ENGLEWOOD, Colorado: Randy Gregory, who took THC-containing medication for his disability during his brief stay in Denver, is suing the NFL and the Broncos, alleging discrimination and receiving a $532,500 punishment.
The 31-year-old pass rusher, who currently plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, filed a complaint this week in Arapahoe County District Court alleging that he was prescribed Dronabinol for social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders, but that he was not given accommodations to treat those disabilities with that medication.
When The Associated Press contacted the NFL and the Broncos on Friday, they both declined to comment on Gregory’s case.
The majority of the psychological effects of marijuana are caused by a molecule called THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. Although it is no longer one of the league’s prohibited substances, players who test positive for it still face sanctions.
Although teams have no say in fining players who break the league’s drug rules, the Broncos are mentioned in the case. A third-party medical practitioner who is jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA administers the collectively bargained substances of abuse policy.
According to the complaint, Gregory received a diagnosis of PTSD in February 2023 and social anxiety disorder in 2021.
According to the complaint, Gregory requested to use Dronabinol outside of work hours in March 2023, but both the NFL and the Broncos rejected his request. Gregory’s representative, Peter Schaffer, asked for a therapeutic use exemption two months later; this request was similarly turned down.
According to the complaint, Gregory has been penalized $532,500 for consistently testing positive for THC since March 2023. The lawsuit claims that it is discriminatory under Colorado law for the league and club to refuse to provide adjustments for Gregory because of his disability.
Gregory was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 2015 draft. He spent five seasons as a player with Dallas, where he often faced suspensions for breaking the league’s drug policy.
Due to a knee ailment, he missed the majority of the 2022 season after signing with Denver. The Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers, who acquired him in a trade in October, split the 2023 season.
This spring, Gregory, who has played in 72 games over seven NFL seasons and accumulated 22 career sacks, inked a one-year contract with the Buccaneers.
