Michael Phelps Has No Business Apologizing for Taking Bong Hits

I REALLY couldn't care less.

Here's what I do care about:

Obama admitted to smoking pot, and he is now the President, which means, among other things, he has all sorts of security clearances, etc. It's time for (recreational or medicinal) marijuana use (not abuse) to become a non-factor in American life.

Make it legal. Amnesty and release from prison for for everyone ever convicted of possession or use.

Make it illegal to ask about it on employment applications, gun purchase background checks, etc.

This shit should be over already.

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Wow, if anything shows that marijuana is really just not as harmful as it is made out to be, this is it!

Drug War Facts

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I was also a little peeved at the fact that Phelps felt as if though he had to apologize. Why? He should have said, "Yeah, I smoked some pot . . . and?"

Legalization isn't going far enough, in my opinion. What is needed is an efficient and legal method of government manufacture and distribution, so that high-quality pot can--with a hefty tax--still be made available for less than $35 for an eighth of an ounce. Do that and you'll not only undercut the black market, but you could likely put the country back in the black within a few years.

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Michael Phelps should just have said, "Yeah, so?"

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Phelps is starting to take himself seriously, his fame that is. I think he is being a coward because he thinks and or has been advised by those that tend to gain from his notoriety that telling the press to go F#$% themselves would destroy his career [money pot].

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Does is make any sense to legalize possession and use, while continuing to condone the arrest and imprisonment of growers and distributors? I mean, if a product is legal, how can those who provide said product be accused of breaking the law?

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... for saying exactly what I had been thinking.

I thought all marijuana smokers were useless slugs who have no motivation and watch tv all day, knowing they have thrown their entire life away.

Perhaps this incident will shed light on the fact that the 'facts' we've all been told about how marijuana ruins lives is all untrue.

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I can't condemn Phelps for being a tokin' role model any more than I could condemn the wino on the corner for his actions. Shoot, I enjoy Scotch--and probably to a degree of excess. Why do mary jane tokers get such a hard rap? At least they are (mostly, in my experience) not hitting the open road after "having a few". They smoke up in one place...and then eat the cornfield worth of chips they bought beforehand, lol.

We're all adults, we make our own choices, and we live with the consequences (unless you happen to have been born with a Senate seat).

Phelps can do whatever the hell he wants. He's still a swimming champ, and next to Lance Armstrong, probably America's premier athlete in my lifetime.

Bong or not.

The only reservation I have is with those who'd sell to minors. If you try to f*ck with our kids before they're old enough to decide, you deserve to rot. That, in my opinion, goes equally for dope dealers and peddlers of religion, though my opinions ain't quite so popular with either of your religions, I 'spect.

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Now be honest, how many of you would publicly condemn marijuana for $100 mil? Think of all you could do, the trips to Amsterdam, er,

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...summed it all up in four simple one-word questions.

"Yeah?"
"And?"
"So?"
"What?"

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I don't understand the problem. Using a bong, or a water pipe, is very much healthier than smoking a joint. Once again, Michael Phelps has demonstrated that he is an excellent role model.

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Who cares about a bong of pot? I wonder what Michael Phelps eats--if it's actually 28 hamburgers or some other gross hormone-laden animal product and white bread bun, it is a miracle he got where he is today. Then again, perhaps junk food was at the root of his learning disabilities as a child. People refuse to look at nutrition as a source of crime, but sugar and processed food have hurt more people than pot will ever hurt.

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Before attempts to end marijuana prohibition gain any real traction, the Cheech and Chong stereotype of the dumb, lazy stoner must die; only when enough intelligent, capable and successful people who use marijuana or support changes in drug laws make themselves known and heard will the general public perception begin to change. I especially applaud Bill Maher, clearly an intelligent and successful individual, for openly discussing his own marijuana use and loudly calling out pot hysteria for the stupidity and oppression that it is.

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Give Michael a break. I am not into pot but dang it is so duplistic and evil that a 23 yr. old smoking pot is soooo vilified and yet the biggest Republican radio commentator....Rush Limbaugh..was hooked on illegally gained oxycotin & there was little scandal about it!!!

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I once masturbated to a National Geographic.

I'm truly sorry everyone.

