It's no secret that UFC commentator Joe Rogan has been known to dabble in the ganja on occasion.

That's fine, you just can't bring it into the Octagon with you.

Standing before the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) on Monday, Nick Diaz was handed an unprecedented five-year suspension and fined $150,000 stemming from a failed post-fight drug test on Jan. 31 at UFC 183 at the MGM Grand.

In the test sample in question, Diaz's result showed marijuana metabolites amounting to 300 ng/ml, double the 150 allowable limit of the NAC.

Diaz was tested three different times on fight night by two different labs, the WADA-accredited Sports Medicine Research And Testing Laboratory out of Salt Lake City, Utah and Quest Diagnostics. The Sports Medicine Research And Testing Lab obtained two samples from Diaz at 7:12 PM and 11:50 PM local time and found both samples to be under the legal limit. The sample obtained by Quest at 10:38 PM found Diaz above the legal limit, leading to the test failure.

Basically, a lab with much better credentials found Diaz under the limit in two tests, while a lesser lab found Diaz above it in their single sample. The NAC decided to pay more attention to the later.

As a repeat offender in the state of Nevada, Diaz needed to submit a negative drug test result to the NAC before the fight. Diaz wasn't able to do so until Jan. 28, just three days before the event.

The legal process could keep Diaz tied up for years, but Rogan isn't staying silent.

NSAC suspending Nick Diaz for 5 years for pot is an irresponsible abuse of power. It's callous, idiotic and sickening. — Joe Rogan (@joerogan) September 15, 2015

Despite being an advocate for marijuana legalization, Rogan has actually played devil's advocate in the past by debating its merit as a performance-enhancing drug. Citing his own experience training under the influence of cannabis, Rogan hasn't always ruled it out as a competitive aid.

"I just know that [marijuana] gives you an advantage in jiu jitsu," Rogan told UFC's VP of athlete health and performance Jeff Novitzky in August. "I know it does. I know so many guys use it. So many guys roll [spar] with it. Big name guys that are high-level jiu jitsu competitors, they train high every time and they love it. I just think you can't ignore that. I think it's quite possible that there's an advantage to using.

"And then the pain relief aspect of it. Look, you can't fight on pain pills. If there was a pain blocker that allowed you not to feel the impacts of strikes and you just went out there and fought and dealt with the consequences tomorrow when it wore off, that would be illegal for sure. Well, marijuana is absolutely used to help people with pain management. Absolutely. So I don't think it should be legal to compete with."

In the case of fighters, Rogan says more research needs to be done to prove marijuana's performance-enhancing capabilities, if they exist at all.

Unless there's scientific proof that marijuana is a performance enhancing drug that gives an unfair advantage it should not be restricted. — Joe Rogan (@joerogan) September 15, 2015





5 MUST-READ STORIES

'MMA is entertainment.' King Mo Lawal says MMA "ain't really a true sport" because UFC president Dana White is its biggest star.

Bring $2 million. UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw is down for a superfight with "best in the world" Demetrious Johnson.

Three lessons learned. In the wake of UFC welterweight Nick Diaz's outrageous suspension and fine from the Nevada Athletic Commission on Monday, there are three major lessons to take away.

'Everything you do brings consequences.' Promoting their upcoming UFC card in Brazil, Vitor Belfort, Glover Teixeira and Patrick Cummins react to Nick Diaz's suspension.

Good news. Bellator: Dynamite tournament fighters all tested clean in out-of-competition drug testing.

MEDIA STEW

Conor McGregor rates horrible tattoos.

Get to know Bellator CEO Scott Coker.

Highlights from around the regional scene.

Firas Zahabi teaches you how not to get slammed by a bigger dude.

Rodolfo Vieira vs. Ben Henderson at ADCC.

Dave Chappelle vs. the NSAC.

(via r/MMA)

Long watches.

If I Did It: PR advice for Nick Diaz, the UFC and the Nevada Athletic Commission

...

...

TWEETS

Call Floyd.

@RissyCrozay what I think isn't important. I have no say in the matter. They don't give a shit what I think. People who know MMA know that — Dana White (@danawhite) September 15, 2015

Beef.

@UFC pays for his nutritionist? Conflict of interest? Gonna need more than chicken and broccoli to beat me anyway. https://t.co/GNPAe2LenQ — Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) September 14, 2015

I would like someone to pay for some of my problems but I have to pay for them myself. Your thoughts? https://t.co/rTcdAEf7d9 — Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) September 15, 2015

@Mrs_Immortal @IamTheImmortal @UFCONFOX @ufc I'd be focused on ME and winning and not what my opponent is doing if I were you. — #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) September 15, 2015

@KelvinGastelum @UFCONFOX @ufc I am focused on myself AND my nutrition. And I'll take care of it myself since I'm not getting handouts. — Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) September 15, 2015

@IamTheImmortal @UFCONFOX @ufc don't fix what ain't broken, you've done amazing. I on the other hand need help. I'm clueless on nutrition. — #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) September 15, 2015

@KelvinGastelum @Mrs_Immortal @ufc except I don't want it or need it. Doesn't change the fact that it's a conflict of interest/favoritism — Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) September 15, 2015

Get well soon.

Tuna can 1 me 0! Hopefully the wait at the ER doesn't take too long! https://t.co/bKOaJ4Yhbr — Chad Laprise (@ChadLaprise) September 15, 2015

More Diaz.

Reviewing the Nick Diaz suspension in detail now. This looks to have "personal" written all over it. What precedence is there for 5yrs?!! — Brian Stann (@BrianStann) September 15, 2015

Use this link in my bio to help @nickdiaz209 fight this suspension!!! Need another 90k signatures

Use this link in my bio to help @nickdiaz209 fight this suspension!!! Need another 90k signatures A photo posted by tjdillashaw (@tjdillashaw) on Sep 15, 2015 at 11:34am PDT





Light heavy.

Typical independent contractor.

Just finished my USADA whereabouts calendar! Which is basically where I am going to be everyday for... https://t.co/knkpIP5GZM — Carla Esparza (@CarlaEsparza1) September 15, 2015

The more your know.

If u r suspended by the commission, u have no license or the ability 2 apply 4 one to corner a fighter #AskBJM https://t.co/CCn98Vq99a — Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) September 15, 2015

Impressive.

Just got these in. One dec 19 1000 signed hats will be handed out in the Orlando auditorium. #andnew pic.twitter.com/8eU9acpYAJ — Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) September 16, 2015

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announced yesterday (Sept. 15 2015)

Drew Dober vs. Erik Koch at UFC 195

FANPOST OF THE DAY

Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via fightdb.

Invicta FC 14 fallout: Cyborg to fight at 140, gifs, ratings and highlights

The biggest news came from Shannon Knapp during the Invicta 14 post-fight press conference announcing Cris Cyborg will be making a return to 140lbs (she previously defeated Shayna Baszler at 140lbs in her debut in America for Elite XC) on the November Invicta FC 15 card. The main event is a fantastic match up between Alexa Grasso and Livia Renata Souza for Souza's 115lbs Invicta title, however, "CYBORG WEIGH WATCH" may be the true main event. ...

Check out the rest of the post here.

Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.