Jamahal Hill thinks state athletic commissions need to relax when it comes to sanctions for marijuana use.
Were it not for a recent sanction from the Nevada Athletic Commission for a positive drug test, Hill would be hunting for his third win of 2020 on Saturday at UFC Vegas 16. Instead, his recent marijuana infraction resulted in the overturning of a May victory over Klidson Abreu at UFC on ESPN 9. He also was suspended until November in addition to a 15 percent fine of his show money, which amounted to $1,800.
So much for the 29-year-old’s career highlight.
Hill (7-0, 1 NC) next fights Ovince Saint Preux in the light heavyweight co-main event of Saturday’s fight card at UFC APEX. At virtual media day on Thursday, he addressed the penalty that has kept him on the shelf for the past six months.
“I think it’s f*cking stupid,” Hill said. “I’m not the person you want to ask. I think it’s dumb as hell, I think everything that I’ve had to deal with as a result of that is dumb as f*ck and I really think they need to focus energy on things that actually matter and not goofy sh*t like that.”
Hill still has an official UFC win on his record, a unanimous decision win over Darko Stosic in January, as well as a TKO victory on the Contender Series last year that earned him a UFC contract. But the thought of a no-contest and a drug suspension lingering on his resume gnaws at him.
“It’s extremely irritating,” Hill said. “It’s something that I’ve got to walk around with on my record, which in fact, just to clear the record, I did not smoke in competition. I smoked four weeks before that out of competition before I even took the fight.
“I took the fight, I stopped smoking immediately and somehow in their tests it came back that my levels were too high even after the UFC did an investigation, tested my old samples, and showed them the difference in the levels and everything, they still went ahead and decided to suspend me, fine me, put me through all this other bullsh*t, so it’s annoying as f*ck. But it is what it is. I’m not gonna keep looking back on it, I’m just pushing forward. I’ve got a good future ahead of me and I’m focused on that.”
The penalty for Hill is just one of several handed down to UFC fighters this year. At the same hearing where Hill was sanctioned, flyweight Tim Elliott and lightweight Luis Pena were also sanctioned for positive marijuana tests. Earlier this week, it was announced that welterweight Niko Price tested positive for marijuana resulting in six-month suspension from the NAC and a draw against Donald Cerrone being overturned to a no-contest.
Asked what should be done about commissions policing the use of marijuana, Hill suggested they direct their efforts elsewhere.
“I think it’s bullsh*t,” Hill said. “I think it’s dumb and I think it’s a waste of resources. We could be focusing on other things. Weed is not performance-enhancing at all. It’s just something that people do in their downtime just to chill and relax and hang out. It also has medical benefits as well, but as far as fighters fighting like-you know what I mean? Come on, bro. It’s goofy as f*ck, bro.”