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The ones who seem most upset about this are parents who rely on others to be 'Role Models'. Why is it today's parents put so much responsiblity on Stars or Atheletes shape their kids Self esteem and aspirations. When did it become everyone elses job to set standards, or appropriate behavior?
Granted I admired John Lennon, but not in hopes of becoming him ( that delusion resulted in his murder). What I admired was his own sense of self, regardless of what others thought. I appreciated the fact he was outspoken and often rebelled against injustice. Just because he may have been addicted to herione, did not encourage me to follow suit. It was a human fraility which only made his accomplishements that much more attainable in spite of it.So regardless of what 'weakness' I had, I could still achieve anything I set my mind to.
Parents nowadays fail to instill self reliance, esteem, determination and even purpose in their children through their own example or behaviors. Instead condemning others who they expect to teach these traits for them.
I never need a Rock Star or a Celebrity to convince me I could do or be anything I wanted. My parents had taught me that, and infact required I do so. I had to make the grades, never allowed to blame the teachers methods of instruction. I failed it was MY Fault. when 'citizenship' grades were reported, Those were of great concern (and consequences). Had I conducted myself appropriately in class and towards the teacher. Had I shown civic responsibility and community mindedness? Had I worked well with others and displayed empathy to others?
they never expect my teachers to teach me such things, they had already set down the basics at home. They just wanted to know I continued to demonstate them when out of their sight. I and my sisters always got good citizenship marks, because we knew if we hadn't Our asses were grass.
So parents stop looking to blame your kids bad behavior on others, it is YOU who should be your kids Instructors and Role models, and the ones who instillED enough self confidence that they need not look to 'stars' for it.

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What an opportunity. Lost.

Phelps could have cleared up a LOT of unreliable and blatantly false propaganda about pot.

Pot has not "ruined his life" or "sapped his ambition". Apparently just the opposite.

Maybe he would have lost some endorsements, but perhaps he would have picked up others from some more enlightened companies.

Instead he caved, and bowed down to the almighty dollar and sold his soul out to corporate interests. Way to go, Mikey.

Why could he not, instead, have spoken out for the MILLIONS of professional people who smoke pot on a regular basis and come to NO HARM whatsoever, either personally or professionally?

I, myself, am acquainted with, or know of, SCORES of working professionals who smoke on a regular basis and have for DECADES, with no discernible harm; executives in multinational corporations, teachers, doctors, accountants, social workers, POLICE.

Get OVER it, ferchissakes. Marijuana CAN be used responsibly and IS, by more folks than anyone realizes.

BTW, lest anyone think I am a stupid stoner who is imagining things, ah No. I myself do not smoke for several reasons, one of which is random drug testing at my place of employment. But I fully support people's right to do so in a reasonable and responsible way.

So Mr. Phelps are you going to stand up and "be a man" or FOLD UP and SUCK UP to your corporate masters?

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Speaker of the House, Nancy Peloski made the remark, " The people should speak to their representatives to provide input for changes".
As a reader of Alternet pointed out, "Why doesn't she look at the results from the people on Change. org, and use those large number of Americans who voted for drug reform, as her tool for directly informing Obama of the Citizens desire.
Tony Newman's article is an outstanding compilation of facts and observations, that should be forwarded to Peloski by the CEO of Alternet, along with the readers comments on this situation. Thanks, Mickey Allums, Killeen, Texas

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Phelps should not have to apologize. A little Pot never hurt anyone. Phelps is the new poster child for the Pot Heads of the World!

RT
Whats hiding on your PC?

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He wants to apologize for doing bong hits thats his business. If you are a rising star with a lot of promise you are not only responsible for yourself, but since he is embedded with a lot of promotional endorsement, he is also making a statement about a company.. If said company does not accept that he tokes they are fully with in their rights to not give him any more endorsement contracts. I really do not care if people smoke lots of pot. I however cannot see why it is necessary. Seems an utter waste of time and money to me... my$.02

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Any of you having the courage to stand behind him on this, if i can, I will buy your products, and I will most certainly trumpet your name to anyone who will listen. And Phelps if you apologize for this and I ever see you, you're getting a goddamned earful. What are you worried about, losing opportunities to sell macaroni and cheese? Being a fast swimmer is, in the big picture, of pretty much zero consequence, but here you have a chance to really help make one of the most needed and overdue changes. Wanna REALLY be a hero, not just a symbolic one? HERE is your REAL moment to shine.

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Just another American doing his duty! Like the prior post I'll be watching to see what his sponsor’s response will be. And when they expose themselves and drop Phelps then I won't be buying their products no more. And NO! He should not apologize for doing something harmless, he should apologize for apologizing!

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The coffers could use the income, isn't any different from alcohol that we tax.

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Why did -the ever-diligent employee protections- KBR take Canadian workers' civil & human rights to the Supreme Court?

...because *having control over your body & your choices is the goal of power*

Why is ANYONE claiming control over YOUR VICES??

obviously, its in YOUR BEST INTERESTS: I mean JUST LOOK AT THE WRECK that Devil Weed made of that poor athlete?! Phelps is a WRECK, a shambling tatters of a human being... how DARE he decide to make a living & make his own decisions about how he enjoys his body?! I mean... what athlete knows their own body?

Vice
.
.
.
Think about it...

The Thieves of Virtue: legislating morality undermines representative government.

really, VICE is contextual:
* gender
* ethnicity
* age
* race...

all pay a part in morals. but VICE, should never be *criminalized*, especially in a nation where PRIVACY has been abolished.

Who is PERFECT ENOUGH to represent THE PEOPLE or a populist reform when there is neither privacy nor the Will to preserve privacy in society?
Who stands *for the People* when Money & Power exert corrosive controls to extend their oppression & corruption?

You've been *had*

Nobody is immune to *vice* as VICE is about how ONE PERSON privately & personally determines *how to enjoy their own body*...

Naked Truth: Civil Rights & CNN coverage of "F.B.I. biometric database - 'Server in the Sky'"
...& THAT is how THE MORAL MAJORITY ensured Money & Power will kill representative government for The Peoples who seek JUSTICE, Freedom & Human Rights.

"corruption is why we win":
"Yell Fire!": Bush to freeze peace activist assets? - Executive Order to "Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq"

NSA's Domestic Spying Grows As Agency Sweeps Up Data

Diamond Age? - Kids, RFID Chips... & Minority Reporting?!: thoughts on the new US Project Hostile Intent (PHI)

Watching the "Ownership Society": follow-ups on Shareholder Surveillance...

CIA agents insure against torture lawsuits

I mean, employers will tell you the want to DRUG TEST, because it would LOWER INSURANCE CLAIMS...
& OBAMA ... told you last week... he intends to CENTRALIZE & computerize your health records.

