Crimson Red Sports

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Players testing positive for marijuana in the mighty Southeastern Conference do not face the one-year suspension that comes from getting busted by the NCAA.Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi State are the only ones with suspensions for athletes' first positive test for marijuana, 10 percent of the season for each. Kentucky includes possible dismissal for each of the first two positives, with a half-season suspension for No. 2.

The policy variations continue beyond the first positive test.

Six of the schools have a three-strikes-and-you're-out method. At Florida, you might get a fifth strike. At Arkansas, four. And Ole Miss doesn't have a defined number.

The use of recreational drugs is a growing concern around all of college football.

The NCAA report released in January found 26.7 percent of football players said they smoked marijuana in 2009 -- the latest year available -- 5 percentage points higher than in 2005.

Most SEC schools have had to deal with the problem.

Even the comparatively stiff penalties at Georgia haven't been completely effective as deterrents. The Bulldogs might open next football season without two defensive backs.

Bulldogs cornerback Branden Smith was charged with marijuana possession in March. Rambo failed a drug test after, his high school coach said, inadvertently eating marijuana-laced brownies on a spring break trip to Florida...........http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/8000546/sec-lenient-discipline-marijuana-investigation-says

He must think we're on dope to believe that one!