by Joan Huston

Created on: February 04, 2009   Last Updated: August 18, 2009

The Olympics are long past, but Michael Phelps found his way back into the news. Instead of winning medals and being cheered on by American citizens, he is caught mid bong hit while the media is debating his ability to be a worthy role model. Phelps has publicly gone on the record with the proper amount of apologies to the American people and the children who at one point looked up to him. Perhaps the attention of the mainstream media is pointed the wrong way during this debacle. While the news shows are busy focusing on Phelps, the more complex key issue that is central to this snafu is the status of marijuana in America.

"Marijuana is the gateway drug. It is the reason kids flunk out of school. Our prisons are filled with the druggies and dope fiends who push this evil drug."

Is this really the way the majority of Americans view Marijuana? Anti-weed propaganda has been a steadfast staple in culture of the United States; however, many adult Americans admit to smoking pot at some point in their lives. It is time that we open our eyes and realize that people who smoke pot aren't the stereotyped junkies with an addiction. They are parents, teachers, doctors, bankers, architects, cancer patients, Olympians, and people who become president. It is folly to surmise that the mere use of marijuana condemns the user to a life of crime and drug dependence.

When considering commonly used drugs in the United States, adults have open access to tobacco products and alcohol. Tobacco products have been found to cause a myriad of cancers and have been proved to be highly addictive. Alcohol has been responsible for deaths resulting from liver disease, alcoholism, and vehicle accidents. The liquid drug even has nationwide support groups with the aim of keeping members dry and on the wagon. Intoxication plays a large factor when investigating vandalism, physical altercations, and domestic violence. Meanwhile, strictly controlled marijuana has been proven to have medicinal properties and induces a calming effect in the majority of users. People who smoke marijuana are generally not seen as a group that is prone to violence. Well, unless engorging themselves with snack food is considered violence against Doritos.

How would the nation react if Michael Phelps had been photographed smoking a cigarette or drinking a vodka tonic? Would this prove that these drugs are reasonable to use in moderation if there was slow enough news day for it to even make the headlines? No one knows how frequently Phelps smokes pot, yet it is assumed that he has an issue with drugs.

It is not the place of the media to question Phelps' suitability as an Olympian or athlete based on a picture showing him taking part in a substance that is more benign than the drugs the majority of Americans can purchase at the corner store. America needs to look at our current drug policy and reevaluate our heavy restrictions on marijuana use. While alcohol and tobacco are contributing to a rising daily death toll, we are maligning a substance used by people like Barack Obama, Michael Phelps and many upstanding American citizens.

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