gee... think about that...

~~~
Spread Love...

BlueBerry Pick'n
can be found @
ThisCanadian
~~~
"We, two, form a Multitude" ~ Ovid.
~~~
"Silent Freedom is Freedom Silenced"

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I mean, he or she was in the room with Michael Phelps. He or she must certainly have taken a few hits from the same bong that Phelps is seen toking on.

And what was the motive of the twerp who took the pic? Did he or she receive any financial incentive from the Brit online tabloid news of The World.co.uk? Is he or she merely a sophomoric, self-aggrandizing *sshole who posted the photo in question on his or her Facebook or MySpace profile for a little street cred? Does he or she have the guts to come forward and apologize to Michael Phelps for helping him make a mess of his life?

And what about the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC)? What a stinking pile of hypocrisy! They come out with a cockamamie statement saying how disappointed they are in Michael Phelps, he's a role model after all, who broke the hearts of millions of little kiddies. Now those sentitive littl b*stards are going to quite swimming because Michael Phelps took a few bong hits! Horsesh*t!

The clowns at the USOC conveniently forget, in this instance, that one of its major sponsors is Anheuser-Busch! Here's what the USOC said in a press release last summer about its relationship with Anheuser-Bush: "Anheuser Busch has proven to be an invaluable partner to the U.S. Olympic Committee, and its support of the U.S. Olympic Team helps enable our athletes to pursue their dreams," said USOC Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr. "The continued partnership between these two iconic, American brands through 2012 reflects Anheuser-Busch's commitment to supporting tomorrow's Olympic athletes, as well as the strength and value of the U.S. Olympic Team brand and the Olympic Movement worldwide
Anheuser-Busch Renews U.S. Olympic Team Sponsorship, July 17, 2008, teamusa.org

So, don't get caught drinking or drugging, Olympic hopefuls! You are no longer human. You are semi-divine! You are living secular saints! Gee, but I hope you never have to sh*t! Gods don't, so I expect you won't either.

While our Olympic athletes are busting butts for Olympic gold the rest of us in couch potato-land will be watching their every move, cheering their victories and commiserating in their defeats with a Bud Light in one hand and a bong in the other.

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Sorry but my observation is in about 100% percent of the cases, marijuana users that care enought to complain about these issues are useless to themselves and society. I don't believe in criminalizing use but don't kid yourselves. Being laid back and off the roads is your greatest accomplishment. Great athletes don't contribute much to society either other than resolving debate within the cocoon of sport. Sport is mere diversion. Pot is about escapism. An exception in my mind is Alex Jones. He can maintiain a sense of what's going on around him because he is very strong.

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Michael Phelps had to apologize for smoking pot to help get the media off his back. Had he not apologized, the "news" media would use this story as a distraction for the next month or two; now that he has 'fessed up and showed the proper amount of faux contrition, the faux news outlets might only use this story for about a week –– or two.

Nobody would have asked him to apologize for being caught with a highball in his hand, would they? (Well, maybe, but I doubt it ...)

The fact is, this is a non-story. Nobody but the media, hungry for anything that can help them avoid putting anything on the air that might actually impact people, and a few "church lady" fundamentalists, gives a damn about recreational pot use.

Yo, Michael. You won EIGHT gold medals at the Olympic games; you go ahead a take a hit off that bong.

Ya-hoo.

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I can't swim like Michael can, but I can rip from the ol' bong just as skillfully! This isn't something that he should apologize for. You've surpassed more goals than most people have even set for themselves. But seriously? You [Michael] just took one hit?

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Let's get real here! For a hundred mil I would fake an apology too. And anyone who says they wouldn't is not stoned, but a freakin' liar. Or too stupid to realize they will be set for life; no bills to worry about, no career to fight for - totally recession/depression-proof. I know he's not too high to realize the ramifications or he wouldn't have inhaled his handlers' advice - they don't grow weed THAT good! At least I haven't seen any in my 40+ years of smokin' rope! Michael Phelps condoning pot smoking will NOT change a thing in this country regarding pot laws; the naysayers will still bash it despite the fact they don't have a clue what they're talking about because they've either never tried the "devil weed" or they're too weak-minded to handle the buzz! Things in this country won't change until we have politicians with the guts to stare down the crowd of politically-corrupt fools (aka, politically correct) who force their will on gutless, windsock politicians with fear-mongering.

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His last statement is the best, far more sense to worry about the needless waste of prosecuting marijuana usage than to even consider Phelp's usage a problem.

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If you have the courage and disciple to win 8 gold medals then why appologize. Grow a pair and stand up for all of us without a voice. I would love to see a pro-pot commercial with him wearing his 8 gold medals taking a toke. Instead we watch ridiculous anti-pot commercials where people deflate on the couch and your dog thinks your a loser. Phelps could have went on every talk show and talked about how he smoked pot and it was no big deal. Bill Maher, John Stewart, David Letterman, the girls from the view ect... would have made him a bigger hero than he is now.

