The NORML Stash Blog » Michael Phelps

Eugene Davidovich, facing four felony counts in a San Diego courtroom on Monday, after a San Diego county cop lied to a doctor, presented a fake ID, and purchased from Davidovich’s legally-operated collective. Visit EugeneDavidovich.com to support and be at San Diego Superior Court Dept 11, 220 W. Broadway in San Diego on Monday at 8am if you can.

Michael Phelps sets new world record

"Radical" Russ Belville — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:20:37 +0000

So much for that amotivational syndrome...

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) – A fired up Michael Phelps signaled he was back in top form when he rocketed to a world record in the 100 meters butterfly at the U.S. Nationals on Thursday.

The 24-year-old American erased any concerns he lacked motivation after he won eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, ending compatriot Ian Crocker’s six-year grip on the 100 butterfly record.

Phelps’ power was on display when he went out fast and pulled away after the turn clocking 50.22 seconds, leaving Tyler McGill a distance second in 51.06.

Phelps now holds five individual world records — 200 and 400 individual medleys, 100 and 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle.

Phelps’ display also confirmed he is back to full fitness after a tumultuous six-month layoff following Beijing, which included a three month suspension from USA Swimming when he was photographed inhaling from a pipe used for smoking marijuana.

He also gained seven kilograms in weight and contemplated retirement but is now looking to add to his 17 world championships gold medals later this month in Rome.

The other funny story is that he’s doing a new endorsement deal with Subway where he touts the value of pigging out on a meatball sub. The clincher is the website URL: http://subwayfreshBUZZ.com

NORML Advisor / European Travel Guru Rick Steves schools ESPN on decriminalization

"Radical" Russ Belville — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:20:03 +0000

(ESPN) “The poor guy,” Rick Steves said of the outrage over [Michael] Phelps’ infamous bong hit. “Kellogg’s wants to preserve this fantasy that good athletes don’t smoke pot. Good athletes smoke pot. Smart good athletes don’t get caught.”

If you’ve had the good fortune to travel to Europe, or the lesser fortune of tuning in to a PBS pledge break, you’re probably familiar with Rick Steves. His “Europe Through the Back Door” guide books are the best European travel guides by so wide a margin that I’m not sure which is more essential for a trip overseas, your passport or your Rick Steves book. He also is an outspoken proponent for the decriminalization of marijuana, so I called him recently to learn what he thought about the fuss over Phelps.

“I think it’s a good example of how America is sort of hysterical about a drug that the rest of the world doesn’t think is very dangerous,” he said. “About half the people in America have smoked marijuana. The president has. Some members of the Supreme Court have … many people have. But if a celebrity athlete smokes pot, they lose their endorsements.”

“Nobody is saying drugs are good. No one is saying you should smoke pot. People are just saying: Don’t arrest adults who smoke pot,” Steves said. “It’s a civil liberty. They stopped arresting people in the Netherlands 25 years ago and marijuana use hasn’t gone up. They treat it as a health problem, not a crime. The U.S. is stuck in this mindless war on drugs costing billions of dollars. There are 80,000 people in jail right now for simple laws regarding marijuana. There were 800,000 people arrested last year for marijuana, most for simple possession.”

Steves wants to be clear. He isn’t saying kids should be allowed to use marijuana, just as he doesn’t think they should smoke or drink alcohol. And he isn’t advocating the legalization of harder drugs. “I acknowledge there is a serious drug abuse problem in this country,” Steves said. “I’m the parent of two teenagers. I don’t think they should smoke pot.”

What he is saying is that prohibiting marijuana “causes more trouble than the drug does.”

Michael Phelps chewed tobacco “like a sailor,” says stripper

"Radical" Russ Belville — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:20:21 +0000

Smoking marijuana = bad message to the children. Chewing tobacco? Eh, nobody needs to know.

