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Does Michael Phelps Support Decriminalizing Marijuana Use?

I bet he does now:

South Carolina authorities say they are weighing a criminal charge against Olympic superstar Michael Phelps who was photographed smoking from a marijuana pipe, the Associated Press and other news media report.

Speaking for me only

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    That will teach him to (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by scribe on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 02:54:06 PM EST
    stay out of South Carolina.

    Hey (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by indy in sc on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:29:44 PM EST
    some of us have to live here! ;)  No, really I like it here even with all our faults.

    It was particularly funny when our state treasurer was busted for posession of cocaine with intent to distribute.  It would be really sad if Phelps gets hit harder on an MJ charge than our former state treasurer, who got 10 months, which he is finishing up at home.

    Parent

    I don't know about all of SC... (none / 0) (#59)
    by vml68 on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:58:17 PM EST
    but the Charleston area is pretty nice. My family has been living there for the past few years and I spend a good part of the year there.
    My family had our first ever brush with the law when my now ex-SIL falsely accused my brother of domestic violence. It was an extremely scary and nerve-wracking time since we were completely clueless as to what to do. And since we are "brown furriners", we thought he was screwed.

    I called the police station every half-hour (from NJ) for an update and they were extremely courteous and explained all the processes/procedures to me and told me what was going on with my brother at the time.

    Parent

    Possession carries 30 days, $100-$200 (none / 0) (#69)
    by Ben Masel on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 05:04:07 PM EST
    1st offence.

    Parent
    If he had been caught smoking cigarettes, (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by steviez314 on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:02:24 PM EST
    South Carolina would have given him a medal.

    Too bad. I heard. . . (5.00 / 0) (#15)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:05:51 PM EST
    he was up for the nomination for HHS.

    I thought he had already been elected a saint (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:07:52 PM EST
    Best comment of the day! (none / 0) (#17)
    by jbindc on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:07:48 PM EST
    Time for one of these from Phelps (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:13:18 PM EST
    link.

    That's awesome (none / 0) (#29)
    by andgarden on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:17:22 PM EST
    you will not believe the grief Barkley (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:18:35 PM EST
    got for this ad.

    It was simply outrageous.

    Parent

    I don't remember it, but I can imagine (none / 0) (#39)
    by andgarden on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:25:54 PM EST
    Speaking of which (none / 0) (#42)
    by andgarden on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:28:20 PM EST
    (because it was on the right side) this ad was shot in the gym at my k-12 school when I was small.

    Parent
    Great One (none / 0) (#35)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:22:45 PM EST
    I do not think I have ever seen such honesty. But ya know Nike sells a lot of sneakers and bad a$$es and wannabees represent a large part of their market.

    Not so much MADD or parents.

    Parent

    very cool! (none / 0) (#78)
    by Blowback on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 06:20:59 PM EST
    Oh Good Grief (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Sweet Sue on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:38:56 PM EST
    Now are we going to have to suffer through the Michael Phelps redemption tour of Larry King, Jay Leno, Letterman and Oprah?

    Live! holders 1st medical marijuana raid (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by Ben Masel on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 04:55:50 PM EST
    The Nile, 1501 Pacific, Venice CA.

    "I think the basic concept of using medical marijuana for the same purposes and with the same controls as other drugs prescribed by doctors (is) entirely appropriate," Obama told Oregon's Mail Tribune newspaper in March. "I'm not going to be using Justice Department resources to try to circumvent state laws on this issue."


    Sh*t (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 05:01:51 PM EST
    Details and a link Ben?

    I'll do a post on it.

    Parent

    So far just an IM, reliable source tho. (none / 0) (#72)
    by Ben Masel on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 05:19:42 PM EST
    Reports another earlier today, Venice Alternative Healing, 421 Rose Ave. They've apparently already left that one, with no arrests.