Famous people. Stop apologizing for pot use.

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http://www.reason.com/news/show/131438.html

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That way he can keep his $100 million in endorsements and buy some really good weed with it!

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No way should michael have to apoligize for doing something that's far less harmful than the govt's 'legal drugs' booze and cigarettes.
Hundreds of sports figures pushed cigarettes,and they killed millions of people.
Sports figures also push booze,what does that do for us? Well in 'legitimizes' drunken brawls,rapes,molestations,manslaughter and driving drunk. These two are legal and they kill us. The Gov't lets it go on. Why? They make billions of dollars and reduce the surplus population.

Why is hemp illegal? Because it promotes Peaceful relations,is theraputically active.
Two thing this gov't doesn't want, Peace and Health.

No now is not the time to apologize,it's time to stand up,speak-out,and get your congresspreson to make law H.R.5843. a bill that makes it legal,for consenting ADULTS to smoke,use,possess,and non-profit transfer 100 grams of Marijuana ( Hemp for those who don't know any better)
Plus Hemp is a major threat to big oil,coal mining,and big pharm.
Why? You get cleaner burning diesel fuel from hemp,cleaner burning charcoal from hemp,and in it's natural state, the most theraputically active substance known to man. Our DEA said that,so even the Feds know Hemp is far less harmful than the bullshit you can buy over the counter.

Remember your government makes money off of rapes,fist fights, civil unrest by getting increased taxes for police budgets.
If your government doesn't work for Peace,it is your enemy

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Phelps should not be apologizing, but should be angered that people are invading his personal privacy! Weed is no chemically altered drug, it's natural and won't give him an advantage over other competitors so therefore should not stop him from getting 14 golds! YOURE MY HERO PHELPS!

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I dont think Phelps owes anyone anything! Pot is GOOD and a little weed never hurt no one! Phelps is the new Poster Child for pot heads all over the globe! I'd burn one with him any day!

RT
Privacy Center

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My take on the Michael Phelps hullabaloo is available on The Hill's blog here:

http://tinyurl.com/b2aqg3

Here's an excerpt. Feel free to read the full post and comment! (The Hill is an insider paper from members of Congress and their staff.)

Sure, there will be some who will say that this latest chapter in Phelp’s life is deserving of criticism because the 14-time gold medalist is sending a poor message to young children. And what message would that be? That you can occasionally smoke marijuana and still be successful in life. Well sorry if the truth hurts.

Fact is, most Americans who use pot do so for the same reasons — and in the same manner — as do those who drink alcohol. According to a recent University of Alberta study, the majority of adults who use cannabis do so recreationally to “enhance relaxation.” Researchers concluded: “[M]ost adult marijuana users regulate use to their recreational time and do not use compulsively. Rather, their use is purposively intended to enhance their leisure activities and manage the challenges and demands of living in contemporary modern society. Generally, participants reported using marijuana because it enhanced relaxation and concentration, making a broad range of leisure activities more enjoyable and pleasurable.”

No doubt Michael Phelps indulged in the use of marijuana for these very same reasons. He ought not to be condemned for it nor branded a criminal for his actions.

For that matter, neither should anyone else.

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I dont think Phelps owes anyone anything! Pot is GOOD and a little weed never hurt no one! Phelps is the new Poster Child for pot heads all over the globe! I'd burn one with him any day!

RT
Privacy Center

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Thanks a lot William Randolph Hearst & Lammont DuPont for raping our natural resources and demonizing hemp (in addition to marijuana). Hemp can be used for foods, clothing, paint and varnish products, and the list goes on. It is simply ridiculous that we would not explore this further as a cash cow that could lift us out of our economical woes. Henry Ford was ready to use hemp oil as a fuel for his cars. Thanks to Hearst & DuPont, we went the way of petroleum and additionally destroyed most of our forests for paper (hemp would be a much more practical source of paper). Why are we still entrenched in the 30's mindset? Not to mention the number of people incarcerated for pot. That is costing us taxpayers billions. When are we going to get real? I suggest we all do a lot more homework on the potentials of hemp - the plant that could actually save us.

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and sell it in the liquor store. Mike, we've all done it so there's no need to apologize. (Betcha Mom and Dad tried it back in their college days, too. They just won't admit it!)

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I have quit toking reefer....for awhile. Because it feels so good returning to it, like visiting an old friend I haven't seen for many years. Mind-altering substances, all of them, are a source of endless fascination for me. They have seemed to evolved in lock-step with our own evolution, being able to cross the blood-brain-barrier and stimulating those exact neurons that will respond to them. Michael Phelps appears to be an intelligent young man and it would appear that having his neurons stimulated by a bit of herb doesn't seem to have done him any noticeable harm. I have felt those same neurons beginning to shrink and cower when I tune into Rush, Hannity or Coulter. There is where the real harm lies....and lies, and lies.

