MLB to stop testing minor leaguers for marijuana as part of new drug agreement, report says

MLB and the MLB Players Association are negotiating changes to the drug agreement that would introduce opioid testing. As part of the new drug agreement, MLB would also remove marijuana from the league’s list of banned substances for minor-league players, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal. Players on the 40-man roster are not tested for marijuana, but non-40-man roster minor leaguers are, and several are suspended for marijuana use each season. There were 13 such suspensions in 2019.

Under the current drug agreement non-40-man roster minor leaguers are suspended 25 games for their first positive test for a “drug of abuse,” 50 games for a second positive test, 100 games for a third positive test, and are banned for life for a fourth positive test. Former Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress is among the notable players suspended three times for marijuana use in the minors.

Drug suspensions equal lost pay and lost opportunity, two things of paramount importance to minor leaguers. Marijuana is a recreational drug, not a performance-enhancer, and more states are voting to legalize marijuana seemingly every year. The MLBPA doesn’t do much for non-40-man roster players, but getting marijuana removed from the banned substance list is significant. [Read more at CBS Spots]