    Parent
    Hopefully (none / 0) (#73)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 05:36:11 PM EST
    It is the last gasp of over eager FEDs to act before Holder is fully in charge. If this raid comes from the new AG all bets are off.

    Parent
    Exhaustive searches (none / 0) (#82)
    by eric on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 09:19:04 PM EST
    on the internets have turned up nothing.  Perhaps some bad info from Venice.  "The feds are coming!  This must me Holder's doing!"

    Parent
    Here's a link (none / 0) (#83)
    by Ben Masel on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 09:35:57 PM EST
    DEA Raids Westside Marijuana Dispensaries

    Asked about Obama's comments that he did not want to waste Justice Department resources on raiding medical marijuana shops, Pullen said that "marijuana is still illegal under federal law.
    "The law is still that it is illegal to possess, distribute or cultivate marijuana in any way," she said.


    Parent
    oops (none / 0) (#84)
    by Ben Masel on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 09:44:21 PM EST
    here

    Parent
    3d try (none / 0) (#85)
    by Ben Masel on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 10:14:18 PM EST
    Bad News (none / 0) (#70)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 05:08:33 PM EST
    Could not find a link.

    Parent
    Same reason there're bail bondsmen near jails.

    Parent
    Hey, as a Venician (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by otherlisa on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 05:58:26 PM EST
    I resemble that remark!

    I gotta say, a couple of the medical marijuana places here are pretty over the top. There's one on the boardwalk where girls in bikinis urge you to come on upstairs and get high.

    Of course pot should be legal, period. But I was a little taken aback by the blatant come-on.

    Parent

    Come again? (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 07:17:27 PM EST
    girls in bikinis urge you to come on upstairs and get high

    There is heaven on earth!...:)

    Parent

    Too funny! (none / 0) (#77)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 06:11:33 PM EST
    I bet he does, too! (none / 0) (#1)
    by Angel on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 02:53:20 PM EST


    Hilarious Hypothetical (none / 0) (#3)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 02:54:52 PM EST
    Phelps was asked "In light of recent events do you think MJ should be decriminalized"

    No comment.

    South Carolina... (none / 0) (#4)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 02:58:06 PM EST
    authorities are smoking something a lot stronger than a little reefer if they wanna charge Phelps over this...crack?  pcp?  opium?  We should start a pool.

    If I hear one more talking head or newspaper writer say "he made a mistake" one more time I gonna flip...what mistake?  He went to a party and he partied...that's what you're supposed to do at parties.  He didn't trip and fall and land with his lips wrapped around a bong, that would be a mistake...jesus h. christ.

    Will we ever be honest with ourselves?  How about we be honest "for the children"?

    Um (none / 0) (#13)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:05:40 PM EST
    Phelps said he made a mistake and promised to never ever do it again, cross his heart.

    Kos wrote that anyone who had a problem with Phekps on this is a moron.

    Color me a moron then.

    I hate sanctimonious hypocritical BS. And that is all Phelps is on this.

    Parent

    It definitely is.... (none / 0) (#30)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:17:23 PM EST
    I just think he has no other choice...hate the game, not the player...and remember how they dragged our boy Ricky Williams over the coals for making an attempt at honesty.

    The media folks aggravate me more..."mistake, mistake, mistake"...what garbage.  His DUI was a mistake...putting others at risk.  This is a lifestyle choice....not right or wrong, and certainly not a mistake.  

    Parent

    kdog (none / 0) (#34)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:22:43 PM EST
    You and I are charter members of the Ricky Williams Fan Club.

    Oh BTW, Josh Howard anyone? Or the Chief?

    I can not stand the hypocrisy.

    Parent

    Marc Stepnoski... (none / 0) (#49)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:37:25 PM EST
    long time center for the Cowboys, went to work for NORML after he retired...and my all-pro all-reefer team too:.

    Parent
    Disagree with you here (none / 0) (#60)
    by Steve M on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:58:28 PM EST
    Ricky Williams is dirt in my book, not because he did drugs, but because he couldn't even tell the truth to his MOM about it.