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the unhealthful practice of inhaling smoke of any kind.

The practic of elevating athletes to the status of role models simply because they're physically gifted and burdening them with that label,is ludicrous. So is the thinking of any person who buys a product because an athlete,actor,politician,etc.says he/she uses it in order to make a profit.

IF anyone should be upset, it's his coach and/or his mother.

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the guy is a swimmer thats it! I dont see him contributing to society other than being a poster child(idiot) for fast food. smoke all the weed ya want Phelps...I dont care!

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On Cannabis Use.

The UK Government changed the Law, in direct opposition to its own scientific advisors.

The News of the World could have published this at any time since they got the pictures in November. They were offerred massive inducements not to publish (see their website)

It was published to make the UK Government look like complete idiots - and gives the impression to kids - "smoke dope and win 14 gold medals"

Hasn't this made the Headline News in US Mainstream Media?

How the hell can it not?

Is US Society completely controlled by Fascists?

The hypocrisy is Deafening

(I see it was published on page D8 of the New York edition)

So presumably buried.

Oh how shocking.

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And that word is: Fear. Fear is what keeps us from saying, loud and clear, things we would like to say - and that often, should be said - and holds back the true progress of the human race.

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who posted the photo, anyway? Sure, we know that smoking pot is no big deal. But the truth is, the photo was damaging to Phelps because we are living in intolerant times. So who was the little weenie who left a knife in his back?

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I love pot and it's far better than any mix of alcohol or other drugs administered by so called physicians. It's called self medication, and I think Phelps has intelligence enough to know when to say, "I know!".

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I have been smoking for years but I am a little upset that I have yet to win a gold medal. How much do I have to smoke to win just ONE?

Michael Phelps should not have to apologize but I understand his reticence in the face of so many uninformed, fearful people who are criticizing his every move.
Let's just make sure he doesn't try to take home the gold in any pie eating contests!

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And now comes the great marijuana debate, with the spectacularly talented Michael Phelps proving to the world he's really just a normal young guy. That's what is revealing about his being caught taking a bong hit--the fact that he's just like us in some ways. Some governmental agency really needs to figure out how to make high-grade marijuana available to people 21 or over through a controlled system of distribution. Where I grew up, in Pennsylvania, only "state stores" are allowed to sell liquor. Why not the same for weed? So much money is out there waiting to be collected. Now is the time for marijuana users to come to the aid of their country.

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and thug wanna-be's. Amerika targets and scapegoats innocent people in a diversity of ways, from pot smokers to gay people, from blacks to Native Amerikans, from the disabled to the poor, from children to their mothers, and from the underemployed to the non-Christians.

This is how they keep us divided and conquered, suppressed and suffering. Nothing will change this vicious cycle of vitriol and violence, except for a truly rebellious revolution that will bring down the status quo, hardcore capitalism and religious zealotry.

Most likely, Prez Obama will prove to be nothing more than a cover-up for the Evil Lords, and more of the same-old, same-old. Many progressive heteros still don't get it regarding gay marriage, thus don't think it's anywhere near as important an issue as, say, war or global warming. But it is precisely the matter of homophobia that is the Achilles heel of all other vital issues...and as long as this wound is ignored and allowed to fester, nothing good shall ever be achieved on any other matter.

And the resulting terror, chaos, death and devastation that will surely come if homophobia continues to be celebrated as something "godly" and "patriotic"...will be (dare I say it) more than well deserved.

Gay bashing has become a national sport, every bit as Amerikan as Mom and apple pie: a perfect fusion of fundamentalist ideology and Amerikan idolatry (a.k.a. "patriotism"). If you don't care to turn it around, if you don't bother to speak out whenever someone cries "f*ggot", then may the blood on your hands spread to your children, your children's children, and to all who are near and dear to your patriotic little heart.

Me, my conscience is clear. So this little illegal-in-30-states-and-hated-in-all-50 queer is gonna light up a joint of illegal Mary Jane, and download some illegal videos on his legally purchased laptop that no doubt was assembled in some godforsaken sweatshop by the humble hands of an arthritic sweet lady or docile, clueless (and unhappy) child.

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Here's a list of all the scumbags who use pot (and some pertinent graphs too)...I'm proud to be a member of this scumbag group...WildWill... PS We'll have to add Mike Phelps.

