Michael Phelps a stoner!!!!

[KTG]

"It doesn't take any tending really."

Ha

[skiandclimb]

Gigolo-

I agree, man. Pot vs. Alcohol, in terms of which one is worse (IMHO) for the user, it has to be alcohol. I have now "played cop" for 8+ years now, and have fought with too masny drunks to count, and have never fought with a stoned individual.  The white, suburbia kid side of pot is pretty non violent, with the only real casualties being drug related deaths in motor vehicles.  Stoners- please take note....you folks drive like dumbasses when high! lol

I'm not trying to paint a rosy picture for smoking weed here, as there are negative downsides to its use- especially in that of kids & teens. There are clear cut reports linking learning & developmental problems to kids smoking pot.  I def. don't want my kids doing it....

As for adults, I really see it as their choice.  If their use does not result in negative results, then who cares? Each to their own,right? The problem is that as long as it is illegal, there will be violence connected to it in some way, shape or form.  Yeah, it probably won't be seen by the average dude smiking a joint, but it will be felt somewhere along the line.

As for the thugs, yes, I completely agree that they would move onto the next "get rich quick" trendy drug to come down the pipeline.  As long as there are financially depressed, inner cities, there will always be gangs. I worked, for a long time, in a detatched unit where we only went after drugs, gang bangers and guns.  I promise you that there are so many of these out there, that it would make your head spin.  I've seen shootings that ocurred over something as stupid as an oz. of weed.  Its sad. But for some, it is a way of life. A sad, sad way of life, but alot of peeps are born into it.

Anyways, I just thought my oddball opinion as a copper would stoke the fire a bit.  Discussion, of course, in a rationale state, is the only way we as a society will progress.....

With that said- discuss.

Cheers,

Ski

[Super Dave]

Discussion, of course, in a rationale state, is the only way we as a society will progress.....

Therein lies the problem:  most discussion and too much legislation is based on emotion rather than rationality.

[GIGOLO]

In New Hampshire, they are trying to pass the decriminalization bill of marijuana, basically it means that it will no longer be illegal to have up to an ounce.  Prior to this new bill, if you had a little on you, you went straight to jail.  In New York they are  trying to repeal the Rockefeller drug act.  Which in many peoples opinion is "draconian", its a 35 year old law that is proving to be unnecessarily stringent.

On Obama's campaign, one of the issues I heard him speak on was the drug raids that the DEA is performing on legal medicinal marijuana drug labs.  These medicinal marijuana drug labs are doing everything legal under California state law, but federal law prohibits it.  Two major raids have happened in the last two weeks, so it doesn't look like the president is living up to his word already.  In my opinion, I think all this will have to start at a state level, then escalate into an argument between the fed and states.  Instead of between the people, and the states.  I think that people are getting smarter about weed, its evident in these old laws being repealed.  Basically hippies went and ruined everything by blowing pot smoke in the "mans" face.

Ski, look man, your not lowly because your a cop.  You are doing a job.  Did you know that in Alaska they are hurting real bad for cops.  They start you out at like 75k a year and by your tenth year you are over 110k.  I have 3 friends, and an uncle that are cops, we get along all-right.  One of my buddies pulled me over every time I drove through his town, after awhile I would just give him the finger and keep driving.  I dont do that anymore since the last time it wasn't him.  I explained everything to the cops, and it worked out but it was scary having like four cops surround my truck.  Cops are the whole reason I started riding bikes, I wanted to get away faster

[dylanfan53]

"I don't know of any parents who, short of former Dead followers who would promote marijuana usage."
Ski, take that one back you naughty copper. Musical taste is irrelevant to promotion of drugs. 

Both alcohol and drugs ruin lives.  Pot smokers constantly defend themselves by saying it's no worse than alcohol  Chemically it may not be but this isn't a discussion in chemistry class is it?

Drugs are a far worse problem since society has chosen to jail many of those offenders simply for using, usually the ones who are lower on the economic scale, and once they get in the system they often don't get out.  I've tutored many otherwise intelligent kids locked up for drug and theft/various crimes related to drugs who have wasted any opportunity to build a good life for themselves.  There's a whole world of difference between the activities of drugs and alcohol and it pains me to hear people talking about how innocent drug usage is.  In our society, with our laws, even pot smoking is not inconsequential and can screw you royally.

Phelps is an idiot on several levels and I have no respect for him.   

[J Farrell / Speed Tech Motorsp]

DRUGGIES SUCK!

[barb_arah]

I also heard he was stopped for underage drunk driving some years ago.  But he admits he's made some mistakes.  It's hard to be an average person, who makes mistakes, when you're in the spotlight like that.

[Super Dave]

What's average about him? 

He's an incredible athlete.  He's making a whole lot of money where his responsibility is himself.  Stay in shape, do your best.  Doesn't have to clock in and be responsible for building, servicing, or maintaining anything in a line of work.  He's not even responsible for supporting a business where others are employed making anything with a profit margin. 

He's a celebrity doing athletic work that won't change the world, won't change my oil, won't help my financial well being, nor make me a pizza when I order one.

He has a simple set of responsibilities that revolve only around himself.  He's not common.  And he's pretty much an idiot for not recognizing how good he's got it.  Given the DWI and now this, well, he's got a pattern going on.  Maybe a real job would help his recognition. 

I guess he visited a kid up here that has cancer just recently, and I can understand that.  But, still, it's not so hard to have some reasonable discretion.

[Jeff]

Given the DWI and now this, well, he's got a pattern going on.  Maybe a real job would help his recognition. 

Because certainly no one on here drinks, smoked pot or got a DUI...

[spyderchick]

But, still, it's not so hard to have some reasonable discretion.

Actually, with cell phones that take pics when you have a reasonable expectation of privacy, yeah, it can be hard for famous folk. It's gotta suck when all you want to do is kick back and relax; next thing you know some douchebag has sold pix of you to some tabloid for a few $$ and you lose a good portion of what you've worked for.

For the record, I do not condone breaking the law, (smoking pot), but what people do in private is their biz, not mine nor anyone else's.)

[Super Dave]

Because certainly no one on here drinks, smoked pot or got a DUI...

Drinking isn't illegal. 

I've never smoked pot.  Everyone else will have to speak for themselves.  DUI?  Never had one.  I think most people haven't

But how many of us actually have jobs that we have to be responsible for?  I think pretty much all of us.  We're common.  We make mistakes.  He's got the world by the tail.  We pay the delivery guy.  I bet he pays handlers to take care of him. 

Worth $100 million...

Money can't buy him smarts though...

[Super Dave]

For the record, I do not condone breaking the law, (smoking pot), but what people do in private is their biz, not mine nor anyone else's.)

I agree.  But I'm sure that his conduct is Kellogg's and other companies' business on the basis of what is probably expected from his contract.  It was dumb, until someone can produce his contracts that say he can be "common" in his mistakes.