Josh Howard admits to smoking marijuana

[DJT]

Just saw this on ESPN, he admits to smoking marijuana during the offseason. All I can say is wow. I for one lost a lot of respect for him. For someone who is a role model to so many kids and for a guy who always wants to help his community (Winston-Salem) this really seems like a huge mistake. I don't see how he doesn't see it as a problem. 1 its illegal, 2 its bad for you, and 3 its agianst the NBAs substance abuse policy. I hope he gets suspended for this.

Cuban: Mavs will deal with Howard's admission of drug use internally
By Marc Stein

DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard brought unexpected and possibly unprecedented attention to himself Friday, just hours before Game 3 of the Mavericks' first-round series with New Orleans, by openly discussing his offseason marijuana use on Dallas' ESPN Radio affiliate.

Appearing on "The Michael Irvin Show" in Dallas Friday, Maverick Josh Howard admitted that he smokes marijuana during the offseason.

Expounding on comments about marijuana that he made over the weekend to The Dallas Morning News, Howard joined "The Michael Irvin Show" on ESPN Radio 103.3 FM on Friday afternoon and told the Hall of Fame wide receiver that he "probably" would not smoke marijuana in-season even if the league did not have a random testing program. But Howard also described "smoking weed in the offseason sometimes" as his "personal choice and personal opinion."

"I don't think that's stopping me from doing my job," Howard told Irvin.

The 28-year-old from Wake Forest, selected by NBA commissioner David Stern to fill a roster spot created by injury on the Western Conference All-Star team in 2007, added, "I think that everybody in the media world and in the sports world knows that NBA players do smoke marijuana."

It was not immediately clear what sort of punishment Howard could face for his candor, either from the league office or his team. But one source close to the situation told ESPN.com that the league likely "can't" suspend Howard for simply talking about marijuana usage.

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said before Friday's game against the Hornets that any punishment from the club will be meted out "internally."

"We won't make it public," Cuban said. "But we'll deal with it.

"We'll do what we need to do and deal with it internally and then that's it."

Howard told reporters before tipoff that he would not discuss the matter further until after the game but insisted that "it hasn't been a distraction," thanks in part to the support of teammates. He was then cheered supportively by Mavericks fans during pre-game warmups and again when he converted a first-quarter layup for his first basket.

Mavericks forward Josh Howard revealed he uses marijuana in the offseason.

NBA players are required to undergo four random tests every season between Oct. 1 and June 30. But a player who tests positive for marijuana is not subjected to his first five-game suspension -- or even public knowledge he has failed a drug test -- until his third failed test.

There likewise appears to be no penalty precedent for a player who merely shares details about his substance abuse in the media.

Two sources close to the situation told ESPN.com Howard will almost certainly be entered immediately into the NBA's marijuana program -- which would require him to submit to counseling and much more frequent testing, including offseason checks -- but it would appear that he is not at risk for a suspension unless he has failed two previous tests.

The league issued no response to Howard's comments Friday, citing a policy in its anti-drug agreement with the union that forbids the NBA and the Players Association from publicly discussing specifics about substance-abuse issues.

"I haven't heard the interview and I haven't spoken with Josh," Mavericks coach Avery Johnson said during his usual pregame meeting with reporters. "Once I hear the interview and talk to Josh about whatever was said, we'll go from there."

Johnson did add, however, that Howard's decision to consent to the interview and invite questions on this topic on the day of a playoff game was "what I call poor timing and poor judgment."

Dallas is already reeling from a 2-0 deficit to the Hornets entering a crucial Game 3 at home.

Howard has struggled mightily in the series, averaging 13.5 points on 26.9 percent shooting from the floor. But the discussion about marijuana with Irvin came at Howard's urging -- as the station stressed repeatedly during subsequent programming -- to clarify the statements he made to The Morning News.

Asked by Irvin's co-host, Kevin Kiley, if he fears that his struggles in this series will be linked to his marijuana admission, Howard said: "Oh yeah, I understand that. … I know that's not the truth."

Added Howard, "Like I was saying to the [Morning News reporter], it has nothing to do with what I do as far as basketball, when I go out there and perform. That's how I feel about it."

He explained: "What I was stating was just [in response to] a random question he asked me about the marijuana use. I just let him know that most of the players in the league use marijuana and I have and do partake in smoking weed in the offseason sometimes and that's my personal choice and my personal opinion. But I don't think that's stopping me from doing my job."