http://frankdiscussion.netfirms.com/who_celebtokers.html

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playing the 'what about the kids / role model' card is red-herring bullshit.

Phelps is an ATHLETE... not anyone's fucking role model. it's HIS life, and he should not have to apologize to anyone for what he does on his own time, period.

furthermore, parents ought to PARENT their OWN damn kids, and leave OTHER people to live their lives... in PRIVACY & PEACE.

and so what, Phelps smoked a bit of ganja to chillout and relax, like many of us do. the world's got *actual problems* that need fixing... so let's move on, shall we! this 'world exclusive' story is nothing more than invasive tabloid trash, and entirely irrelevant to the *important* issues that the world is facing right now.

btw, it seems to me that so many people, particularly the media, are like vultures, always trying to dig up dirt on people, tear them down and destroy their lives. it's disgusting.

i hope the jerk who submitted that foto of Phelps to the tabloids gets a much-deserved punch in the face from Phelps' friends.

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Did he say 'role' or roll? Now I'm hungry.

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The Mo'fuck who sold the pic should have a price on his head.

All psychedelics should be legal.

And even if they're not...available.

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noseplug?

So what. Just another pampered overpaid dumb jock who got caught and it makes headlines 'cause he's worth too-many millions, doesn't contribute to the common good (ever see him maybe volunteer for water sports for the disabled?), and is considered a "hunk."

Big fucking deal.

I am so tired of the media's preoccupation with "celebrity" weasels like this guy, A-Rod, the whole fucking overpaid lot of them.

Let's get real. The country is in a death spiral and we're all (not me anyway) in a hubbub about this dork.

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and thug wanna-be's. Amerika targets and scapegoats innocent people in a diversity of ways, from pot smokers to gay people, from blacks to Native Amerikans, from the disabled to the poor, from children to their mothers, and from the underemployed to the non-Christians.

This is how they keep us divided and conquered, suppressed and suffering. Nothing will change this vicious cycle of vitriol and violence, except for a truly rebellious revolution that will bring down the status quo, hardcore capitalism and religious zealotry.

Most likely, Prez Obama will prove to be nothing more than a cover-up for the Evil Lords, and more of the same-old, same-old. Many progressive heteros still don't get it regarding gay marriage, thus don't think it's anywhere near as important an issue as, say, war or global warming. But it is precisely the matter of homophobia that is the Achilles heel of all other vital issues...and as long as this wound is ignored and allowed to fester, nothing good shall ever be achieved on any other matter.

And the resulting terror, chaos, death and devastation that will surely come if homophobia continues to be celebrated as something "godly" and "patriotic"...will be (dare I say it) more than well deserved.

Gay bashing has become a national sport, every bit as Amerikan as Mom and apple pie: a perfect fusion of fundamentalist ideology and Amerikan idolatry (a.k.a. "patriotism"). If you don't care to turn it around, if you don't bother to speak out whenever someone cries "f*ggot", then may the blood on your hands spread to your children, your children's children, and to all who are near and dear to your patriotic little heart.

Me, my conscience is clear. So this little illegal-in-30-states-and-hated-in-all-50 queer is gonna light up a joint of illegal Mary Jane, and download some illegal videos on his legally purchased laptop that no doubt was assembled in some godforsaken sweatshop by the humble hands of an arthritic sweet lady or docile, clueless (and unhappy) child.

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Everyone always says "think of the children!" or "think of the message that unpunished unremarked pot use might send to children!"

Maybe, if we care so goddamned much about the nation's precious children, we should tell them the truth, instead of building a precarious structure of half-truths and propaganda to try to influence them away from experimenting with drugs.

For one thing, it doesn't work. By the time most bright kids are 11 or 12, they have figured out that this is nonsense and propaganda, about as convincing as the Santa Claus legend. If anything, the Reefer Madness rhetoric sets kids up to experiment with truly destructive drugs, like methamphetamine or heroin. They know the media position on marijuana is a hypocritical lie. Every kid in America knows someone who smokes pot who *isn't* a loser, so they figure every word they ever heard about drugs is a lie, and they try whatever they're offered.

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is how this entire society consistently presents its athletes as higher than art though superhuman beings and the sob stories of overcoming living with one parent, and lower middle class so called "struggles." The Marion Jones of the world get stripped of their medals and Phelps case is "no big deal." And you can't say it's different because of steroids or pot. No- let him take the fall like everyone else. It isn't a big deal cause he's just that- A dopey kid from the burbs throwing back beers taking a few tokes and bangin' chicks on his new found fame.

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There was a line of text on CNN this morning that suggested Phelps might lose his endorsements and also face possible arrest. Unbelievable! But Rush "I hope he fails" Limbaugh has no consequences for his drug use whatsoever.

Like other posters above, I wonder what kind of person would take Phelps's picture and publish it. Does anyone know who this was and why he or she did it?

