Pubdate: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 Source: Pendulum, The (NC Edu Elon University) Copyright: Elon University Pendulum2009 Contact: http://www.elon.edu/pendulum/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2852 Author: Robert Wohner Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/michael+phelps IT'S NOT JUST THE MARIJUANA THAT'S IMPORTANT Phelps scandal exposes two-sided drug attitudes. The arguments for and against marijuana use have been discussed at length for years. Yes, studies show 42 percent of adults have experimented with pot. Marijuana is the top cash crop in the United States, according to a 2006 study by NORML, a pro-legalization group. But in light of the Michael Phelps marijuana scandal, I want to take the discussion to a different place. We as Americans are inconsistent when it comes to marijuana issues. When marijuana is connected to whites, it is recreational. With blacks, it is destructive. When the photograph of Phelps surfaced, many wondered how the image would damage the reputation of America's most acclaimed Olympian, if at all. After Kellogg's announced it would not renew its contract with Phelps, The Washington Times featured an article headlined, "Fans defend Phelps after his pot puffing." The article reported that some fans were organizing a boycott of Kellogg's because of its decision. "Kellogg's has profited for decades on the food tastes of marijuana-using Americans with the munchies. In fact, we believe that most people over the age of 12 would not eat Kellogg's products were they not wicked high," one boycott organizer said. Some even went so far as to label Kellogg's as hypocritical for making sugary cereals and having problems with Phelps' alleged marijuana use. This viewpoint is not as obscure as you may think. Others in the media sympathized with the young phenomenon. "Phelps wandered into a party and trusted that nothing bad could possibly happen to him among his new chums. The penalty should have been: Go out there and swim, ya big lug ya. The chlorine is good for you," New York Times sports writer George Vescey commented in his column. Forget the DUI charges. Forget about marijuana use. Just swim, "ya big lug." But for black athletes, things aren't so easy. Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Howard was railed on sports radio and ESPN for admitting that he regularly smoked marijuana in the off-season. Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes faced similar treatment after being arrested for marijuana possession. In August, critics and commentators questioned the 24-year-old Holmes' future in the NFL and regularly have described him as "troubled." Had this photo been of basketball star Lebron James, the public would have dubbed James as another black man sabotaging his future in pursuit of pleasure. Many, like Vescey, have been quick to excuse Phelps' behavior as typical for 23-year-olds. The fact is, he is not the average 20-something. Aside from being one of America's most acclaimed athletes, he is a role model, not because we dubbed him that, but because Phelps welcomed that responsibility when he chose to place his image on children's cereal boxes and sell his instructional swimming videos on his Web site. Outside of sports, this inconsistent view of marijuana use continues throughout the media. Shows like "Weeds" and "Entourage" glamorize its usage while TBS's "House of Payne" features a black mother's abandonment of her children while struggling with drug addiction. This has nothing to do with the morality of drug use. It stands as a critique of the way drugs are portrayed in the media and how that portrayal shapes our perception. This hypocrisy is playing an important but deplorable part in how we've responded to the Phelps scandal. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin