The NFL has handed down a two-game suspension to Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. Rice is accused of assaulting his then fiancée in an Atlantic City elevator. In security footage released to the media, Rice can be seen dragging his unconscious fiancée, Janay Palmer, out of the elevator and then laying her down on the floor.

No footage has been leaked about the events that transpired inside the elevator, or what lead to an unconscious Palmer.

Amidst the Ray Rice two-game suspension, the Carolina Panthers have announced that the team will not suspend defensive tackle Greg Hardy, who was convicted on domestic violence charges.

The NFL is drawing controversy from skeptics for its alleged double standard on substance abuse suspensions versus domestic violence suspensions. Players such as Jacksonville's Justin Blackmon and Cleveland's Josh Gordon had been suspended for a minimum of four-games for their positive drug tests.

The four-game suspensions came from their first infractions, which have now multiplied into possible year-long suspensions.

While a possession of marijuana charge is being decriminalized around the country, the NFL seems to pay far more attention to substance abuse than domestic violence.

The Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos are located in states that now have legalized marijuana, and although marijuana possession is no longer a criminal offense, the NFL still will uphold its rules on substance abuse.

ESPN's Collin Cowherd made the comment that if you smoke a joint, the NFL will kick you out, but if you abuse your spouse, you just get a two-game break.

NFL fans are beginning to see the irregularities within the NFL's suspension policy. While not all crimes are considered equal, it would seem to the general population that possession of marijuana is far less damaging than domestic violence.

Aside from marijuana-related suspensions, the NFL suspended Indianapolis Colts defensive end Robert Mathis for four-games for taking a fertility drug. Mathis' wife did end up getting pregnant so it's arguable whether the offense was worth it or not.

Either way, the comparison has to be made between taking a drug to try and have a baby, or assaulting a spouse or girlfriend. Positive drug tests for banned substances leads to four-game suspensions while violent acts, in the case of Ray Rice, lead to only two-game suspensions.   

The American culture is evolving, while the NFL seems to be stuck in the dark ages. Low-level drug crimes are no longer looked at as being heinous in nature.

Violence, on the other hand, is a growing crisis that needs to be addressed fairly by the NFL. The NFL's actions have clearly stated that smoking a little marijuana is worse than assaulting a spouse or girlfriend.