Asked why he wanted to discuss marijuana on a sports-radio talk show, Howard said: "I was raised on being truthful and honest with myself and my family, so I can say it with no problems and go out there and perform to the best of my abilities tonight and not even think about it."

Howard first publicly addressed marijuana use and what effect it might have had on him slipping to No. 29 in the 2003 draft in an interview with ESPN.com's TrueHoop blogger Henry Abbott before last season's playoffs. The Morning News addressed the TrueHoop interview with Howard in an article that appeared in last Saturday's editions.

The Morning News quoted Howard as saying that he received no flak for the interview. And when asked to quantify the extent of his marijuana use, Howard told the paper that he got "a little crazy" in high school but uses it "less" now and never during the season.

Marijuana is "nothing I'm needing," Howard said. He contrasted that to some NBA players who he says "have to have it."

"What can I say?" Howard told the paper. "If you can do it and it's not affecting your everyday life, why stop? If I'm able to do it, but not while I play basketball, it lets you know I can quit whenever."

 

[bulls12]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...er.3c2e27c.html

Dallas Mavericks' Josh Howard admitted pot use, denied need

01:23 AM CDT on Saturday, April 19, 2008

By BRAD TOWNSEND / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

During his five NBA seasons, Josh Howard has been candid with The Dallas Morning News and other media outlets about using marijuana.

Entering last season's playoffs, the ESPN.com blog TrueHoop asked Howard whether he slipped to No. 29 in the 2003 NBA draft because teams were concerned that he had a marijuana problem.

Howard responded that "a lot of people have that problem" and speculated that players selected ahead of him also smoked pot. He said it shouldn't have affected his draft status.

Asked whether he caught any flak for that interview, Howard said no. When asked to quantify the extent of his use, he said he got "a little crazy" in high school but uses it "less" now and never during the season.

He emphasizes that marijuana is "nothing I'm needing," unlike some NBA players who "have to have it."

"What can I say? If you can do it and it's not affecting your everyday life, why stop? If I'm able to do it, but not while I play basketball, it lets you know I can quit whenever."

Tim Frank, the NBA's vice president for communications, said the league doesn't comment on specific players and the anti-drug policy.

Under terms of the league's collective bargaining agreement, NBA players are subject to four random tests during the season (Oct. 1-June 30) for performance-enhancing and recreational drugs.

If a player tests positive for marijuana, he is placed in a drug counseling program. A second violation results in a $25,000 fine. Subsequent violations result in incremental five-game suspensions. The only suspension of Howard's career were the two games the NBA assessed to start this season, after a preseason-game skirmish with Sacramento's Brad Miller.

In 2001, former NBA veteran Charles Oakley estimated that 60 percent of NBA players used marijuana.

In 2005, 59 NBA players participated in a Rocky Mountain News survey on the topic. The average estimate from the survey was that 30 percent of NBA players smoke marijuana.

 

[The Young One]

At least he's being honest about it. Idc really a lot of players proably smoke weed.

 

[Mexi]

i think its too bad...

 

[bulls12]

You have a good point there TYO.

I just think it's stupid for any athlete to do that to their body. All the drugs can't be good for your respiratory and circulatory systems. It tears at their body, and their career. Just look at Ricky Williams.

 

[The Young One]

You have a good point there TYO.

I just think it's stupid for any athlete to do that to their body. All the drugs can't be good for your respiratory and circulatory systems. It tears at their body, and their career. Just look at Ricky Williams.

Yea but a lot of players/people who think weed has no affect on their bodies really. They feel that only reason weed isnt legal isnt because the government can't tax it.

 

[DJT]

Yea, he actually said something like "there are a lot of players who do it." Or something like that.

 

[playmaker7]

If you didn't know/think alot of players do it then you're blind IMO. JH5 looks like a druggy anyways lol. But it's whatever now. He just came out and admitted it and I don't think he should be penalized in any way since he admitted it himself and didn't get caught with it. Besides, he said its in the offseason...

 

[jarrod2323]

it is a PROVEN fact that long term smoking of marijuana has a negative effect on the body. PERIOD.

these guys make way too much money to even tamper with their future..

just my 2cents - this has been an ongoing argument since the 60s -- and guess what -- it's still ILLEGAL!!!

 

[Grandy28]

it is a PROVEN fact that long term smoking of marijuana has a negative effect on the body. PERIOD.

these guys make way too much money to even tamper with their future..

just my 2cents - this has been an ongoing argument since the 60s -- and guess what -- it's still ILLEGAL!!!

Drinking has a long term effect on the body too, guess what thats legal. I don't see why pot shouldn't be legal.