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As a moderate pot smoker for almost 30-years, I can verify from my own experiences that pot has had no negative effects on my career successes, which is more than I can say for those days when I consumed alcohol.

I would gladly pay $30 for a 20-pack cigarette-sized container of government manufactured joints - and no, I wouldn't grow it myself if it were legalized - too inconvenient.

I might imagine several hundreds of billions of dollars per year might be re-injected into our depleted treasury "instantly" if marijuana legalization passed in the U.S., not to mention presenting a dead-end brick-wall to the foreign drug-lords now bringing their wars inside our own borders.

Phelps and others are leading the way towards that end.

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Michael you don't need to apolologize to these "ARSES"

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I want to add this. That the (OXY CONTIN) man
was never prosecuted.Two set of laws is alive and well.

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of the 21st century. As such its celebrities must capitulate and absolutely conform to the dictates of the right-wing status quo, with zero tolerance for deviation, or suffer whatever consequences the right-wing can leverage against them.

THIS IS AMERICA, COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!

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black market economy supports the anarchy of crime and terrorism. America's enemies both foreign and domestic.

What kind of roll model is that?

The war on drug policy leaves morals and ethics of addict dealers and gangsters as the only morals and ethics between drugs and American children.

What kind of roll model is that?

The war on drugs supports the anarchy of criminal gangs that need lots of guns to enforce and empower their trade fostering the proliferation of cheap and easy to get guns by any hood looking to escalate their criminality with deadly force.

What kind of roll model is that?

The black market economy created by the drug war provides America's sworn enemies, the Taliban, with 70% of their funding to buy bullets, bombs and suicide bombers that they direct at America and allied military.

What kind of roll model is that?

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Gives America's enemies material Aid & comfort

TREASON! What kind of roll model is that?

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that sponsor the Olympic games. Sodas. Beers. Snack foods.

Then we will see how fast the prohibition cookie crumbles.

CElebrifi reports a run down of his sponsors and their positions on the non-event.

Here's a rundown of Phelps' sponsors, and their positions on the incident:Speedo - Sticking with him ("we know that Michael truly regrets his actions")Omega - sticking with him ("involves Michael Phelps's private life and is, as far as Omega is concerned, a nonissue" — the Swiss are awesome)Subway - "monitoring the situation," like it's some kind of ballistic missile attack, sources told the Wall Street JournalVisa - no wordKellogg - no wordNike - no wordA sports communications expert told AP that Phelps can't be seen with demon reefer ever again.."

I have an idea for supporting Mr. Phelps. Boycott Subway! Subway is a big time producer of munchies for American pot smokers and as such can and should be impacted for the lack of integrity and mealy mouthed support for this mega athlete.

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I would hope that drug policy reform activists take advantage of this opportunity to make the case for decriminalization!

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To read what he should have said, click on this site:

http://www.reason.com/news/show/131438.html

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Obama is offering voters "change" on his policy regarding the insane War on
Drugs.

"The war on drugs has been an utter failure. [W]e need to rethink and
decriminalize our [nation's] marijuana laws."

-- Barack Obama, January 2004


"President-elect Obama is not in favor of the legalization of marijuana."
-- Change.com, Obama's post-election blog.

"Yes we can" -- say one thing before the election, and another afterwards.

(Source: Paul Armentano, NORML:
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/113384/ )

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Write them a letter:

http://www2.kelloggs.com/ContactUs.aspx

Tell them how ridiculous this is.
And start boycotting their products.

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We at BLOUZEFEST have decided to show our support of The Olympian Michael Phelps the best way we know how!

Please view our video:

Belive in Michael Phelps: Swimmin' Laps and Smokin' Weed

and be sure to share it with ALL your friends!

BLOUZEFEST - "It's Everything You Want."

www.BLOUZEFEST.com

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Let me just say that I am a 20 year old colllege student who has never done any illegal drug. And I almost certainly never will.

I have smoked cigarettes (which, by the way? Not that great). I have drank, and as you can see, I'm underage.
I don't think Phelp's screw-up was a huge deal, except that he did sign contracts saying that he would act as a role model, and the fact that he screwed up in such a STUPID WAY means that, yeah, he should face the music.

I also don't think pot is that bad. I mean, no one has ever died from pot. At least, not that I know of. It should be legalized.

But the whole "should or shouldn't it" question is not what's important here. He screwed up. It sucks, and we all screw up at some point, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be held accountable for his actions.


Oh, and I still think he's a great role model.

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