    The whole world knew he smoked pot, and he let his poor momma look like a fool telling the media, "Oh no, my Ricky never ever touched that stuff, he told me so!"  That's shameful.  You can't hang your mom out to dry like that.

    Parent

    Just about everyone in America is hypocritical (none / 0) (#31)
    by esmense on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:17:44 PM EST
    on this

    Parent
    Not me, kdog, Ricky Williams and (none / 0) (#36)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:23:49 PM EST
    Josh Howard.

    and I dare say not TChris and Jeralyn. Especially not TChris and Jeralyn.

    Parent

    I might be a hypocrite... (none / 0) (#47)
    by kdog on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:34:20 PM EST
    I did tell a judge "it would never happen again".  Bold faced lie.

    And I told a cop I was in the cop spot they were surveilling to "buy a pack of gum".  Ditto.  (Thank the sun god the guy working the spot knew they were being surveilled and didn't sell to me that day...I owe you one man!:)

    Am I a hypocrite?  If I am, can I get a tyranny exemption?...:)

    I suppose a righteous man would tell the truth...I despise hassles too much to be a righteous man I guess...told 'em all what would get me outta there the fastest.

    Parent

    Shame on you, Kdog..... (none / 0) (#52)
    by vml68 on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:40:05 PM EST
    using drugs, lying,....what's next?... :-)
    No hand knitted sweater for you!

    Parent
    All this phony pearl-clutching (none / 0) (#48)
    by lobary on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:36:42 PM EST
    I may be in the minority, but I never cared that much about Phelps's accomplishments because I agreed with those professional athletes who dared to buck the CW in the wake of his Olympic performance.

    All that noise about him being "The Greatest Athlete Ever" was nothing but sports marketing propaganda. I suspect there aren't too many sports fans here at TL, so I might not find much agreement by saying this, but here goes: nobody cares about swimming. It's a fringe sport that's popular for about two weeks every couple of decades.

    So Michael Phelps had his picture taken with his face stuck to the end of a bong. Big deal. The puritans on ESPN bash him for his dumb mistake, but not because they object to him toking up but because they're worried about how much it could cost him in endorsement income. If he loses endorsement deals, I think it's less about him getting baked than it is him being a star in a sport most sports fans couldn't care less about.

    Michael Phelps could quit the sport today and he's set for life. I wouldn't care either way.

    When do pitchers and catchers report?

    Parent

    Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:39:59 PM EST
    Madoff could have quit a long time ago and also been set for life.

    Let's hope that Phelps takes this as a wake up call and uses his money and fame in a better way.

    Parent

    Vasily Alexeev---greatest athlete (none / 0) (#56)
    by ThatOneVoter on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:54:02 PM EST
    I have ever seen. Strength, balance, incredible speed. He set 80 world records. Is there anyone who has come close to that accomplishment?
    His training methods were unbelievable, btw.


    Parent
    "nobody cares about swimming." (none / 0) (#58)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:58:08 PM EST
    Chicks dig it. Especially tweeners, in my experience.

    Parent
    Phelps as a victim... (none / 0) (#64)
    by Scuzz on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 04:17:55 PM EST
    This picture supposedly dates back to November. Phelps is not a saint, he already has a DUI. He also likes strip clubs. But he did perform better than any swimmer in Olympic history. His sponser deals are still behind him. The only people excited about this are the media outlets who are trying to make money using him as the news of the day.

    Remember, Phelps is only 23. And I would bet he is trying to make up for some lost years of training.

    However, this was his one chance.

    Parent

    No, that would be an "accident" (none / 0) (#21)
    by esmense on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:12:20 PM EST
    "He didn't trip and fall and land with his lips wrapped around a bong"

    The mistake he made was a PR one -- allowing himself to be, or not realizing that he was being, photographed, and not fully realizing what the value of that photograph would be to others or what the cost of it could be to him. In a very short period of time he has gone from being a private citizen to a public figure. It seems he's been a little slow to comprehend all the ramifications of that.

