Anthony Richardson marijuana charges, explained: Why Colts QB was cited for posession during traffic stop originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A sordid 2026 campaign for the Colts grew all the more disappointing on Friday after news broke that backup quarterback Anthony Richardson was charged with possession of marijuana after being forced to pull over earlier in Oct.
Richardson, 24, is the latest of Indianapolis players to face the thorn-like teeth of the legal system. His charge proved far less benign than Keenan Allen, who was suspended three games after being jailed on drunk driving charges.
Nevertheless, the incident adds more pressure to an already fractious situation within Indianapolis' ranks. Here's what you need to know.
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Anthony Richardson marijuana charges
Richardson was the subject of a traffic stop on Oct. 12. Police stopped him as he drove a black 2023 Dodge Charger through Carmel, a suburban town located nearby Lucas Oil Stadium.
According to court documents obtained by Fox 59 and CBS 4, officers smelled the "odor of marijuana" while approaching Richardson's vehicle.
The Colts quarterback reportedly admitted that he smokes marijuana inside the vehicle to avoid smoking in front of his children. He also revealed that he had a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle.
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Police placed Richardson in handcuffs before examining his vehicle. During the search, officers found a Mason jar containing what looked to be marijuana as well as an opened bag of THC-infused gummies.
The substances tested positive for THC, according to court documents. Richardson was summarily handed a citation — the plates on his vehicle reportedly did not match its registration and was expired.
He was also charged with a Class B misdemeanor charge for possession of marijuana. The charge was officially filed on Oct. 19. Per Fox 59, Richardson has his initial hearing waived. He is expected to arrive in court on Jan. 4, 2027, per court records examined by Fox 59.
Colts react to Anthony Richardson marijuana incident
Indianapolis released the following statement after Richardson was charged with possession of marijuana.
"We are aware of the situation involving Anthony Richardson and are currently gathering additional information," the statement read. "We will have no further comment at this time."
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