Poll | 02/01/2009 11:00 pm

Caught on film! Should Michael Phelps be punished for smoking pot?

Read more about: Drugs, Law, Marijuana, Michael Phelps, Olympics, Sports, Swimming

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This is the first time I’ve heard this story………… No, I don’t think he should be punished. I don’t use illegal drugs, but I think Marijuana should be legalized. It’s a lot less harmful to the human body than Alcohol………. If it were legal it wouldn’t be such a temptation to young people. I remember when I was young and started smoking cigarettes, part of the fun was knowing my parents and other adults thought it was wrong. They were right………but try to tell that to a 15 year old. Give me a break………..this young man works his body to the breaking point in his training……..so big deal……..he smoked a joint. From everything I’ve read about him he’s always been an upstanding person……..a good role model for other young athletes. Smoking marijuana is not going to make him a bad person.

By Dona Howlett on 02/02/2009 1:14 am

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You said everything I wanted to say, Dona. Marijuana should be legalized. I never tried it but that is not to say that if in a lot of pain that I would n’t give it a try, I do think that the sponsors will look at it differently and that may cost him.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 02/02/2009 7:37 am

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Well said Dona I think the apology was more than enough. I agree marijuana should be legal. Lets not make this more than it is.

By Elizabeth L on 02/03/2009 12:50 pm

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AMEN! The answer to these kinds are questions are as simple as this: was he HARMING ANOTHER? …I think it’s funny how quick people in this country are to criticize those who smoke weed — on the other hand, nicotine addiction and alcohol abuse get ignored (if not condoned), while caffeine and diet pills and dangerous prescription drugs such as antidepressants are totally and completely encouraged. WTFever. By the way, whenever I am around people who smoke weed, I don’t suffer from full-out debilitating ASTHMA attacks like I do when I’m around the slightest remnants of second-hand CIGARETTE smoke, which is somehow ridiculously LEGAL.

By Kryssi K on 02/03/2009 1:18 pm

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I’m so irritated by this. He’s young and stupid, as were we all once. I had no problem with the drinking and womanizing that was reported daily from Las Vegas, but the pot was just a bone-head move by a guy we’ll never run into at a Mensa meeting in the first place. I agree that pot should be legalized but hello, it hasn’t been yet. He should have known better. Very expensive lesson. thewordsdontfitthepicture.blogspot.com

By Jo Ann Wingfield on 02/07/2009 7:01 pm

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I don’t know if I want to thank you for the link………..I hadn’t seen this photo when I first posted. I think seeing him taking the pot in a bong is worse looking than a joint……… I feel very sad that he would be so stupid. I also hope I can replace this sight in my mind with the photo of him swimming. Regardless……..I still think it should be legalized. I can’t imagine how upset his Mother must be. It’s a sad sad thing all around……….very disappointing for all his fans.

By Dona Howlett on 02/07/2009 9:24 pm

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I don’t take any drugs not even prescriptions [just my daily ‘reward’ glass of Chardonnay]…but I think it is insane that people are punished for small amounts of personal use pot. So no, a public apology is enough. Athelete’s should be more circumspect because they are role models for kids, but even I knew where I could get pot at 14 in a girl’s priory school. I agree with Dona, it should be legalized.

By %$#@* !@&*^!! on 02/02/2009 1:33 am

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Whatever the law in South Carolina dictates.

By Bonnie Oliver on 02/02/2009 1:41 am

After reading some of the news stories, it appears Michael was smoking pot while in England not in South Carolina. If this is correct, then whatever laws in England would apply.

By Bonnie Oliver on 02/02/2009 5:21 am

I agree, Bonnie. I believe that pot should be a legal substance for medical use, but it is still against the law and even a celebrated athlete should not be above the law. It’s unfortunate that he got caught, because he is a role model for millions.

By Susan B on 02/02/2009 12:11 pm

I agree, pot should be legalized. The war on drugs, like the war on terror, has been an absymal and expensive failure. Micheal Phelps did not do anything much different from a multitude of other 23 year olds, and even other olympic athletes! I certainly don’t think he should be stripped of his medals. First of all, his drug tests were clean for the olympics. Secondly, pot is not a performance enhancing drug.

By R.J.B. Reed on 02/02/2009 1:54 am

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Don’t forget the war on poverty. We lost that one too!

By Rush L on 02/04/2009 7:48 pm

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I think the idea that marijuana is illegal is absurd. This law goes back to politics and discrimmination against “brown people” in the U.S. All agree that pot is not a performance-inhancing drug. My legal (all natural, expensive) cigarettes are much more lethal. I am a poor role model. Hemp is very useful. Native American tribes are currently fighting the government for the right to grow hemp, which is confused with marijuana. Absurd.

By Rhonda C. on 02/02/2009 4:37 am

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Since winning all those medals, he’s believed the media hype that he’s a hot ticket in other ways besides swimming; being photoed at a multitude of parties with a multitude of women, etc. Yea, he’s young and probably has been pretty isolated and controlled for the past 8-10 years perfecting his swimming abilities,so he’s like a kid let loose in a candy store whose never had any candy. He got caught up in the world of media illusion and got his wings clipped pretty good by the same folks who hyped him…all for “news”. So cut him a break, slap on the wrist, and hopefully he’s now come back down to earth.

By Dee T on 02/02/2009 5:15 am