Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe was arrested in Riverside, Missouri, just before midnight on Saturday, November 9, 2013, after police stopped him for speeding and found more than 10 grams of marijuana in his car. The charges were later reduced to defective equipment and littering, but the NFL still suspended him for the first game of the 2014 season, a penalty that cost him more than $10 million in guaranteed salary.
What Happened
According to ESPN’s report of November 12, 2013, a Riverside police officer clocked Bowe’s car at 48 mph in a 35 mph zone shortly before midnight that Saturday. The officer smelled marijuana, and a K-9 search turned up more than 10 grams in two containers. Another 4.2 grams were found in a backpack in the car. Bowe was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and speeding and released on $750 bond, with a court date of December 18.
A passenger, George A. Thompson, said the backpack was his and was also arrested for possession after officers found 2.2 grams of hand-rolled cigarettes on him. A second passenger was not arrested. Chiefs general manager John Dorsey told a Kansas City radio station he knew about the stop but would not comment further.
Background
Bowe, a Chiefs receiver since 2007, had been suspended once before, for four games in 2009, under the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, which is separate from its substance-abuse policy. In 2013 recreational marijuana was legal nowhere in the country until Colorado and Washington opened stores in 2014.
What Happened Next
The criminal case ended quietly: the speeding and marijuana charges were amended to “defective equipment and littering,” Sports Illustrated reported. The league acted anyway. On August 15, 2014, the NFL suspended Bowe for one game for violating its drug policy, citing the arrest. He sat out the September 7 opener against the Tennessee Titans. Bowe called it “an error in judgment,” and the Chiefs said they supported the league’s decision. Under his contract, the suspension voided guarantees on his $8.75 million base salary for 2014 and $1.5 million for 2015.
That gave the Chiefs room to move on, and they released him on March 12, 2015. He signed with the Cleveland Browns, caught five passes in seven games, and was released in March 2016. He signed a one-day contract to retire as a Chief in May 2019.
Where It Stands in 2026
Both halves of Bowe’s case look different now. Missouri voters legalized adult-use marijuana in 2022, so an adult with the amount found in his car would face no charge today; see our Missouri marijuana laws guide. The NFL also changed course: the 2020 collective bargaining agreement ended suspensions for positive marijuana tests, though off-field conduct can still bring discipline. Our NFL marijuana policy page covers those rules, and federal status is on our federal laws page.
Dwayne Bowe Arrest FAQ
When was Dwayne Bowe arrested?
Late on Saturday, November 9, 2013, in Riverside, Missouri, a Kansas City suburb. News of the arrest broke on November 12.
How much marijuana did police find?
More than 10 grams in two containers, plus 4.2 grams in a passenger’s backpack, according to ESPN.
Was Dwayne Bowe convicted of marijuana possession?
No. The charges were amended to defective equipment and littering.
How long was Bowe suspended?
One game, the 2014 season opener against Tennessee. It also voided more than $10 million in salary guarantees.
Originally reported by The Weed Street Journal; rewritten and updated in October 2026 with what happened next.
