PGA Tour Golfer Suspended for Testing Positive for Cannabis

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]he first Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour player who was suspended for consuming “a drug of abuse” failed a drug test for cannabis and admitted it on Twitter.

Professional golfer Robert Garrigus posted a statement regarding his suspension by the PGA Tour, apologizing to family, friends and his sponsors for a positive drug test for cannabis. “After a long period of sobriety, I had a relapse and subsequently failed a drug test for marijuana,” read the statement. “A drug, that although is legal in many states, is not permitted under the PGA Tour’s anti-doping rules.”

The only other PGA Tour players who have been suspending by the tour’s anti-doping program are Brad Fritsch, Mark Hensby, Scott Stallings, Bhavik Patel and Doug Barron. “I will use this time away from golf to be with my family and work on regaining my sobriety. It doesn’t matter if you are one day, one week or nine years clean; one misstep, one lapse in judgment can impact your life in monumental fashion,” he continued.

Garrigus has been open with his previous history of drug use before his participation with the PGA Tour. In 2003, he checked into a 30-day program at Calvary Ranch. “I spent 30 days to change the rest of my life,” he said. He appeared in seven PGA Tour events this year so far, but is now suspended for three months. The next tournament he could be eligible for is the Rocket Mortgage Classic June 27-30 in Detroit, Michigan. He finished 131st in the FedEx Cup last year and was playing this year on conditional status, tying for 64th in the Genesis Open.

This is my statement regarding my suspension by the PGA TOUR. pic.twitter.com/isatq7c9Mx

— Robert Garrigus (@garrigus_robert) March 22, 2019

Although Garrigus phrases his recent cannabis consumption as a lapse in his addiction, there are many studies that have found cannabis to be a useful substance in helping people ditch their other addictions such as opioids. Even the DEA has determined that more cannabis should be grown and fewer opioids should be produced in 2019 and beyond. While officials in some states like Pennsylvania and Illinois have also recognized that opioids are the leading cause of death in many adults, it doesn’t stop currently addicted people from paying the price. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 47,600 people died in 2017 alone due to opioid abuse.

Likewise, alcohol abuse can also be curbed using cannabis. Currently, an estimated 88,000 people die every year due to alcohol-related causes. The use of cannabis to treat alcohol addiction was first introduced in 2003 when a researcher studied the habits of 92 Californians. His findings revealed that “All patients reported benefit, indicating that for at least a subset of alcoholics, cannabis use is associated with reduced drinking.” In states where medical cannabis is legal, traffic fatalities have been reported to have dropped significantly.

Ultimately, cannabis is not everyone’s cup of tea, especially for celebrity athletes who have an image to uphold. However many studies exhibit evidence of how cannabis can help trump other addictions, which will continue to be useful for those who are seeking help.