South Carolina sheriff says he may seek charges against Michael Phelps

"The law is the law" "way to go mr Hero" "Teaching kids to do drugs" It 's so easy to judge something when you know nothing about it. Actors and Atletes drink publicly all the time and no one accuses them of teaching kids to drink. Pot laws are stupid, everyone who knows anything about the plant knows that, it is just another way to support the pockets of law officials. My car was searched the other day because they thought it smelled like weed...after a hour of sitting in the freezing cold and rain they found absolutly nothing and sent me on my way, but the runny nose didn't leave for a weak, good job protecting the innocent guys. Marijuana is not a drug, the laws should focus more on drugs coke, herion, crack, meth, etc. Drinking and doing perscription pills ruins more lifes in one day than Marijuana ever has. we are constantly lied to about this plant, every anti- pot commercial I have ever seen is a completly made up situation and has no real backing. The people that still believe smoking this plant is a wrong probably watch reefer madness like a Nat Geo documentary. The only problem of marijuana is that it is illlegal, if it wasn't many more families would be together and living productive and well grounded lifes, instead there are families who have nothing and are put on legal drugs because they can't deal with the pressure of there life, if only they could grow a plant in there yard in which they could cure there depression and anxioty and also be able to sell to support the family, oh wait they could but the legal system is so worried about keeping the poor, poor this family must suffer while they watch a 8 time gold medal winner get scrutinized over having his picture taken with a bong in it.

Would you like to get a look at this Richland County Sheriff? As well as the councilmen/women and other elected officials there?

http://www.richlandonline.com/departments/Elections/ElectedOfficials.asp

Feel like voicing your opinion? Regrettably, or possibly because I missed it, I was unable to come up with an email for Sheriff Lott. But I surely did find email addresses for all the council members & assorted officials.

http://www.richlandonline.com/services/emaildirectory.asp

Isn't the age of computers great?

let's hope Michael Phelps can help gain some publicity for this issue. It's time people woke the fuck up and realized that marijuana should be legal.

How can they do this to a man who won his country countless Gold medals? Stupid and retarded laws that are not in touch with reality...

This is so fucking ridiculous if anything maybe we all should start smoking pot and become olympic athletes.
The people in charge are not fooling anybody.

I wonder why the media plastered this story all over prime time news over and over if it was so tragic for our children to see?

The person with more gold medals can lecture Mike, everyone else needs to sit back down.

We need marijuna reform and we need it now!

Will all the pot smokers please stand up but don't let nobody see ya.

A picture does not make a crime.

This sheriff is a douche bag waste of time.

Meanwhile back at the ranch the pedophile goes free.

this is stupid. it's fucking weed. the only reason this nobody sheriff is doing this is so he can get his 5 minutes of fame. for all we know he's probably a drunk off duty-- in which case he's more of a threat to people than a stoned Olympian.

"Phelps' sponsors _ from apparel company Speedo to luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega _ issued statements calling the incident a "nonissue." The International Olympic Committee accepted his apology."

Thats all that really matters. If his sponsors dont see this as a major issue, than neither should anyone else. Its bullshit law enforcement and its backwards policies on Cannabis thats the problem. Pot is not a big deal anymore. it seems everyone does it or has at least tried it.

The police need weed to be illegal so they can bust people and generate revenue for their county/state through fines. Its basically a mafioso operation.

another sheriff with his head jammed up his arse. legalize it....

bust his ass

phelps is a national hero and now he's just more relatable.

I think Phelps could have done a lot worse. That being said, he's not setting a great example for kids doing sports in middle or high school. I would think that by that age kids can think for themselves, but it's amazing how much pull athletes and other celebrities have in terms of youth influence. And this isn't about pot in my opinion... Phelps is of legal drinking age but pictures of him stumbling around completely smashed wouldn't have set a good example either.

Why do famous people think they are entitled to whatever they want without consequence? Because people let them and encourage it. Some people like to see other people get shit on to make them feel better about themselves. Does it have to be national news? I don't think so.

Here is a link to post with contact info for Richland Co. Sher. Dept.- please contact and voice your opinion and dissatisfaction with the choice of Sheriff Leon Lott.

