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Phelps Marijuana Use: Much Ado Over Very Little

Started by drbob, February 11, 2009, 10:33:54 AM

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drbob

February 11, 2009, 10:33:54 AM
Michael Phelps was suspended from swimming in competition for three months, following the appearance of a photograph showing him smoking America's most popular illegal drug, marijuana.  Reports say he is contemplating whether or not he will compete in the 2012 Olympics.  In addition, he has lost several lucrative endorsement contracts.  In my opinion, all this fuss is way too much ado over very little.
     
Now, I'm not approving of smoking marijuana.  I think using the drug is a bad idea, but a lot of things people do are bad ideas.  Let's take a close look at exactly what this most decorated Olympian did.  So far as we know he did not break a law.  It is against the law to possess, transport or sell marijuana, but it is not against the law to take a puff of its smoke.  So far there is no evidence that Phelps did anything more than take a puff of marijuana smoke.  He is an adult and engaged in an activity that occupies millions of people in the U.S. regular basis.

Just a cursory examination will find marijuana appearing more and more among athletes, celebrities and regular folk.  It has appeared this week in the suitcase of an arrested college basketball point guard at an airport, and this winter in the possession of a former Dallas receiver, and a Seattle linebacker, and a Florida State receiver, and a retired NBA forward/center, and amid a Japanese sumo wrestling scandal, and in November with a New York Jets defensive end, and last spring in that bellwether moment on talk radio, when Dallas Mavericks forward Josh Howard said that he enjoyed an inhale.

Ex-President Bill Clinton puffed it, but he did not inhale (right!) and our current president has admitted using marijuana when he was young and not as smart as he is today.  Our immediate past President enjoyed a different intoxicant in his younger days, but his drug was legal, as long as he stayed away from the steering wheel of his automobile.

I don't want to be misunderstood.  I think Phelps behavior was a mistake and it is a mistake for which he has paid a serious penalty.  And indeed, the fact that others engage in similar behavior does not excuse his actions.  Nevertheless, I think our media is giving way too much ink and air time to what is basically a minor bit of bad behavior.  Let's just get off the man's back and let him get on with his life.         

Henry Hawk

#1
February 11, 2009, 11:25:58 AM
I think, IF he want's to be an 'endorser' of products, he needs to walk a straight line...I think that he is probably a pretty good kid, but if Kellogs wants to pay him a million dollars to endorse their product, then they have a the right to yank it when he does something stupid.
"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 - It all makes sense to me now...


"The future ain't what it used to be."– Yogi Berra

"Square roots are rarely found on any plant." FTW

Sandy Eggo

#2
February 11, 2009, 12:52:40 PM
dr bob, I agree 100 %. Everyone is over reacting, IMHO. Especially the police chief who's trying to make a name for himself and grab 15 mins of fame.
Only after the last tree has been cut down. Only after the last river has been poisoned. Only after the last fish has been caught. Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten. - -Cree Indian Prophecy

"Women who strive to be equal to men lack ambitition" -- anonymous

Henry Hawk

#3
February 11, 2009, 01:00:15 PM
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on February 11, 2009, 12:52:40 PM
dr bob, I agree 100 %. Everyone is over reacting, IMHO. Especially the police chief who's trying to make a name for himself and grab 15 mins of fame.

did phelps break the law?


yes!!


Then why should he not be held accountable?
"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 - It all makes sense to me now...


"The future ain't what it used to be."– Yogi Berra

"Square roots are rarely found on any plant." FTW

followsthewolf

#4
February 11, 2009, 01:45:25 PM
Like Richard Nixon?
Ignorance and fanaticism are ravenous. They require constant feeding.

Henry Hawk

#5
February 11, 2009, 01:46:53 PM
"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 - It all makes sense to me now...


"The future ain't what it used to be."– Yogi Berra

"Square roots are rarely found on any plant." FTW

Exterminator

#6
February 11, 2009, 02:04:56 PM
Quote from: Henry Hawk on February 11, 2009, 01:00:15 PM
did phelps break the law?

yes!!

Then why should he not be held accountable?

I challenge any court to prove from a photograph beyond a reasonable doubt that a) there was anything in the pipe, b) that the pipe was lit and Phelps was actually smoking it, and c) that if there was something in the pipe, that substance was marijuana.  Sorry but you can't do a chemical test on a photograph so there's no case.
Arguing with Christians is like playing chess with a pigeon.  No matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock over the pieces, shit on the board and strut around like it's victorious.

The truth is slow, but relentless. Over time it becomes irresistible.

Henry Hawk

#7
February 11, 2009, 02:32:54 PM
he admitted to it!!..

look, I can care less about Phelps....he was a great swimmer, and he may have made a mistake......and he just lost a lot of money from Kellogs.....hopefully he will live and learn.
"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left."
Ecclesiastes 10:2 - It all makes sense to me now...


"The future ain't what it used to be."– Yogi Berra

"Square roots are rarely found on any plant." FTW

drbob

#8
February 11, 2009, 03:31:59 PM
Phelps did not break the law, as far as anyone knows right now.  We may find out something different in the future, but there is no law against smoking pot.  It is against the law to possess an amount of pot and, of course, to transport it or sell it, but there is no law against smoking it.  So, as far as we know right now, there is no legal action to be taken against him.

And Yes I agree Kellog has every right to pull their sponsorship.  It is their product and their money, so Kellog has the right to lay down the kinds of behavior they will support.  That was not the point of my post.  Kellog should do what they want to do.  The rest of us should let the man alone.   

Palehorse

#9
February 11, 2009, 07:10:22 PM
Quote from: drbob on February 11, 2009, 03:31:59 PM
Phelps did not break the law, as far as anyone knows right now.  We may find out something different in the future, but there is no law against smoking pot.  It is against the law to possess an amount of pot and, of course, to transport it or sell it, but there is no law against smoking it.  So, as far as we know right now, there is no legal action to be taken against him.

And Yes I agree Kellog has every right to pull their sponsorship.  It is their product and their money, so Kellog has the right to lay down the kinds of behavior they will support.  That was not the point of my post.  Kellog should do what they want to do.  The rest of us should let the man alone.   

Indeed!
R.I.P. - followsthewolf - You are MISSED! 4/17/2013

That which fails to kill me. . .should run!

Any "point" made by one that lacks credibility, is only as useful as toilet paper; and serves the same purpose. ~ Palehorse 4/22/2017

May you find charity when it is needed, and the ability to extend it when it is not. ~Palehorse 7/4/2012

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followsthewolf

#10
February 11, 2009, 07:13:40 PM
And that's the truthhhhhhhhhh.
Ignorance and fanaticism are ravenous. They require constant feeding.
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