NEWS
WEONESDflY’
JANUARY 20,2016
n
Drug problems in NFL
Troilinger
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Avenue house
Officers uncover
possession of
marijuana during
party trash search,
no arrests made
Bryan Anderson
News Editor
(gbryanranderson
PHOTO COURTESY OF TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES
New England Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones (95) is blocked by Miami Dolphins tackle Bryant McKinnie Oct. 27,2013. Jones was hospitalized Jan. 10.
New England Patriots defensive end
Chandler Jones was hospitalized Jan. 10 after
suffering a reaction to synthetic marijuana.
The athlete reportedly arrived at the rear
entrance of Foxboro’s public safety building
that Sunday morning, shirtless and anxiously
seeking aid from police. Jones was “polite
and cooperative/’ according a report made by
Officer Foscaldo, and was rushed to Norwood
Hospital by Fire and Service Paramedics.
Though technically Jones’ use of the
substance breached none of the NFL’s
substance abuse policies, it has opened a
league-wide debate on what should be done
to address the increase in use of synthetic
cannabinoids.
and other devices (liquid incense).”
Related to the chemicals found in
marijuana plant species, they are marketed as
harmless alternatives to their natural cousin.
Despite their legal status, these cannabinoids
actually affect the brain more powerfully
than those found in marijuana — and with
unpredictable effects.
Effects include elevated mood, relaxation,
altered perception, psychosis, extreme
anxiety, confusion, extreme paranoia and
hallucinations. In some instances, the drug
proves fatal.
New York Jets player Kellen Williams in
2014.
Synthetic marijuana and the NFL
Why synthetic marijuana?
What is synthetic marijuana?
According to the National Institute on
Drug Abuse, “synthetic cannabinoids refer
to a growing number of man-made mind-
altering chemicals that are either sprayed on
to dried, shredded plant material so they can
be smoked (herbal incense) or sold as liquids
to be vaporized and inhaled in e-cigarettes
There is widespread belief that synthetic
marijuana does not appear on drug tests,
an ideal alternative for those under strict
substance scrutiny, such as Jones. But this
is not necessarily true, proven by Louisiana
State University players Tyrann Mathieu,
Tharold Simon and Spencer Ware, who
tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids
in 2011. Regardless, their legal status tempts
players to use them, as seen in the case of
In an excerpt from the NFL’s drug
policy, the league sets fairly vague standards.
According to the policy, players are
prohibited from “the illegal use, possession,
or distribution of drugs including but not
limited to cocaine; marijuana; opiates and
opioids; methylenedioxymethamphetamine
(MDMA); and phencyclidine (PCP).”
The policy states that players are also
prohibited from abusing alcohol, prescription
drugs and over-the-counter drugs as well. It
states that “the use of amphetamines and
substances that induce similar effects, absent
a verified and legitimate need for appropriate
dosages of such substances to treat existing
medical conditions, is prohibited.”
Given the spike in public popularity, and
Jones’ recent snafu, the NFL is preparing to
take a hard stance on synthetic cannabinoids
and make an example of Jones as a reference
for future infractions.
Town of Elon Police executed
a search warrant Jan. 16 at 309 W,
Troilinger Ave. after uncovering
possession of marijuana during
a routine 8 a.m. town ordinanc!
party trash search.
“Every morning, officers comi
out and look for the town ordinancf
violations, [including] excesshi
trash in the yards and they addres
it by 8 in the morning,” said Patro
Lt. Jim Giannotti.
After noticing excessive tras'
on the West Troilinger houss
front lawn, an officer approach
one of the students in the hoir
and discovered drug paraphernall;
on the coffee table. According.
Giannotti, the student told t)i
officer he would need to get
search warrant before entering tli
house.
“The important part was it m
a minor violation that turned inti
having to do a search warrant ft
minor drug violations,” Giannot
said.
While Giannotti could n#;
confirm the identities of
individuals inside the house
the time of the search warraii
execution, he said there wet
students inside. He added i
individuals would be arrested i
this time.
A police report is scheduledtij
be made publicly available late
this week.
—NEWS BRIEFI
New performing arts
production premieres
Thursday, Jan. 21
Upcoming winterfaith
session to foster discus
sion of Sikh traditions
Elon announces new
director of annual giving
Elon's Department of Performing
Arts is putting on its production of Wil
liam Shakespeare’s “All’s Well That
Ends Well” Jan. 21 -24 and Feb. 3-6.
Professor Fredrick J. Rubeck, chair of
the department, is directing the play,
which will take place in the Black Box
in Roberts Studio Theatre at Arts West!
The play will be shown 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday through Friday, 2 and
7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sun
day. Admission is $13 or free with an
Elon ID.
From 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. today,
members of the Elon community are
invited to learn more about the Sikh
faith during the latest installment of
the winterfaith Lunch Series. Previous
sessions Jan. 6 and Jan. 13 covered
Friends (Quaker) and Buddhist beliefs.
The discussion will take place in the
Community Life Center at Elon Com
munity Church. Elon students who
choose to attend will receive a free
lunch. These events are sponsored by
the Elon Community Church and the
university’s Truitt Center for Religious
and Spiritual Life.
Steve Codner, former associate
director of the annual fund at Bucknell
University, has been named Elon
University’s new director of annual giving.
Fie began his duties at Elon Jan. 4.
Codner will lead a team of six people
focused on increasing annual giving to
the university. Flis other responsibilities
will include reaching outtothe Elon alumni
community and other demographics with
connections to the university.
In addition to his time as director of
Bucknell’s annual fund, Codner has
served as senior manager of annual fund
marketing at Buoknell and director of
annual giving at Elmira College.
Tapped Out!'
performances Friday,
Saturday
Gene Medler, adjunct instruct^
dance will direct faculty and si
' students in a tap-dancing P*
mance Jan. 22 and 23. i
The 2016 Tap ensemble will?
form various pieces of tap danj
the’ Black Box Theatre. The (f.
mances will take place at 6 an[l|
p.m. Friday, then again at 2 anT
p.m. Saturday. ,
Admission is $13 or free wih-
ID at the door.