 

[MapleLeaf]

Josh Howard's a great guy. Never done anything wrong in the criminal sense. So if you're gonna lose respect for him whenever about 40-50% of America does it then whatever.

Not saying its right. But I like how Howard came out and said it. Honesty ftw

 

[jarrod2323]

don't try gettin in a debate over this cuz I will win --- I promise.

alcohol has a bad effect if in excess... marijuana doesn't have to be in excess, just repeatedly of period of time and with more dramatic effects to heart and respiratory, not to mention brain function deterioration.

i never said alcohol wasn't bad, but it IS legal..
why someone would want to put smoke into their body and have that FUNKY-ASS smell all over their body and clothes is beyond me... to me, it's just weak-minded people who can't clear their heads or deal with reality in a normal way

not to mention -- legalizing marijuna (which is the leading contributor to harder drugs) would benefit terrorists and gangs around the world who make money on the black market from its sale :blondboob:

 

[.snowy]

So will he get a suspension or not?

 

[jarrod2323]

they were just saying at halftime that the league office will look into and decide at later time -- meaning you will see him do a PUBLIC APOLOGY and probably some kid's drug awareness program

since it's offseason that he's admitting to, I think the above is the most logical

 

[The Young One]

So will he get a suspension or not?

Idk i hope not. He was being honest about it. I bet all the other weed smokers in the league are hella at pissed for josh puttin them out there.

 

[RipCity32]

Come on now, why lose respect for this guy. You might as well have no respect for no one in the NBA, seeing as any of them could smoke marijuana.
I respect him for coming out about it, kudos. Even though it's not right, you can't hate the guy for it.

 

[JoshHoward5]

don't try gettin in a debate over this cuz I will win --- I promise.

alcohol has a bad effect if in excess... marijuana doesn't have to be in excess, just repeatedly of period of time and with more dramatic effects to heart and respiratory, not to mention brain function deterioration.

i never said alcohol wasn't bad, but it IS legal..
why someone would want to put smoke into their body and have that FUNKY-ASS smell all over their body and clothes is beyond me... to me, it's just weak-minded people who can't clear their heads or deal with reality in a normal way

not to mention -- legalizing marijuna (which is the leading contributor to harder drugs) would benefit terrorists and gangs around the world who make money on the black market from its sale :blondboob:

You can die directly from Alcohol, and not form Marijuana. You see people dying from Alcohol poisoning all the time, but there has never been a case from Marijuana overdose. Marijuana might mess up your lungs but Alcohol screws up your liver. It also screws up your brain cells

Smelling Alcohol on some ones breath is almost as easy as smelling pot on someone. You say that Pot is taking the easy way out, but so is heavy drinking.

Also I smoke, but I will never touch any higher drug. There are TONS of people that smoke, and will never even think of touching drugs like Coke, or Heroin , so don't use that gateway bull<Censored>. Also that terorist stuff is funny as hell, since the most stuff people buy are homegrown in America.

Also Pot is not addictive, Alcohol is.

So I will try to debate you, because it's not as sure as you think it is.

 

[bulls12]

Doesn't marijuana mess up your brain cells as well?

 

[DJT]

Josh Howard's a great guy. Never done anything wrong in the criminal sense. So if you're gonna lose respect for him whenever about 40-50% of America does it then whatever.

Not saying its right. But I like how Howard came out and said it. Honesty ftw

Smoking weed is a criminal offense.

You can die directly from Alcohol, and not form Marijuana. You see people dying from Alcohol poisoning all the time, but there has never been a case from Marijuana overdose. Marijuana might mess up your lungs but Alcohol screws up your liver. It also screws up your brain cells

Smelling Alcohol on some ones breath is almost as easy as smelling pot on someone. You say that Pot is taking the easy way out, but so is heavy drinking.

Also I smoke, but I will never touch any higher drug. There are TONS of people that smoke, and will never even think of touching drugs like Coke, or Heroin , so don't use that gateway bull<Censored>. Also that terorist stuff is funny as hell, since the most stuff people buy are homegrown in America.

Also Pot is not addictive, Alcohol is.

So I will try to debate you, because it's not as sure as you think it is.

Just cause there are TONS that don't doesn't mean that there are TONS that won't.

Doesn't marijuana mess up your brain cells as well?

Yes it does.

 

[JoshHoward5]

Smoking weed is a criminal offense.

Just cause there are TONS that don't doesn't mean that there are TONS that won't.


Yes it does.

There's ton of people who have gotten drunk and tried that stuff.