sanctions for Anti-Doping Rule Violations.

What is involved in sanctioning? Sanctions for Anti-Doping Rule Violations may include Disqualification, forfeiture of prize money/ points and other awards, ineligibility, and fines. Sanctions for Drugs of Abuse Violations, as determined in the discretion of the Program Administrator, are determined under the Tournament Regulations for Conduct Unbecoming a Professional and may include rehabilitation or medical treatment in lieu of or in addition to other sanctions under the Tournament Regulations.

Source: https://www.usga.org/content/dam/usga/pdf/2018/2017-2018_Anti_Doping_Manual.PDF

 

 

[iacas]

36 minutes ago, chspeed said:

IMO, progressiveness is in decriminalizing a drug that, as you said, is like cigarettes and alcohol (really more like alcohol than cigarettes in that it alters mood significantly). And like alcohol, it's got a lot of downsides, potential health risks, etc. but has become socially acceptable in many places around the world.

I think one the biggest problem with legalization is that there is no good spot-check right now. There is no widely available "breathalyzer" to tell if someone is, for instance, high while driving. And since THC lingers in the body, blood test or urine show exposure in the last week or two.

Yes. And if RG had been drunk three days before his round, nobody would care. We don't know if he was high on the course or just got high in the days before.

I just think that the severity of the suspension seems out of line with the times. I'm wondering if there is more to this story than just getting caught with some THC in his bloodstream.

He didn’t get arrested. He’s not going to jail.

It has next to nothing to do with the US policy here. It’s a WADA policy, and a PGA Tour policy.