Please, allow me to briefly rage at Kellogg's for dumping Michael Phelps because of the now infamous tabloid snapshot of the 8 time Olympic Champion snapping hits from a bong. The "Baltimore Bullet" wasn't exactly abusing performance enhancing drugs; he was smoking pot -- at a party. How dare he!!!
According to the ever-so-reliable www.chacha.com, nearly half of America (47%) has smoked pot at least once. Hell, among 12th graders, 22% regularly toke. (Unfortunately, chacha.com was unable to generate an answer to "How many American annually eat Wheaties" but I sense Kellogg's has dropped more than just a celebrity sponsor.)
Now, if you don't mind the pun, allow me to briefly rip Michael Phelps. Dude, you were hanging out with tools lame enough to A) snap a picture of you smoking weed; and B) tools who sold you out to a British tabloid. Who are these goofs you're partying with? Further, Mr. Phelps, your pitiful excuse of youthful indiscretion is lamer than lame: YOU'RE 23! You can legally drink, gamble, vote and enjoy all the other kick-ass perks that come with American adulthood. So stand up like an adult, please, and say, "Yep. I smoked pot AND I inhaled. Big deal."
I suppose the "big deal" may be the misdemeanor infraction situation. Or maybe it's a major corporate sponsor pulling the plug on your million dollar endorsement deal. Oh wait. That unfortunate series of events is already in motion. Damn. Guess the "I'm sorry I made a mistake" card didn't save the cereal deal, did it? Nope. And what's more: you lost an opportunity as our nation's greatest Olympian to stand up and champion the cause of common sense.
Phelps may need our help.
Calling for "sanity and reason (to be brought) back to the national discussion around drug policy," Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (http://www.schoolsnotprisons.com/) has recently helped promote a Facebook page in support of Michael Phelps (http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=nt4KJsVG7UzFFFA1prMeME2EWhaxsuDI). The Facebook petition urges users to ask the International Olympic Committee NOT suspend Phelps for four years for marijuana use. (Fat chance, but I'll still sign.)
Additionally, until Kellogg's reverses their Draconian decision to drop Phelps, SSDP calls for a boycott of all Kellogg's products including, but not limited to, Apple Jacks (R), Kellogg's Corn Flakes (R), Crispex (R), Eggo (R), Froot Loops (R), Frosted Flakes (R), Frosted Mini-Wheats (R), Honey Smacks (R), Pops (R), Kellogg's Raisin Bran (R), Rice Krspies (R), Special K (R), Pop-Tarts (R), Kashi (R) Chewy Granola Bars, Nutri-Grain (R) Bars, Fruit Leather (?), Keebler (R) crap, and Cheez-It (R) crackers that nobody really likes anyway.
My anti-Kellogg's rant may not be entirely popular with A) Kellogg's; and B) the "What about my kids" crowd, but it's high time (pun intended) we acknowledge that our system's failed war on drugs policy sadly penalizes people for smoking an herb far less addictive and destructive than alcohol and tobacco. Annually, United States law enforcement agencies arrest marijuana users to the tune of over one-half-million. And our society consistently seeks to penalize rather than normalize recreational use of marijuana. Pot smoking students, if prosecuted, face dramatic financial aid repercussions, serious fines, driver's license suspension, and even imprisonment. For what? A leftover law from the prohibition days that simply doesn't make sense.
In these crunching economic times, wouldn't it be more prudent for us to investigate a way for our government and legitimate local businesses to make money and keep our streets safe by not sending citizens to jail for soft crimes (where they simply learn how to be more hardened criminals). The answer may not be legalization tomorrow, but at least the conversation should be about decriminalization today.
According to the ever-so-reliable www.chacha.com, nearly half of America (47%) has smoked pot at least once. Hell, among 12th graders, 22% regularly toke. (Unfortunately, chacha.com was unable to generate an answer to "How many American annually eat Wheaties" but I sense Kellogg's has dropped more than just a celebrity sponsor.)
Now, if you don't mind the pun, allow me to briefly rip Michael Phelps. Dude, you were hanging out with tools lame enough to A) snap a picture of you smoking weed; and B) tools who sold you out to a British tabloid. Who are these goofs you're partying with? Further, Mr. Phelps, your pitiful excuse of youthful indiscretion is lamer than lame: YOU'RE 23! You can legally drink, gamble, vote and enjoy all the other kick-ass perks that come with American adulthood. So stand up like an adult, please, and say, "Yep. I smoked pot AND I inhaled. Big deal."
I suppose the "big deal" may be the misdemeanor infraction situation. Or maybe it's a major corporate sponsor pulling the plug on your million dollar endorsement deal. Oh wait. That unfortunate series of events is already in motion. Damn. Guess the "I'm sorry I made a mistake" card didn't save the cereal deal, did it? Nope. And what's more: you lost an opportunity as our nation's greatest Olympian to stand up and champion the cause of common sense.
Phelps may need our help.
Calling for "sanity and reason (to be brought) back to the national discussion around drug policy," Students for a Sensible Drug Policy (http://www.schoolsnotprisons.com/) has recently helped promote a Facebook page in support of Michael Phelps (http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=nt4KJsVG7UzFFFA1prMeME2EWhaxsuDI). The Facebook petition urges users to ask the International Olympic Committee NOT suspend Phelps for four years for marijuana use. (Fat chance, but I'll still sign.)
Additionally, until Kellogg's reverses their Draconian decision to drop Phelps, SSDP calls for a boycott of all Kellogg's products including, but not limited to, Apple Jacks (R), Kellogg's Corn Flakes (R), Crispex (R), Eggo (R), Froot Loops (R), Frosted Flakes (R), Frosted Mini-Wheats (R), Honey Smacks (R), Pops (R), Kellogg's Raisin Bran (R), Rice Krspies (R), Special K (R), Pop-Tarts (R), Kashi (R) Chewy Granola Bars, Nutri-Grain (R) Bars, Fruit Leather (?), Keebler (R) crap, and Cheez-It (R) crackers that nobody really likes anyway.
My anti-Kellogg's rant may not be entirely popular with A) Kellogg's; and B) the "What about my kids" crowd, but it's high time (pun intended) we acknowledge that our system's failed war on drugs policy sadly penalizes people for smoking an herb far less addictive and destructive than alcohol and tobacco. Annually, United States law enforcement agencies arrest marijuana users to the tune of over one-half-million. And our society consistently seeks to penalize rather than normalize recreational use of marijuana. Pot smoking students, if prosecuted, face dramatic financial aid repercussions, serious fines, driver's license suspension, and even imprisonment. For what? A leftover law from the prohibition days that simply doesn't make sense.
In these crunching economic times, wouldn't it be more prudent for us to investigate a way for our government and legitimate local businesses to make money and keep our streets safe by not sending citizens to jail for soft crimes (where they simply learn how to be more hardened criminals). The answer may not be legalization tomorrow, but at least the conversation should be about decriminalization today.
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