Fri Apr 25 20:56:43 2008

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Mavs' Howard admits offseason marijuana use

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Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard admitted on a radio show Friday that he smokes marijuana in the offseason.

The wide-ranging comments came in advance of Dallas' Game 3 against New Orleans in the Western Conference quarterfinals. The Mavericks lost the first two games on the road.

"Everybody in the media world and the sports world knows NBA players do smoke marijuana," Howard told The Michael Irvin Show on the local ESPN affiliate.

"Most of the players in the league use marijuana and I have and do partake in smoking weed in the offseason sometimes," Howard said. "I mean, that's my personal choice and my personal opinion, but I don't think that's stopping me from doing my job."

Howard is averaging only 13.5 points on 26.9 percent shooting through the first two games of the series after averaging 19.9 points during the regular season.

The 28-year-old Howard said Mavericks owner Mark Cuban or head coach Avery Johnson haven't said anything to him about the marijuana issue.

"I think they of me as far enough as a mature person and as a mature adult to handle that," Howard said. "I'm not going to put myself in a position to fail as far as that type of situation. If that's me, that's what I'm going to do when I'm by myself on my personal time. I'm not trying to get involved with anything or anybody else that's going to bring me down."

It's not known if the NBA has the ability to suspend Howard for his comments.

Under the NBA's drug policy, players have to undergo four random tests every season from October 1 to June 30. A player who tests positive for marijuana use isn't subjected to a suspension until a third strike. Upon a first positive test, the player is required to enter the league's marijuana program. For the second such violation, the player will be fined $25,000. A third positive test results in a five-game suspension. Any subsequent violation, the player will be suspended for five games longer than his immediately preceding suspension.