Theresa White, a Latina exotic dancer in Phelps’ hometown, sat down with the News to discuss his supposed insatiable sexual appetite and hard partying ways.

White claims to have met the swimmer in November 2008, the same month the News released the now-infamous bong photos of Phelps.

“I saw Michael after the photos were published in February and he got really upset. He turned to me and said, ‘I can’t believe that happened. I’m terrified my career will be over.’ He was almost in tears.”

While there were no complaints in the bedroom, White says Phelps chewed tobacco “like a sailor,” with spittoons peppering his condo, cried often over the stresses of the marijuana scandal and remained in constant communication with his mother.

I could care less about Michael Phelps’ sexcapades with strippers. He’s a 23-year-old single man with fame and money; have fun. It’s the chewing tobacco I’ve got an issue with. Won’t somebody think of the children? We vilified Michael Phelps because his marijuana smoking would send a bad message to the children; is anyone now clamoring for Michael Phelps to issue apologies for his chewing tobacco use? That will cause more head and neck cancer than pot every will.

By the way, the latest celeb news on Phelps is that he’s dating National Organization for Marriage spokeswoman and pageant-purchased breast implant-recipient Miss California Carrie “Opposite Marriage” Prejean. There’s something oddly appropriate about that, I think; two young people who made stupid mistakes and suffered a media firestorm end up together.

Michael Phelps’ Mom speaks

MrSpof — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:55:36 +0000

Debbie Phelps talks to Larry King about her son Michael’s bong incident and her new book ‘A Mother for All Seasons’. I’m absolutely certain after watching the interview that she’s not much for gossip. I’m also certain she doesn’t want to say anything that could jeopardize her son’s career or endorsements. I understand that but why do an interview? Hit the link for 5:58 minutes of your life you can’t get back to see for yourself.

Michael Phelps’ Mom speaks to Larry King

Penn Says: Legalize it!

Justice — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 16:21:09 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Kellogg Brand Reputation Still in Freefall

MrSpof — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:40:33 +0000

Remember the story we posted a couple of weeks ago that said Kellogg’s ‘Reputation Score’ took a nose dive to #83 out of 5600 after ditching Michael ‘RoorMaster‘ Phelps? How about an update?

This pretty much rivals CNBC for Best Freefall Performance by a Group or Duo: according to Vanno, Kellogg is now sitting at #233 out of 5841.

That’s rough, though it doesn’t affect the tasty bowl of Frosted Mini Spooners I’m currently enjoying in lieu of Frosted Mini Wheats which shall go linkless. After the zesty cannabis session I have later, I’ll be sucking down some Safeway Frosted Pop Tarts.

The founder of Kellogg would probably suggest an enema for the high fiber count I’m packing in. I’ve a better idea, Kellogg: up yours.

Kellogg donates Phelps cereal boxes to food bank

Justice — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:47:16 +0000

Kellogg donates Phelps cereal boxes to food bank

What does a major international food producer (actually more money goes into the box than in the cereal, transportation and plastic combined) do when they have thousands of boxes that they have decided to pull to appease their supposed puritanical customers? You give it to a food bank and hope the problem just goes away. But the AP is there to remind Kellogg just how much they messed the bed..

Legions of marijuana advocates urged a boycott of Kellogg, including all of its popular munchies, for deciding to cut ties with Phelps…urging a boycott were the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Students for Sensible Drug Policy and the Drug Policy Alliance. They encouraged their members to contact Kellogg to vent their views. Similar commentary sounded even in mainstream media — including columns in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and National Review Online questioning the rationale and effectiveness of U.S. marijuana laws.

Well at least the public approves of the move by Kellogg, or not..

Of Phelps’ numerous big-name sponsors, Kellogg was the only one to publicly cut ties after the pot photo emerged. While it received some support, the giant food company has also been singled out for mockery by a host of comedians, bloggers and others.

My fellow Stashers, make a resolution to NEVER FORGET, NEVER SURRENDER!