N/S Josh Gordon stepping away from Patriots.

wesleyTX13 said
Medical marijuana is legal in 33 of the 50 states and all of that has only happened in the last few years. The fact that that most of if not all of these players were breaking the law before that time or in states where it isn't legal seems to be the point you are missing. Marijuana is not the only way to treat stress, depression, or other mental health issues. People self prescribing is definitely not the answer. Plus, playing in the NFL is a privilege and these guys know the rules before signing up.

On top of all of that, Josh Gordon's use of marijuana, alcohol, and cocaine clearly never helped his mental health. He is an all world talent but he is a tormented individual who needs help that those drugs don't bring. Let's be real for a minute, he is stepping away because he is about to be suspended for illegally using drugs.

Yeah, I think people seem to be getting hung up on 'stepping away' - that's just his statement about what's going on. Obviously he has another failed test and at this point, that means immediate, indefinite suspension. He's done for now, and maybe forever. But he knows that the only path forward for him is to try to get back on the path.

Whether that will matter remains to be seen - this is basically unprecedented. Beyond that, I don't think any of us has the full facts nor do we know what the discussions and parameters of his return this year were. Did the league say "if you fail one more time, that's it forever" or does the league take a more day-by-day approach? Who knows.