Reefer Madness: Linebacker Faces 4 Game Suspension for < Ounce of Weed
ATHENS, Ga. – A linebacker for the Georgia Bulldogs was arrested for marijuana possession Thursday evening. Natrez Patrick was arrested and booked for marijuana possession of less than one ounce at the Athens-Clarke County jail. The arrest comes just before a big Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt game that Patrick was expected to start in.
Patrick posted bail less than an hour later on possession charges and a parking violation. The bail was set at $1500. The arrest was the second for the linebacker, who had also been arrested in 2015 along with ex-teammate Chauncey Rivers for pot. Rivers was kicked off the team after a few more arrests for marijuana possession. Another incident occurred last year when a RA in his dorm smelled marijuana and called the police. No arrests were made.
Patrick was suspended for the Bulldogs vs. Vanderbilt game Sunday and may be suspended for four more games, according to the Georgia Athletic Association code of policies. When Georgia Athletics was contacted by the press for a comment, no one could be reached. The code of conduct states that:
The student-athlete will be suspended from competition during the athletic season for no less than 30 % of the total sport season. If either of the two offenses is a DUI, the competition suspension will be no less than 50% of the total sport season. The Director of Athletics and Head Sport Coach will review the case and determine whether the student-athlete is allowed to practice during the suspension.
There have been two other arrests of Georgia football players for pot this year. Georgia Bulldog tailback Elijah Holyfield and receiver Riley Ridley were arrested in separate incidents for possession of marijuana. They were both suspended for one game. Atlanta has passed a proposal to decriminalize marijuana, but the rest of the state is not on the same page.
Niko Mann is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. She enjoys writing about activism, social justice, politics, education, marketing, and comedy.
