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The rampant hypocrisy about marijuana use in this country, and seemingly the world over, never ceases to amaze me. My generation was raised by parents who came of age in the 1960’s, when pot use first became common amongst young people, and the generation that is now in its 20’s grew up with parents who came of age in the 70’s. The 70’s! In the 70’s, smoking pot was taking it easy after a long night of tooting it up at the disco. I mean, does anyone out there who is old enough to remember the 70’s ... actually remember the 70’s? No. You know why? Cause they were high.
My point is this: We’re at a point in our history now where most of our parents either smoked weed, still smoke weed, or at the very least grew up in a culture where smoking weed was not that big a deal. Our last three presidents have been 1. A known former marijuana user (who claimed, in the lamest excuse ever offered, that he “didn’t inhale”), 2. A known former cocaine user who was also, by all accounts, a raging alcoholic in his youth, and 3. A guy who openly admits to having smoked his fair share of weed and even dabbled in some snow here and there back in the day.
So, I ask you ... why the HELL is it international news that Michael Phelps was photographed taking a bong-hit at a party in November? Why does this revelation force him to come out and make a statement filled with disingenuous crap like, “I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again.”
If he had been photographed drinking a Heineken, it would not be news. If he had been photographed drinking his 11th Heineken, it would not be news. And if he had been photographed smoking a Pall Mall, it would not be news. But a hit of weed during his months of celebration after a lifetime of discipline and self-abnegation in pursuit of one of the most astounding athletic feats of all time, and suddenly he’s tabloid-fodder around the globe, sponsors are ready to drop him and he’s talking about how he’s so sorry that he’s disappointed all of his fans and he’s never going do it again, etc., etc.
When will this kind of outdated hypocritical witch hunt nonsense stop? If he was smoking crack, it would be a different story. To my knowledge, there are no casual crack users. But pot is a drug used casually by millions in a way that is as benign as the way that millions casually drink alcohol on a daily basis.
I’m not a “legalize marijuana” crusader of any kind, and that doesn’t seem like a debate to be had here. But I just can’t believe that we still live in a world where the revelation that a 23-year-old athlete who is not in competition took a bong-hit is any kind of news whatsoever. As far as I’m concerned, Michael Phelps, you acted in a youthful and entirely appropriate manner and you have nothing to apologize for.
This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
9 comments
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Bong hits for Jesus
by npcPronk29 on Feb 2, 2009 2:07 PM EST reply actions
Weed is the best thing for an athlete.
-If u need some motivation take a bongtoke before working out.
-instead of going out and drinking the night before a game, take some tokes and play some video games.
etc.
PLUS Michael Phelps… one of the best athletes of all time does it…This may just be the tip of the iceberg, but marajuana has 100 million times more benefits then costs. SO HIT THAT SH*T MIKE.
by RUGYisLIFE on Feb 2, 2009 2:47 PM EST reply actions
Most likely, the response you are describing is because Michael Phelps has celebrity status due his record breaking performance in the Olympics.
Sponsors give huge contracts because they realize the impact of endorsements by an athlete of Phelps’ stature. It’s not a stretch to figure that the Speedo corporation, along with the myriad of sponsors who pay Michael Phelps, have employees who are bound by company policy regarding illegal drug use.
Hypocrisy is everywhere, not just sports. Alcohol causes a ton of problems in society – but it’s legal. Thats why a photo of Phelps with a Heineken would be "No Biggie". Marijuana isn’t legal, thus the media avalanche that accompanies a Phelps photo taking a bong hit. Is this really a mystery?
by busyone23 on Feb 2, 2009 3:20 PM EST reply actions
You’re not a "legalize marijuana" crusader of any kind? Why not? Are you one of the "it’s OK for white college kids to smoke it, but everyone else should go to jail and learn how to be a criminal from the experts" people? Because that’s the current situation.
Have the courage of your convictions and state openly that prohibition is wrong, or shut up.
I’ll leave you with a short list of people who’s lives have been ruined and have achieved nothing due to marijuana use…
The richest man in the world (Bill Gates)
The past three presidents of the United States of America.
A twelve-time gold medalist and one of the greatest athletes of all times.
..anyone want to add more?
by danplan on Feb 2, 2009 5:23 PM EST reply actions
After Phelps uses it, the bong water has a sharp chlorine taste.
by L'etat, c'est moi on Feb 2, 2009 10:10 PM EST reply actions
Here we go pulling the race card?!
Are people still not over that point in life?
There has been plenty of players of all races that has done far worse and still playing today.
by bmack4507 on Feb 3, 2009 10:23 AM EST reply actions
Right, danplan, that’s exactly what Large was saying: White people should be allowed to smoke pot, but not black people.
Seriously though: How in the hell did you get the idea that that was his point here?
by cmottram on Feb 3, 2009 10:40 AM EST reply actions
I just think it’s ironic that after complaining about the "rampant hypocrisy about marijuana use in this country" and after laying out several excellent reasons for legalization, he refuses to actually take a stand of any kind regarding legalization. I’m just generally sick of people in the media who know that prohibition doesn’t work, know that weed is not as bad as alcohol/tobacco, probably smoke weed, and privately think that the law shouldn’t apply (at least to them) but STILL won’t come out and actually take a stand. Which is why things never change.
by danplan on Feb 3, 2009 11:10 PM EST reply actions
Yeah Michael Phelps is 23… but he is in no way a "normal 23 year old". This is a 23 year-old with millions of dollars or endorsments; a 23 year-old who is an (inter)national role model, who people look to for guidance and inspiration; a 23 year-old who can’t go to a pharmacy and by any old cough mixture BECAUSE IT MIGHT CONTAIN A BANNED SUBSTANCE (namely pseudo ephedrine). The issue is not whether marijuana is performance enhancing, not how old the toker is, not the legality of the leafy ‘erb but the fact that he was photographed partaking in a substance banned by the International Olympic Committe, behaviour deemed as inappropriate for an ambassador of The Games (much like the Swedish wrestler who was stripped of his medal and disqualified for putting his medal in the middle of the ring out of protest was seen as behaviour inappropriate of an Olympic athlete).
If seven-time Tour de France winner was photographed using drugs in his off-season, you don’t think questions about his character and success would resurface? Could he excuse it with the remark, "Sorry, I behaved in a youthful and inappropriate manner"?
As for the suspension, 3 months suspension in the off-season achieves what exactly?
by thabigwilly on Feb 6, 2009 9:19 AM EST reply actions
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