    Parent

    short time? (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by txpublicdefender on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 06:09:22 PM EST
    In a very short period of time he has gone from being a private citizen to a public figure. It seems he's been a little slow to comprehend all the ramifications of that.

    I'm pretty sure he's been a public figure since he was 15 years old.  Sure, he wasn't nearly as famous back then, but he's been a public figure for some time.

    I think it's totally ridiculous that South Carolina is investigating possible charges.  They're just blowing smoke, IMO.

    Parent

    The charge would never stick. (none / 0) (#5)
    by TChris on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 02:58:30 PM EST
    All they have is a picture of a pipe and Phelps admitting he smoked something he believed to be MJ.  Without testing the actual substance he smoked, I don't see how they get a conviction. But maybe they don't need actual evidence in SC.

    No (none / 0) (#8)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:01:06 PM EST
    The stupid comment Phelps made was clever enough that no admission to smoking MJ, or anything, could be extracted from it.

    Parent
    Wellllll (none / 0) (#11)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:04:15 PM EST
    I think it was a pretty obvious admission that he THOUGHT he was smoking marijuana.

    I think TChris' more important point is how do you prove he was in fact, smoking marijuana.

    Parent

    Perhaps they'll charge him. . . (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:05:21 PM EST
    with attempting to smoke pot, or something.

    Parent
    A question for criminal defense lawyers (none / 0) (#16)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:06:49 PM EST
    Is trying to smoke marijuana against the law, or only ACTUALLY smoking marijuana against the law?

    Parent
    Generally speaking (none / 0) (#25)
    by Steve M on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:14:45 PM EST
    factual impossibility is not a defense to an attempt charge, although I've never heard of anyone being charged with attempted use of a controlled substance.  Attempted purchase or sale, yes.

    Parent
    Probably depends on the jurisdiction. (none / 0) (#27)
    by TChris on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:16:53 PM EST
    Almost any crime can theoretically be attempted ("I tried to smoke pot but it turned out the guy gave me oregano") but in my state the law precludes charging most misdemeanors as attempts.

    Parent
    My criminal law prof taught me (none / 0) (#37)
    by andgarden on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:24:43 PM EST
    that attempts outside of the MPC is really a patchwork, but that the three areas of analysis are Proximity, Means, and Unequivocality. Generally, I think we don't look at statements for the last element unless they are themselves part of the criminal action (so no confessions or diary entries, but maybe a conversation with an undercover cop).

    Parent
    lol (none / 0) (#26)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:15:01 PM EST
    Or promoting MJ use, or immoral acts. Must be a SC law on the books for that.

    Parent
    What if he wasn't actually attempting to inhale? (none / 0) (#74)
    by Realleft on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 05:53:59 PM EST
    Maybe he was just experimenting and didn't like it, and will never try it again.

    Parent
    No Case (none / 0) (#23)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:13:17 PM EST
    The sheriff is using Phelps just like McDonalds, and the paparazzi.

    But still, Phelps comment was ambiguous enough that it not clear exactly what he is apologizing about. My reading is there is zero admission or apology for smoking anything.

    And I think Phelps is basically a 100% athlete and does what his handlers and coaches tell him. Taking a stance about pot laws or politics, even under the circumstances, seems way beyond his job description, at least at this point in his career.  

    But obviously since he does imbibe, there is no doubt he would rather there be no stigma attached to the act, not to mention legal prohibitions.

    Parent

    You mean . . . (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:19:42 PM EST
    Phelps is not a role model? I agree.

    Parent
    A Bad Role Model (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:32:34 PM EST
    He is owned by corporations and basically models whatever they are selling.

    Frosted Flakes, McDonalds..

    Certainly not a role model I would want my kids to follow.

