When the National Football League issued a two-game suspension for Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice following a widely publicized and documented domestic abuse incident, there was a widespread cry of injustice across the nation.

For those unfamiliar with the situation: Reports claim that Rice and his then-fiancée (now wife) Janay Palmer were seen arguing, when Palmer struck Rice with her hands. In retaliation, Rice punched her so hard that she was knocked out cold. Rice was then caught on video dragging the unconscious Palmer out of an elevator. Especially with partial footage of the event surfacing, many people were hoping that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s punishment of Rice would make an iron-fisted statement on behalf of the league that domestic abuse is utterly intolerable. Instead, Goodell suspended Rice for a paltry two games, resulting in a considerable amount of scorn and criticism being sent Goodell’s way.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Browns receiver Josh Gordon has also been at the center of controversy after testing positive for trace amounts of marijuana in his system. Gordon, a breakout star last season, has also been suspended for violating league rules, after he was found with trace amounts of marijuana in his system.

Gordon’s punishment? Suspended for the entire season—16 games—despite the fact that there was some controversy over the amount of THC found in his system. Gordon’s “A-test” came back at just one nanogram-per milliliter over the limit of 15 ng/ml, and his secondary “B-test” came back under the limit, meaning that only one of his samples technically tested positive. Because of this, some have criticized the league’s harsh punishment of Gordon in the wake of the unbelievably lenient response to the situation with Ray Rice.

The truth is that league handled the Gordon case properly. If this had been a case involving a first time offender of league policy, the outcome would have surely been different. But with a well-documented history of substance abuse and poor decision-making, Gordon has long been digging the grave he now lies in.

After multiple marijuana-related incidents in college while attending Baylor University, Gordon was suspended from the football team. He later would be drafted by the Browns in the 2012 Supplemental Draft. After a successful rookie campaign, Gordon was suspended for the first two games of last season for violating the drug policy during the offseason, which he attributed to codeine. Then, in July, he was arrested and charged with a DWI in North Carolina.

Expecting Gordon to be given the benefit of the doubt is foolish. In an appeal of his latest positive drug test, his defense team argued that the minuscule amounts of marijuana in his system was caused by second-hand smoke. Even if this were the case, Gordon is still at fault for placing himself in a situation in which this outcome was a possibility.

For a player who reportedly has to take up to ten drug tests per month because of his previous violations, Gordon is undoubtedly well-versed in both the process of testing and the implications of testing positive for banned substances. Whether first-hand or second-hand, his lengthy suspension is primarily the result of a lack of respect for league policy and a general inability to consistently make mature decisions.

He will now have an entire year to reflect on his choices and decide whether he values football enough to grow from his mistakes. Otherwise, his career is in jeopardy. At least he’s found something to pass the time, as he has taken a position at an Ohio car dealership as a “goodwill ambassador.” Hopefully for his sake, there aren’t any drug tests.

The Ray Rice case, on the other hand, was royally botched. In a golden opportunity to institute a no-tolerance standard for domestic violence, Roger Goodell self-admittedly fumbled the ball at goal line.

“I didn’t get it right,” he said. “My disciplinary decision led the public to question our sincerity, our commitment, and whether we understood the toll that domestic violence inflicts on so many families. I take responsibility both for the decision and for ensuring that our actions in the future reflect our values."

Goodell is certainly right that he got it wrong. However, part of the reason for his misstep is that the current outline for punishment of domestic violence was very vague, especially considering that it is a far more rare occurrence than a failed drug test. As a result, Goodell did not have much guidance as to how to deal with Rice’s situation. The result was an embarrassment, but one that may be productive in the long run.

The widespread criticism that rained down on the NFL as a result of the Rice ruling has sparked a league initiative to not only clarify but also significantly increase the penalty for domestic violence offenders. Though it does feel as though this move is somewhat rooted in an effort to retain popularity (for if the public hadn’t reacted as they did to the Rice suspension, would the league still be revising its policy?), it is an area that absolutely needs to be addressed so that future cases won’t end with a similarly pathetic result.

The new rules outlined in the initiative are as follows:

• First-time offenders of the domestic abuse policy will automatically receive a minimum six-game suspension without pay, a penalty that can be increased depending on the circumstances. 
• Second-time offenders will be suspended for life, though they can apply for reinstatement after one year. 
• These rules will apply to not only domestic-violence cases, but also all cases that involve physical violence, and are to be applied to all NFL personnel, not just the players. 
• The new rules will be retroactive, meaning that previous offenses will not be taken into account upon the institution of the policy. However, if someone with a prior history of violence breaks the policy, the aforementioned six-game suspension will likely be lengthened. 
• Counseling will also be offered for any personnel who are seen to be “potential offenders.”

Whether done as a PR move or out of genuine self-criticism, the new policy against violence that will soon be taking effect in the league is a great step in the right direction for handling such cases going forward. It implements stiffer and far-less forgiving measures for a type of crime that should never have been treated with the leniency that the Rice case was.

Gordon’s case also highlights a part of league policy that has drawn criticism in recent years: the league’s strict penalties against marijuana. Currently, the NFL lists marijuana in the same class as far more harmful and addictive drugs such as amphetamines, opiates, and MDMA, a drug that Denver Broncos receiver Wes Welker was recently suspended for supposedly having in his system.

This classification of marijuana is unfair for a “drug” that is swiftly being made legal in many parts of the country due to its medical benefits, particularly with soothing pain. It is also a drug that is very easily traced in one’s system, as its half-life is far longer than many other drugs. This means that in a case like Gordon’s, a player may face a severe suspension for merely breathing in something that someone else is smoking.

While there is no excuse for players breaking the rule against marijuana, there is a case to be made for changing the rule itself. Considering that over half the players in the league likely smoke it, the fact that it is far less dangerous than other drugs it is classified with, and that it has already been decriminalized in multiple parts of the country, it would be wise for the NFL to revise its policy toward the drug. While your opinion on this likely coincides with your view on a nationwide legalization of marijuana, there is no denying the medical benefits that it can provide. In a league centered on players running at full speed and violently throwing themselves at one other, a safer means to manage pain than the highly addictive prescription drugs would be a game changer.

Though a full-scale legalization of marijuana is still likely a ways off, the NFL should use the incident with Rice as a template for what can go wrong if they are not “on top of an issue.” Lessening the penalties for marijuana use would make a statement that the NFL is at the forefront of a current and evolving subject matter that will undoubtedly continue to rear its head not only within the league, but also across the whole United States. It would increase popularity among players and fans alike, and while the Gordon case may not serve as the necessary catalyst for change, the issue of marijuana is one that will have to be addressed at some point in the relatively near future.

The question is, does the NFL have the guts to make groundbreaking revisions to its policy? Or will it again sit by idly until another situation is mishandled to the point in which change becomes necessary, leaving the league looking once again foolish and outdated? Time will tell. For now, I’m just excited that I have something to do on Sundays again besides homework.

Follow Ben Albert on Twitter @hermthegerm13