Josh Brent tests positive for marijuana while awaiting manslaughter trial

Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent tested positive for marijuana following a court hearing last month, the Associated Press reports. Brent, you will recall, killed his teammate Jerry Brown after crashing his car on Dec. 8 while allegedly driving drunk.

The positive test for marijuana came up because prosecutors were attempting to get Brent’s bond revoked due to problems with alcohol monitoring. Though the judge declined the motion, he did order a urine test after the May 24 hearing, which Brent failed.

“Given the defendant’s prior alcohol-related contacts and the severity of the charge in this case, it is the State’s belief that the defendant continues to pose a threat to the community,” prosecutors said in the motion.

[Related: Cowboys reportedly were partying at club before fatal car crash]

Brent is facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted of intoxicated manslaughter.

So the obvious thing to ask here is how dumb can Brent be? He’s already in enough trouble as is and now he goes out and tests positive for weed? But it’s not so simple to just question his lack of intelligence.

First off, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a man with poor enough judgment to drive while extremely drunk would also smoke weed while awaiting trial. People who make bad decisions just make bad decisions. Also, he must be pretty stressed out knowing that he’s facing 20 years in jail. Smoking weed in response seems logical for a guy like that. I’m with the prosecutors in thinking he should have his bond revoked, though I know that will never happen.