    Parent

    To Be Clear (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by squeaky on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:47:07 PM EST
    He is certainly a role model, just a bad one.

    Parent
    You're the criminal lawyer (none / 0) (#10)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:03:05 PM EST
    So I defer to your analysis.

    But what about the question, how does Phelps feel about decriminalizing marijuana now you think?

    Parent

    I'm guessing (5.00 / 3) (#22)
    by TChris on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:13:11 PM EST
    he doesn't think he should be arrested.  It's my experience that most people who have ever taken a toke hold the private (and often public) belief that mj should be decriminalized.  But some (like our previous president and many other politicians) fall back on the "I made a mistake" line and refuse to support decrim.  I have trouble with that point of view -- mistake or not, if you didn't have to pay for it, why should someone else who wasn't so lucky as to avoid arrest?  I don't have a problem with parents telling their kids "I made a mistake and I learned from it and you shouldn't do it" if that's what they really believe, as long as they don't think their kids (or anyone else) should get arrested for engaging in the very behavior in which they once indulged.

    Parent
    Thank you (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:17:19 PM EST
    This is my point exactly.

    Thank you for expressing it.

    On some level, these foolish south carolina law enforcement authorities are unintentionally making an important point.

    No one thinks Phelps should be charged with anything here nor even investigated.

    But how many other people are being harassed and jailed for doing what Michael Phelps did?

    That is the real travesty here. Michael Phelps has enough money and connections that, let's face it, nothing is going to happen to him, except the tarnishing of his squeaky clean image.

    Too many will not have that luxury.

    Parent

    " I don't have a problem with parents" (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:46:14 PM EST
    I don't have a problem with parents telling their kids "I made a mistake and I learned from it and you shouldn't do it" if that's what they really believe, as long as they don't think their kids (or anyone else) should get arrested for engaging in the very behavior in which they once indulged.
    What unusual reasoning. Is this a pot only position, or does it apply to everything?

    Like when I was a kid I shoplifted a few times, even got caught by a store security guard once though they didn't call the cops, should I now not support thieves getting arrested?

    I also drove like a complete horses @ss as a kid, wrecking cars and almost killing myself and others several times, should I now not support the arrest of other people for the same stupid thing?

    btw, BTD, thanks for the "politics of crime" thread. Your first one! ;-)

    Parent

    difference (none / 0) (#61)
    by Nasarius on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:59:35 PM EST
    There's a big bright line in any sane ethical (or legal) system between harming/endangering others, and engaging in behavior that only effects yourself. Different situations, different conclusions.

    Parent
    to do with TChris's comment about supporting laws even though you've broken them yourself. Unless you're saying his comment is a pot-only position?

    Parent
    This comment on the linked article... (none / 0) (#14)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:05:47 PM EST
    People like this sheriff give southerners a bad name. Go prosecute someone you can convict. All that picture show is the guy with what APPEARS to be a bong putting it to his mouth. Does not prove he smoked it or inhaled it and sure doesn't prove it was pot.

    ...is spot-on, IMHO.  Maybe they're going after the bong angle--after all, that fine is more than possession of pot.  Kind of hard to prove it was his from a picture though.


    Parent

    Decriminalize? (none / 0) (#6)
    by kaleidescope on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 02:58:36 PM EST
    You meant legalize, not decriminalize, didn't you?  

    One step at a time (none / 0) (#19)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:08:22 PM EST
    even in the Netherlands (none / 0) (#62)
    by Nasarius on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 04:02:33 PM EST
    it's only technically decriminalized, but you can still walk into a coffeeshop, buy it and smoke it. IIRC, it's mostly down to enforcement.

    Parent
    Decriminalize? (none / 0) (#66)
    by kaleidescope on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 04:51:26 PM EST
    In California simple possession of less than an ounce is an infraction, not a crime.  Personal use of marijuana has been decriminalized for decades.

