Well, once again it’s time to give folks on Capitol Hill a dose of ‘reefer reality.’
This morning NORML is taking our message to lawmakers in Washington, DC via the highly influential Hill.com blog.
Why Condemn Phelps, When We Ought to Condemn the Laws That Brand Him A Criminal
via The Hill‘s Congress blog
[excerpt] Add decorated Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps to the growing list of successful Americans who happens to indulge in marijuana during his down time. The tabloid news story is making international headlines, though it’s difficult to understand why.
… Sure, there will be some who will say that this latest chapter in Phelp’s life is deserving of criticism because the 14-time gold medalist is sending a poor message to young children. And what message would that be? That you can occasionally smoke marijuana and still be successful in life. Well sorry if the truth hurts.
Fact is, most Americans who use pot do so for the same reasons — and in the same manner — as do those who drink alcohol. According to a recent University of Alberta study, the majority of adults who use cannabis do so recreationally to “enhance relaxation.” Researchers concluded: “[M]ost adult marijuana users regulate use to their recreational time and do not use compulsively. Rather, their use is purposely intended to enhance their leisure activities and manage the challenges and demands of living in contemporary modern society. Generally, participants reported using marijuana because it enhanced relaxation and concentration, making a broad range of leisure activities more enjoyable and pleasurable.”
No doubt Michael Phelps indulged in the use of marijuana for these very same reasons. He ought not to be condemned for it nor branded a criminal for his actions.
For that matter, neither should anyone else.
As I’ve written before, The Hill is widely read by lawmakers and by the mainstream media, and previous posts by NORML have elicited national press coverage. Therefore, it is vital that we demonstrate the popularity of the marijuana legalization issue by commenting prolifically. Please post your feedback to The Hill and make a point of disseminating this essay to your friends and colleagues.
one rasta rant
phelps is a man with divine rights Jah like all of us babaylon supports chaos and destruction of course a poison like alchol will be promoted it imprison your mind and soul. So of course kellogs does not want to support herb for it is the healing of the nations meant to free your minds. Well if babylon supported true freedom that includes mind body and soul. KELLOG does not want that because then you may relize that their product is a synthetic poison much like alchol. thus truly expanding your mind like herb was meant to do. P.S. do not defend Phelps for he has not enough will to stand strong in his actions for in his words he called it a mistake thus not defending herb but down playing. It is important for him to learn that money is not everything and you owe no man an explanation for your walk in life. you only need stand firm in who you are and what you believe. GANJA IS HERE FOR THE PEOPLE THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS A HERBLIKE FRUIT KEEP YOU HEALTHY AND MIND CLEAR REVALATIONS 22:2
ALL PRAISES UNTO THE MOST HIGH JAH RASTAFARI CHRIST KING SALLIES SPEAK IT FROM ALL TONGES AND ALL NATIONS THE MOVEMENT OF JAH’S PEOPLE FREE YOUR MIND BABYLON AND THE REST WILL FOLLOW.
SUPPORT NO COMPANY THAT SUPPORTS DOWNPRESSION OF THE PEOPLE
Hello all,
Well, someday someone will listen. But for now, Michael Phelps has shown us the example. We have to all stop breaking the law.
Forget about what I said last time.
If we don’t fight and protest the unjust laws will never change….big pharma will see to that with all their LEGAL drugs with really scary side effects. Legalize hemp and save our economy.
My most sincere hope is that this “Michael Phelps controversy” is the spark that FINALLY awakens our nation to say “enough is enough”, marijuana prohibition is absolute BS. You (the lawmakers) know it, and we (the citizens) know it. It needs to end immediately. Not one more freakin person needs to be arrested, demonized, or otherwise harmed by this insanity. This yahoo sheriff that wants so badly to prosecute Michael is obviously just out for his 15 minutes. I hope the whole thing gets so badly protested that it blows up right in his face.
I’m tired of being bound by a law that was founded on racism. I don’t think that most people even realize how marijuana exactly became criminalized, especially politicians and the public in general. Mexicans brought it up from Mexico when they first began to immigrate to the states. White males began to notice that their workers weren’t working as hard as they wanted them to (because they were smoking pot and taking long smoke breaks). Then, when African Americans began using it and mentioning it in their jazz music, WHITE AMERICA had enough, and decided to create lies to try and make the herb criminalized. Lies such as, “Blacks smoke marihuana, then kill each other.” or “Mexicans bring in devil weed! Causes insanity!”
I’m tired of following ancient racist laws that are based on stereotypes that our WHITE ancestors decided was best for us. We all know how great the laws were back then, and what did we do? Change them, I feel like the only thing they’ve done to change to laws on marijuana is simply leave the law formation to the states. I live in Oklahoma and let me tell you, it is not easy to get around with the stuff. They aren’t lenient at all. If we’re going to be a nation as a whole, we should all get on the same page, at least with Marijuana.
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