Chiefs’ WR Dwayne Bowe Suspended One Game For Marijuana Posession

Welcome to today’s NFL, where you can beat your wife into unconsciousness — a felony in most states — and only get a two-game suspension, but smoke a harmless medicinal herb, and you’re going to pay.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was suspended for the first game of the upcoming NFL season, Fox Sports is reporting.

Bowe released a statement through the NFL Players Association, which was quoted in the New York Daily News:

“I made an error in judgment. I take responsibility for my mistake and it will not happen again. I will be supporting my teammates in Week 1, and I cannot wait to get back on the field to help us win in Week 2 and beyond as we work toward our goal of winning the Super Bowl.”

The suspension stems from an incident that took place late last year. On November 10, Bowe was pulled over by police for speeding in a Riverside, Missouri, a Kansas City suburb. During the traffic stop, Bowe was found to be in possession of a black bag with two containers of marijuana. He was arrested and taken to jail — possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana in Missouri is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail, according to Marijuana Policy Project.

He later pleaded guilty to lesser charges related to the traffic stop; the marijuana charge was likely dropped. But of course, the NFL does not brook the specter of Reefer Madness infiltrating the ranks of its players — all of whom are pillars of their community — and handed Bowe a one-game suspension for violating the League’s substance-abuse policy.

This is not the first time Bowe has gotten under the skin of the Chiefs’ management. According to the New York Daily News, Bowe was suspended four games in 2009 for violating the League’s performance-enhancing drug policy, for taking what his agent described as an unapproved weight-loss supplement. He’s also been known to show up out-of-shape to training camp, and make comments to the media that don’t put the team in a good light.

The Chiefs are likely to feel the loss of Bowe in their season opener against the Titans, according to Adam Teicher of ESPN. Though their backup receivers are competent, the Chiefs have high hopes for Bowe, and have been without a top-tier wide receiver for several seasons.

Do you believe Dwayne Bowe’s suspension for pot is a fair punishment? Or is the NFL overreacting? Let us know what you think in the Comments.

[Image courtesy of: Michael Dolce]