PHELPS DOESN'T NEED TO APOLOGIZE FOR SMOKING POT

Plastered all over the world today is a photo of Michael Phelps
smoking marijuana out of a bong. Mr. Phelps put out a statement
saying that he acted in a youthful and inappropriate way and that he
promises it won't happen again. Different people are weighing in on
the possible impact of this photo on the gold medalist's $100 million
endorsement deals.

Here are a few of my observations on Phelps' bong hits.

Phelps Is in Good Company

Phelps struck another blow to the myth that marijuana smokers are
lazy couch potatoes. Here is the guy who has won more gold medals
than anyone in history, and obviously his health and accomplishments
are not hindered by smoking some pot. In addition to his swimming
skills, he is a successful businessman who has turned his
accomplishments into an enormous public relations platform and money
generator. Successful and honorable people who have smoked some pot
are all around us, from President Obama to Mayor Bloomberg.

Phelps Apology Was Unnecessary

While Phelps' statement said he acted in a youthful and inappropriate
way, he did not pretend to have a drug problem and promise to go to
rehab. So many times when celebrities are caught with drugs they give
tearful statements and promise to get help. Phelps doesn't appear to
have a drug problem and there is no reason for him to take up
valuable treatment slots if he doesn't have a drug problem.

Does It Hurt or Help His Image?

While some "experts" are predicting that Phelps' bong hits could cost
him millions, I could also see it humanizing him and making him even
more popular with a large section of the public. Phelps' swimming
accomplishments have always been awe-inspiring, but who could relate
to the guy who swam eight hours a day and had to eat 23 hamburgers
every day to compensate for the calories he burns off in training?
Seeing him with his hat on backwards taking a hit made me feel like I
could relate to the guy more. With half of high school seniors having
tried marijuana before they graduate, it is not clear that this photo
is going to disillusion his fan base.

Pot Use Doesn't Discriminate, but Our Pot Laws Do

While there has been some progress on acceptance for people who use
marijuana, there are still many laws on the books that cause more
harm than the smoking of marijuana. Close to 800,000 people were
arrested for marijuana last year and the vast majority for only
possessing small amounts. put out a report last year that found that
between 1998 and 2007, New York City police arrested 374,900 people
for low-level, misdemeanor marijuana offenses. That is more than
eight times the number of arrests on the same charges for the
previous 10-year period between 1988 and 1997, when 45,300 people
were picked up for having small amounts of marijuana.

Researchers also found stark racial disparities in whom NYPD officers
chose to arrest for marijuana offenses. The report found that 83
percent of those charged in these cases were black or Latino, despite
equal marijuana use between whites and non-whites. The discrepancy,
the researchers asserted, is because NYPD officers stopped and
frisked blacks and Latinos at a dramatically higher rate.

Once someone is convicted of a drug offense, they can lose college
financial aid, food stamps, public housing and, in some cases, even
voting rights. Money wasted and lives ruined ... and for what?

Phelps Can Continue to be a Role Model

I like Phelps and don't think his bong hit should hurt him. If he
truly wants to be a role model he can take his comments and platform
to the next level. He can say simply, "Yes, that was me smoking
marijuana, and the laws that ruin peoples' lives for using marijuana
should be debated and changed."