    When I was living in Madison in the mid-seventies, the city had an ordinance that made possession of up to a quarter pound an infraction punishable by -- get this -- a $5 fine.  One summer night I was walking around my neighborhood smoking a joint (East High, heh) and came upon a car accident.  I had a conversation with the cop while holding a lit joint.  He never said a thing. (Of course, I didn't push my luck by taking a hit from it while talking to him.)

    That was almost thirty-five years ago.

    Time to take it to the next step.

    Parent

    Sure (none / 0) (#86)
    by CST on Wed Feb 04, 2009 at 10:49:41 AM EST
    In CA it's pretty good already.

    We just decriminalized possesion in my state this past Nov. though, and I'm from MA, another lefty-hippie state.

    Sure sucks for everyone in South Carolina though... not to mention the other 30 or so states where it remains illegal.

    Legallization would be nice, but I'll take not going to jail.  I've had friends arrested for possesion before.  It's a waste of a clean record and certainly a waste of time in jail.

    Parent

    If he didn't before (none / 0) (#7)
    by jbindc on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:00:15 PM EST
    I bet he does now!

    You know, this could ... (none / 0) (#20)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:09:07 PM EST
    explain Phelps "munchy-rific" diet:

    Breakfast: Three fried-egg sandwiches loaded with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, fried onions and mayonnaise. Two cups of coffee. One five-egg omelet. One bowl of grits. Three slices of French toast topped with powdered sugar. Three chocolate-chip pancakes.

    Lunch: One pound of enriched pasta. Two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayo on white bread. Energy drinks packing 1,000 calories.

    Dinner: One pound of pasta. An entire pizza. More energy drinks.



    Doesn't this guy eat any... (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by desertswine on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:24:52 PM EST
    fruits and veggies?  One day his colon is going to rebel.

    Parent
    Fried onions? (none / 0) (#41)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:27:12 PM EST
    And lettuce and tomatoes. (none / 0) (#43)
    by Robot Porter on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:28:49 PM EST
    Of course, he may have been secretly been eating more veggies for years.

    Anyone have a picture?

    Parent

    Good luck (none / 0) (#40)
    by eric on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:26:16 PM EST
    finding someone to even provide foundation for that photograph.  Because whoever did, will have to admit they were at a pot smoking party, which is also probably illegal in SC.  ;)

    i bet (none / 0) (#53)
    by Turkana on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:45:14 PM EST
    he'd never admit that he does...

    what we will see are some public mea culpas. because that's the way it works.

    What a frickin' waste of time and money (none / 0) (#57)
    by Katherine Graham Cracker on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 03:58:01 PM EST
    This should be an opportunity for legalization

    Where is Rick Steves when you really need him.

    We waste lives and money enforcing an incredibly stupid law.  Legalize pot now.

    Bad timing for Phelps (none / 0) (#65)
    by lobary on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 04:18:20 PM EST
    I don't know how long the British tabloid had that picture before running it, but it couldn't have been published at a worse time for Phelps. February is the slowest sports month of the year. The NFL's crowned a champion, MLB is still in the midst of the long void, and the NBA is just warming up.

    There's just not that much to talk about in the American sports media right now. Might as well talk about Michael Phelps...

     

    Perhaps... (none / 0) (#79)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 06:48:55 PM EST
    ..but on the other hand, the NBA and NHL teams are starting to fight for play-off spots and college basketball/hockey is still going on.

    Add in golf starting up, MLB's pre-Spring training trades/signings, the upcoming drafts and the continuing saga that is Brett Farve.  There's plenty for the ESPN's of the world to talk about.  

    They're going to talk about Michael Phelps because he's Michael Phelps--regardless of the season.  

    Parent

    At least talking about pot (none / 0) (#80)
    by Carolyn in Baltimore on Tue Feb 03, 2009 at 06:49:45 PM EST
    will make the gay rumors fade.......