Phelps caught smoking pot

[TheBrew]

Yes, history is full of rock stars and athletes who died of smoking marijuana.

Apparently the concept of "gateway drug" eludes your thinking.

It doesn't elude my thinking, it eludes being true.

Well, it is true in a small sense. The reason why it is a "gateway" drug is that it can allow greater access to harder drugs through the sources you buy weed from. You can probably make a case that alcohol is a gateway drug to tobacco since they are both sold by the same party (and closely linked together i.e. in bars). However, the percentage of people who actually go from Marijuana usage to harder drugs is very small, on the order of a few percent IIRC. There is also the fact that people who go to harder drugs after marijuana were likely to do so anyways, making it an even more spurious link.

 

[Praetor]

I can see where people get the idea of it being a gateway drug from an ease-of-access standpoint, but like you say it's pretty shoddy at best to say that all or even most potheads become cokeheads or heroin junkies.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

You could also use the gateway argument as an argument to legalize pot. If the only reason it's a gateway is because you come into contact with drug dealers to buy weed, then legalizing it will prevent that from happening.

 

[TheBrew]

I can see where people get the idea of it being a gateway drug from an ease-of-access standpoint, but like you say it's pretty shoddy at best to say that all or even most potheads become cokeheads or heroin junkies.

You could also use the gateway argument as an argument to legalize pot. If the only reason it's a gateway is because you come into contact with drug dealers to buy weed, then legalizing it will prevent that from happening.

Exactly.

 

[Praetor]

I'll second that 'exactly.' It makes no sense to not legalize (and therefore regulate) something if indeed it does serve as a type of tangent gateway.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about keeping most other drugs (except maybe meth and crack) illegal. Fundamentally, I understand why these things are illegal, but if someone really wants to be a drugstore cowboy, who am I to tell them 'no' so long as they're not hurting anyone? Certain things are by definition illegal - controlled substances such as oxycontin and the like that have uses other than recreation. But by legalizing the recreational stuff, you open gateways for control and elimination of the 'criminal' element of it - gangs and so forth. And obviously you'd still have limits - DUIs would apply, and perhaps other limits. Then again, you'd have smuggling just as you do with anything else, so it might not be worth it, and frankly I can't convince myself.

But the fact that pot is essentially less harmful than smokes and booze and is not legal just floors me.

 

[Samurai8472]

Well Phelps has lost a sponsor and might not compete in the next Olympics. He hasn't fallen too far down but it has hurt him.

 

[trekkerguy]

Wow, complete and utter bullshit. Seriously.
This country really has some lame-ass aspects.

An American icon decides to puff one... give the guy a break.

I wasn't even a Phelps fan before, sure as hell am now.

 

[Praetor]

I hate to say it but even I'm starting to feel bad for him.

 

[Gertch]

Hopefully he'll have learned a lesson from this and pick up the pieces and move on. He'll be a better person for himself and those that look up to him. I wish him well.

 

[DaleC76]

It's not a big deal, and I'm sure it'll blow over, but he needs to be careful. Sponsorships are all about image, and unlike other athletes who can make the public forget by having a big game the next week, Phelps is going to have to deal with the knock to his rep for now.

In the long term, this is nothing. No one will remember this by the time the next Olympics roll around. It will cost him a few bucks and a few headaches right now, though.

 

[trekkerguy]

Hopefully he'll have learned a lesson from this and pick up the pieces and move on. He'll be a better person for himself and those that look up to him. I wish him well.

Yes, not smoking some pot makes him a better person.

Not sure what lesson he'll have learned but one about some unjust rule implanted in his head.

 

[Gertch]

Hopefully he'll have learned a lesson from this and pick up the pieces and move on. He'll be a better person for himself and those that look up to him. I wish him well.

Yes, not smoking some pot makes him a better person.

Not sure what lesson he'll have learned but one about some unjust rule implanted in his head.

I agree, you're not sure. Perhaps in a few years you will.

 

[RAMA]

So apparently at 19 Phelps was caught for DUI or DWI after his first Olympics, and said he'd never do anything that stupid again...well I guess he's not too bright.

RAMA

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I guess you can't get into people's heads to be positive what is going through their minds but this smacks to me of the faux outrage I see everywhere. Like, I think people want to be offended or whatever more than they actually are, if that makes any sense. It's even more sickening because I suspect what is really fuelling it is a perverse need to see successful people taken down a peg.

 

[trekkerguy]

Hopefully he'll have learned a lesson from this and pick up the pieces and move on. He'll be a better person for himself and those that look up to him. I wish him well.

Yes, not smoking some pot makes him a better person.

Not sure what lesson he'll have learned but one about some unjust rule implanted in his head.

I agree, you're not sure. Perhaps in a few years you will.

Don't even pull that bull on me, thank you. That shit can go.

There's nothing, nothing wrong with what he did and he should
not be punished for it. Age has nothing to do with it as I am sure
among the other posters who agree with me there are plenty who
have a few years on me.

 

[James Bond]

Hopefully he'll have learned a lesson from this and pick up the pieces and move on. He'll be a better person for himself and those that look up to him. I wish him well.

Me too, I hope next time he makes sure there aren't any cameras around.

 

[Skywalker]

Yeah, the only mistake he made was to do that in front of a camera. Moron.

 

[Praetor]

Right on.