Nick Giannino
Assistant Editor

The National Football League’s Player Association (NFLPA) recently agreed to significantly increase the threshold for positive marijuana tests. Players, including Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon, have complained that the threshold is so low that it causes false positives during drug tests.

The new law means that the threshold will be set at 35 nanograms per milliliter instead of the previous 15 ng/ml.

With that law being passed, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell have decided to reduce Gordon’s season-long suspension to 10 games.

Having already served one game for his league violation, Gordon will be eligible to play in week 11 when the Browns travel to Atlanta to take on the Falcons.

The now 10-game suspension of Gordon is still a huge blow to the Browns offense. Gordon led the league with 1,646 receiving yards and nine touchdowns last season, despite playing only 14 of the 16 games.

Along with the new marijuana rule, the NFLPA also voted in favor of testing for human growth hormone (HGH) in the 2014 season. This means that players such as Wes Welker, who was suspended for amphetamine use in the offseason, will no longer be penalized, unless a violation occurs during the season.

The Broncos receiver will no longer be suspended for his amphetamine use because his punishment is being switched from the performance enhancers policy to the substance abuse program. Welker, who sat out in his team’s season opener a week ago, is eligible to play in week two.

The NFL still has a lot of things to figure out in terms of the new drug policy, but this is certainly a big step in creating a more successful system.