Adam "Pacman" Jones Admits to Evading NFL Drug Tests, Sparks Debate on Cannabis Policy
Former NFL cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, a long-time proponent of cannabis use, recently confessed to a history of circumventing the league’s substance abuse policy during his playing career. In a candid interview on Deion Sanders’ show "We Got Time Today," Jones revealed that he never submitted his own urine for drug tests, claiming he expertly outsmarted the system.
"I cheated the program," Jones declared, boasting about his ability to evade detection. "Like I was really good. People don’t know how smart I am, but like, I can say it now. I don’t play no more. But like, I’ve never used my (urine) for a (urine) test. Not one time. Not one time."
Sanders, the show’s co-host and a mentor to Jones, expressed skepticism, suggesting that such tactics would be impossible in the current NFL environment due to stricter monitoring procedures. However, Jones firmly disagreed, asserting that it is still possible to manipulate the system with the right knowledge.
"It can happen if you know what you’re doing," Jones countered. "Don’t say it can’t happen, pop. Hey pop, don’t say it can’t happen."
Sanders argued that the presence of drug testers during collection makes it nearly impossible to substitute samples, stating, "The reason it can’t because they go in there with you right now. No, no. They go in there and watch you pull out."
Undeterred, Jones insisted, "You still can get ’em."
When Rocsi Diaz, the show’s other co-host, pressed Jones for details on how he managed to evade detection, he was about to reveal his methods before Sanders intervened. "You want me to tell you how?" Jones teased. "I’m gonna give you all the secret right now…"
"Nope, nope, nope," Sanders interjected, cutting off Jones before he could divulge any further information.
"The cups they give you…" Jones began, before Sanders shut down the conversation entirely.
Jones’ revelation comes at a time when the NFL’s stance on cannabis is evolving. The league has gradually relaxed its marijuana policy in recent years, driven by player advocacy and shifting societal attitudes towards cannabis use.
Jones, who last played in the NFL in 2018, has consistently argued that cannabis should not be considered a performance-enhancing drug. He pointed out that the league readily prescribes opiates, pain pills, and muscle relaxers to players, questioning whether cannabis use is truly more detrimental.
"They’re giving guys opiates, pain pills, muscle relaxers; you’re telling me that a guy that’s smoking THC (cannabis), that it’s helping him perform more, or are you telling me is it helping his body?" Jones questioned.
He went on to say "no sport" should be testing for THC and said it helps with pain.
"I’m all for the weed," he said.
During Jones’ final season in the NFL, a positive test for marijuana was triggered by 35 nanograms per milliliter. The threshold has since been raised to 350 nanograms per milliliter, reflecting the league’s increasingly lenient approach.
While testing positive for marijuana can still result in fines, the consequences are significantly less severe than in the past, when suspensions were a possibility. However, deliberately attempting to alter a test result, as Jones admitted to doing, could have led to harsher penalties.
The NFL’s substance abuse policy in 2018 stated that such actions "will be treated as a positive test and may subject a player to additional discipline."
The NFL declined to comment on Jones’ admission.
Jones’ history in the NFL was marked by both talent and controversy. Drafted sixth overall in 2005, he played for four teams, including the Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals. However, his career was also marred by off-the-field incidents. In 2007, he was suspended for the entire season due to violations of the league’s personal conduct policy.
Following his suspension, Jones faced increased drug testing, including "every other day" and even while he was out of the country. This intensified scrutiny likely fueled his efforts to circumvent the testing procedures.
Jones’ story reignites the debate about the NFL’s cannabis policy and the lengths to which players have gone to avoid detection. His confession raises questions about the effectiveness of past testing methods and the ongoing challenges of maintaining a fair and consistent substance abuse policy in professional sports. It also underscores the growing sentiment among players that cannabis should be viewed as a therapeutic aid rather than a performance-enhancing substance. The conversation surrounding cannabis in the NFL is far from over, and Jones’ revelations will undoubtedly fuel further discussion and potential policy changes in the future.
