Buccaneers’ Gregory suing the NFL, alleging discrimination for THC fines

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Randy Gregory has filed a lawsuit against the NFL, alleging discrimination while seeking repayment of more than $500,000 in fines levied by the league for the use of doctor-prescribed THC to social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to court documents.

Gregory filed the lawsuit in Arapahoe County (Colo.) District Court this week and also names the Denver Broncos, his former team, in the suit. Though the Broncos are named, only the NFL, not teams, levy fines for violations of its substance-abuse policy per the collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA.

The lawsuit claims Gregory was prescribed Dronabinol, a form of synthetic cannabis, to treat his diagnosed disabilities. The NFL no longer suspends players for THC use, but it is still a banned substance and players who test positive are subject to escalating fines. The lawsuit, filed by attorney Spencer Kontnik, claims Gregory has received $532,500 in fines from the league since March 2023. Between then and the end of the 2023 season, he played for both the Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers before signing with the Buccaneers this offseason.

Gregory, according to the suit, first sought permission from the league in March of 2023 to use Dronabinol during non-work hours, but he was denied. The lawsuit claims the league and club’s refusal to make “reasonable accommodations” by allowing Gregory to take the prescribed medication is discriminatory under Colorado law.

Gregory, according to the lawsuit, is seeking damages “including, but not limited to, repayment of the monetary fines that Mr. Gregory was required to pay including interest to the fullest extent permitted by law in an amount to be determined at trial.”

The Broncos signed Gregory, who has been open publicly about living with social anxiety disorder, to a five-year contract in March of 2022 that came with $28 million guaranteed. He played in only 10 games for the Broncos. Much of his 2022 season was wiped out due to a knee injury and he was traded after only four games in 2023. He had 2 1/2 sacks in 12 games with the 49ers last season and saw snaps in all three of the team’s postseason games.

Gregory was frequently suspended by the NFL earlier in his career when the league still pulled that lever as punishment for violations of its substance-abuse rules. That included suspensions for all of the 2017 and 2019 seasons while he played with the Dallas Cowboys.

Gregory, a second-round pick out of Nebraska in 2016, signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers in April.

(Photo: Cooper Neill / Getty Images)