Bob Kravitz of the INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports today that Indiana Pacers center David Harrison has been suspended by the league for five games after his third positive test for marijuana.

The Pacers were more shocked than upset by the news, because the league never informed them on any positive drug tests by Harrison.

Pacers President Larry Bird said, “How are we supposed to get a guy the help he needs when we’re not told he’s tested positive?”

The league does notify clubs for the first positive test of hard drugs, like cocaine. But there is no such policy in place for marijuana. Not surprisingly, that’s exactly what the players wanted put into the latest collective bargaining agreement between the league and players.

Excerpt: “Marijuana testing was a major bone of contention after the 1998-99 lockout. The union didn’t want its players to be tested for weed; they don’t test for it in Major League Baseball or in the NFL, unless it’s decided there is probable cause. But as a tradeoff for marijuana testing as part of the four random tests each season, the NBA and the union agreed that the first two positive results would not be shared with the player’s employer.”

We all know why the players want that policy in place. Safe to say that team’s now will check for an inordinate amount of Cheetos bags in a player’s locker before they sign that guy to a long-term deal.

And in a strange twist, no one apparently has noted that this policy also extends to the Washington Wizards front office.