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

[lastings]

3 minutes ago, iacas said:

Some strains of marijuana, for example, slow reaction times. Or blur vision slightly. Or change your perception of the world in some way that may make even driving or other similar activities more dangerous than they would be for a clear-headed person.

literally all strains of Marijuana do this.  smoking and driving should absolutely constitute a DUI.   but, smoking while not driving and minding your own business is less harmful, both to yourself and others, than Alcohol.   And, thus, I will reiterate my statement that the rules regarding Marijuana in both the PGA and Olympics should align themselves with their rules regarding alcohol.  

[rehmwa]

4 minutes ago, lastings said:

thus, I will reiterate my statement that the rules regarding Marijuana in both the PGA and Olympics should align themselves with their rules regarding alcohol.  

"should" - sure, and I agree that those are analogous substances in 'reality' (other than the serious 2nd hand exposure and annoyance), but not in law.

Since these are private entities, the differentiator is the illegality of the substance and they don't want their representatives violating ANY law.  That's different than alcohol.

Whether one feels the law is justified or not, well, that's not the business of the PGA or the Olympics.  That's something that has to be addressed where it belongs - legislation.

[Jeremie Boop]

9 minutes ago, lastings said:

literally all strains of Marijuana do this.  smoking and driving should absolutely constitute a DUI.   but, smoking while not driving and minding your own business is less harmful, both to yourself and others, than Alcohol.   And, thus, I will reiterate my statement that the rules regarding Marijuana in both the PGA and Olympics should align themselves with their rules regarding alcohol.  

Which they won't do because it's not legal pretty much everywhere the same way alcohol is. It's a pretty simple concept.

Edited March 27, 2019 by Jeremie Boop

[iacas]

25 minutes ago, iacas said:

Though I'm guilty of this as well, let's also bring this back to just talking about the PGA Tour, and leave any sort of political leanings or tints out of it. This includes whether pot should be legal or not, etc. (except inasmuch as the legality is a factor in the PGA Tour's enforcement).

Again, guys. Last request.

[lastings]

2 minutes ago, rehmwa said:

"should" - sure, and I agree that those are analogous substances in 'reality' (other than the serious 2nd hand exposure and annoyance), but not in law.

Since these are private entities, the differentiator is the illegality of the substance and they don't want their representatives violating ANY law.  That's different than alcohol.

Whether one feels the law is justified or not, well, that's not the business of the PGA or the Olympics.  That's something that has to be addressed where it belongs - legislation.

 

2 minutes ago, Jeremie Boop said:

Which they won't do because it's not legal pretty much everywhere the same way alcohol is. It's a pretty simple concept.

you guys insist on reiterating the law here, but there are reasons that is a relatively closed minded thought.  

The PGA rule is not about whether or not it is illegal.  it is punishing marijuana users as using drugs of abuse, not punishing users for breaking the law.   Fentanyl and Oxycodone are also on this list, even though they can be legally obtained and used with a prescription.   Those will still get you suspended, regardless of legality.   

I am suggesting that marijuana should be removed from this list, and treated as a substance congruent to Alcohol.  

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, iacas said:

Again, guys. Last request.

I don't know about others, but I am only discussing marijuana as it relates to the PGA rule book.   Which I believe to be on topic.  

regardless, I've said my peace.   I'm probably done here.  

 

[iacas]

4 minutes ago, lastings said:

The PGA rule is not about whether or not it is illegal.

Yes, it is:

On 3/26/2019 at 9:49 AM, billchao said:

The reason it is banned is stated right in the manual: it is illegal in most countries and involvement with illegal substances goes against the spirit of the sport.

You're wrong here.

5 minutes ago, lastings said:

it is punishing marijuana users as using drugs of abuse, not punishing users for breaking the law.

Of course not. The PGA Tour isn't law enforcement.

5 minutes ago, lastings said:

I am suggesting that marijuana should be removed from this list, and treated as a substance congruent to Alcohol.

Alcohol isn't as illegal as marijuana. Alcohol isn't on the WADA list.

[billchao]

17 minutes ago, lastings said:

The PGA rule is not about whether or not it is illegal.

It actually is. I posted this earlier, but worth doing again. Straight out of their banned substances manual:

[dennyjones]

1 hour ago, rehmwa said:

frankly, those kids really should stay off your lawn

I'm the reformed curmudgeon!

 

It looks like the posts almost all conclude that he was guilty of breaking a PGA rule and as such should be punished.  For that I agree.   

Edited March 27, 2019 by dennyjones

[3jacker]

On 3/26/2019 at 5:22 PM, lastings said:

off topic by quite a ways here....   but cheating on your wife with like a thousand Denny's waitresses and getting caught driving when you're too high to know what state you're in isn't exactly analogous to smoking marijuana.  

Hey now, to be fair.. .it was only hundreds (according to TW).  Not thousands.😁

 

As for RG, this was a flagrant violation of Tour rules and he knew the consequences and the manner in which testing is done.  His apology seems to be transparent and accepting of his punishment, even eludes to a deeper ongoing issue (might have been over the top, if you ask me).  And 3 mos is nothing, especially when you usually miss the cut.

Edited March 28, 2019 by 3jacker