I have already done so, and they seem surprised to be getting calls! Stand up for your rights and speak out for a person who has done nothing wrong except represent our country's strength by winning Olympic Gold Medals.

http://current.com/items/89781446/please_contact_richland_county_sher_dept_on_be...

5623 Two Notch Road
Columbia, South Carolina 29223
phone: (803) 576-3000 fax: (803) 576-3195
sheriff@rcsd.net

who cares if he smoked some weed it's not like it is steroids. I say smoke a bowl and win 7 more gold metals pople are crazy the don't have anything better to talk about.

Wasting America's last left money on stupid issues and political injustices, Weed never killed anyone, and crimes may been related to weed, but stop WASTING TAX PAYERS MONEY on foolish issues like these. You POLICE won't have any jobs if you keep on arresting such minor violators, because more prisons will need to be built for such minor issues, but America enjoys imprisoning people because of petty issue. Weed Reform?

When the greatest swimmer in history cant smoke-up
in his own private world without a legal consequence as
the worst president in history lies and subverts our nation into war where hundreds of thousands are killed and trillions are squandered causing the economy to go into the crapper as millions of Americans lose their houses- Bush goes freeley off into the sunset.
Tell me why is this the greatest nation in the world?

Fuck, I'm anti drugs, but this is prosecution. Fuck Da Police!

who. the. fuck. cares.

75% of the people i know have smoked pot and they're still productive, healthy members of society. get over it, america.

People SHOULDNT let this become news. Its a flagrant attempt at 15 minutes of fame by a nobody sheriff.

I'm sorry but the guy won 8 gold medals at one olympics. uh all this proves to me is that everything we have been told about marijuana is untrue. there is no way that this guy is Lazy, stupid, unmotivated, or any of the other things that smoking Marijuana is said to make him be. I say they should add him in that anti drug commercial..."I stole from my little sister!" "I got straight Ds!" "I won 8 Olympic gold medals and didn't drink and drive and kill 3 of my friends!"

the only reason it got as far out of control
as it is. is because that asshole who took
the picture made some money on it.
i want to know who it is. he is the one that should be
strung up. its a violation of privacy.i know plenty of respectable people that smoke pot whats the big deal!

a south carolina sherriff would press charges.

I laughed when I saw. Was anyone really surprised?

I wonder what the violent crime rate is in this Sherriffs county or parrish. I meen if there are no murder, rape, robbery,or cold cases sitting around, then by all meens go arrest an american hero. Drag his name through the dirt. Real American heros should be alcoholics anyway.

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard.

This is the kind of ludicrous mindset that sparks revolutions.

The irony is, when I was visiting my friend out that way a year or two ago, there was a huge scandal because the sheriff had just been busted for running the local drug distribution ring.

Some laws should not be enforced, but should be re-examined by rational, intelligent, fair-minded, personally first-hand experienced people.

Come on America, enough with the police state nonsense already. Go find some real problems or go to the gym to relieve the misguided hostility.

He smoked a bong so what?

Phelps also shouldn't have apologized he didn't hurt anyone.

If this is gonna happen, let this be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Let every American come out and say "fuck this stupid shit" and write up their constituents about marijuana laws.

The man is a national hero, if the social fascists are out for blood, let's use that to our advantage. On a side note, isn't it funny how the nationalist crowd in America will turn on their icons at the slightest provocation?

I think that's the best measurement between a true patriot and a nationalist idiot, patriots expect their heroes to be human and don't forget the good they've done. Nationalists are just looking for an icon of supremacy.

A person who smokes marijuana can win how many gold medals???? We cant be having that go public now can we!!??

What's so horrible about this story is that now that it's everywhere, I am subjected to his butter face on every news site. Vote down.

So what!!! If he decides to smoke pot let him. It's only because of who he is, that makes this such a BIG DEAL. Leave him alone. If he wants to smoke let him be.. how many other teenager do?? Who are we to judge?? He has worked hard for so long.. just let him be, for goodness sake!!!!!!!

Punk Publicity, which will probably backfire on this inbred idiot the next time He comes up for re-election....It can't be proven an actual crime was committed anyway...Let's ask the public for photos of the Sherriffs' Family members committing crimes,....like screwing underage Goats !!!!

