Raiders receiver Randy Moss admits he has used marijuana since entering the NFL in 1998, according to published reports. In an HBO interview, Moss reveals he still smokes the substance "every blue moon."
“I have used, you know, marijuana . . . since I’ve been in the league,” Moss reportedly told HBO's “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.” “But as far as abusing it and, you know, letting it take control over me, I don’t do that, no.”
Moss (right) addressed the HBO interview after a Raiders practice Aug. 18 in Houston, but he didn't take questions. "A lot of people are jumping to conclusions because they really don't know the real story or haven't even heard the real story yet," Moss told reporters. "That was really me talking in the past tense of way back in the beginning of my career and my childhood — especially in high school and college."
During the HBO interview that first aired Aug. 22, Moss responded to the question if he still uses marijuana: “I might. I might have fun. And, you know, hopefully, . . . I won’t get into any trouble by the NFL by saying that, you know. I have had fun throughout my years and, you know, predominantly in the offseason.
“But, you know, I don’t want kids, you know, watching this taking a lesson from me as far as ‘Well, Randy Moss used it so I’m going to use it.’ I don’t want that to get across. Like I say . . . I have used (marijuana) in the past. And every blue moon or every once in a while I might.”
Moss' agent, Dante DiTrapano, reportedly said that Moss was talking about past marijuana use during the HBO interview. "In an attempt to promote their dying network, they have maliciously couched his remarks in a manner that is confusing and leaves room for negative interpretation. This is just some attempt to malign his character."
DiTrapano said that Moss is not in the NFL's substance-abuse program and has passed every urinalysis requested by the league since entering the NFL.
The league protects the privacy of its athletes in its substance-abuse program. Every NFL player under contract reportedly is tested once between April 20 and Aug. 9 for marijuana and other substances banned by the league. Random testing for steroids is administered year-round. The NFL's drug policy reportedly calls for up to 10 tests a month after a positive result.
This is the latest controversy for Moss, whom the Raiders acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings in March. Moss, 28, reportedly has been fined more than $100,000 for various offenses (but none for drug use) during his NFL career, including squirting an official with water and fake mooning fans at Green Bay's Lambeau Field after scoring during a playoff game.
