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Randolph's point is well documented and unarguably true. It also has nothing to do with the Phelps case. This is the American way with splashy scandals. Everyone rushes up to claim a piece of the action. For Sheriff Lott, the Phelps fallout was about the law. For Randolph, it was about colorblind justice. And for the Kellogg's corporation, which paid Phelps huge sums to sell sugary cereals to elementary-schoolers, it was about Protecting The Children.

Kellogg's says it didn't drop Phelps; it just decided not to renew his contract. But the nation's proud, unrepentant stoners weren't buying the official line. They called for a boycott of the company. "Kellogg's has profited for decades on the food tastes of marijuana-using Americans with the munchies," read a petition on The Huffington Post. "In fact, we believe that most people over the age of twelve would not eat Kellogg's products were they not wicked high."

In the end, Phelps will dutifully complete the mandated cycle of regret and redemption, culminating in cautionary speeches to school kids and a big check to a rehab center. The public will forgive, but mostly they will forget. Just as they did before. In November 2004, when Phelps was 19, he was arrested for driving under the influence. He quickly got out in front of the story in a contrite sit-down with Matt Lauer. His sponsors then, including Visa, PowerBar and Speedo, stood by him. None canceled. The sports world praised him as gutsy. The lesson from the culture to the children could not be clearer: Don't smoke pot. Try not to drive drunk.

© 2009

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: MichaelX @ 05/14/2009 4:09:05 PM

    Whoa! Dudes! You can now smoke corn flakes!
    It is absolutely reprehensible that the US of A is helping the trafficking of Opium/Heroin and still continue a wastefull war on drugs. If soley for the reason to give them an economy based on poppies and sales of a product they dont even use. They are starving, so mow down the fields and grow food. Oh, Afghanis are'nt starving? They have plenty of everything they need? Democrats are at it again.

  • Posted By: Dredd @ 03/21/2009 7:47:09 AM

    Reefers are nothing. The true drug war story comes from Afghanistan.

    The US brought Afghans back to number one heroin producer in the world:

    http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/03/first-day-of-spring-2009.html

  • Posted By: Qidisrupt @ 03/17/2009 5:38:44 AM

    Medical Marijuana is a viable....and MUCH safer option. For one, medical marijuana is REGULATED and it is ORGANICALLY GROWN. People that buy street marijuana are risking their lives because of the nature of the illegal drug game and the street marijuana is likely to be poisoned with God knows what kinds of pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic ferilizers....and these could be illegal/banned substances. Of course, like ALL prescription medications, there is always the risk of people choosing to abuse/overuse any drug. People in the United States abuse tobacco and alcohol products in epidemic proportions, yet somehow it seems to be a non-issue? If marijuana is regulated and properly prescribed to patients in safe amounts, and the patients follow the doctor's safe dosage, then it is a viable prescription. Smoking marijuana is the worst way to take prescribed doses...Caplet form or added to foods would be a safer option....smoking anything can still cause emphysema.

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