Phelps needs to make a statement saying that as the greatest Olympian of all time he can do whatever he likes, and until the sheriff can catch him in the water, nothing else matters. The American Media already made more than enough on his name, and since he only has a few months until he must train again, let him be.

this is bullshit and I No longer care for Michael Phelps the Olympics are over.

I have just become a Phelps fan. They should legalize marijuana and put him on a box of Weedies...

SWIM AWAY!!! SWIM AWAY!

The War on Drugs, particularly with respect to marijuana, is hypocracy and an enormous waste of tax payer money. How about ending the War on Drugs and giving us a related tax cut as part of the economic stimulus? Talk about your big government. Republican ideology is such a fraud. Leave Phelps alone you communist hypocrits.

They should file charges against the a$$hole who took that picture. Ratting out an American Olympics hero for doing a bong hit should be considered treason.

I haven't been following this too closely, so I have three naive questions:
1. Are there many people in USA that go around taking phone-pictures, then trying to blackmail, or sell the pictures when you don't give in?
2. Ain't the USA the greatest consumer of drugs, including vast amounts of cigarettes and alcohol?
3. Finally, what's the problem with what Phelps did?

Justice would be to punish photographer, newspaper, and sheriff.

Lmao. Why would you waste your time on something so stupid? Plenty of people smoke pot all the time.

I will find Michael Phelps and rip an illadeph with him. Hell yeah, my man. Pot increases lung capacity. Win us more gold.

In regards to training... definatly! In LA, he'd be fine, which somehow doesnt make sense considering were united under a federal law, but some states are cooler than others? Break this fed bullshit, and he'll find a new endorsment from kushmart. Michael only smokes Phelps Phire

it happened on the university campus and there's no sign of marijuana in the picture. Although he said he was sorry, he didn't say "for smoking weed." The fact that one sheriff wants to arrest him shows this sheriff is looking for attention for either himself or his department. Marijuana laws are so out dated and idiotic, just like those who uphold them.

we should submerge that sheriff in phone calls and e mails and letters.

Everybody knows that bong hits expand and increase your lung capacity. He was training, for christ's sake. We owe our nationistic pride to that bong and the bong hits it provided. Phelps is and will remain a hero. Olympic glory and an inside-out, double-bubbler, glass-on-glass, straight tube full of Northernlights #5 are as American as a apple pie and jail time.

BS. This isn't even News. I don't care what that man does behind transparent doors much less closed ones. If he passed his Olympic test then there should be no problem. He shouldn't have to apoligize, but be givin 10 minutes alone with this guy for trying to be smurch his image.

Not the full story...
The single officer only wants to file charges.
Not the college or department.

Marijuana makes you stupid...

This isn't news. So what if he's caught? I hate when the media makes a big deal about trivial things celebrities do. And it's even worse when the law takes it to extremes, either letting them off because they are a celebrity, or in this case, possibly, trying to make an example out of them. It's just ridiculous. They are human just like everyone else and should be treated as such.

The epitome of the war on drugs. A person can be prosecuted from a picture. No other crime, other than a picture. That's not justice.

Although I do agree, if ordinary Americans are arrested for mere possession, so should people like Michael Phelps. Poor Michael Phelps? No. Poor ordinary Americans who are caught up daily in the war on drugs? Yes.

If Michael Phelps looses his sponsors due to the use of cannabis, I hope he speaks up for his rights and the wrongs of the war on drugs. Michael Phelps is no different than the rest of America, there should not be double standards. There should be new standards, which address the real issues surrounding the war on drugs. Cannabis/hemp should not be a crime for adults who do not commit real crimes.

This is a sad publicity stunt. You can't prove from a picture that it is marijuana. Aren't there bigger issues than trying to charge a public figure with something you can't even prove? That sheriff is just trying to make himself look good.

this has to be cooked up bull shit.

No jury in the country will find Michael Phelps guilty!
Juries have began nullification of the marijuana laws and will continue. The War on Drug Laws has begun.
Jury Nullification is the only way to stop these unjust laws, and retarded cops, short of a second revolutionary war.
http://current.com/items/89777331/marijuana_trial_swift_found_not_guilty_jurors_...

Whata a jerk. I guess there is no real crime going on in his county!