Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Phelps could get charged with pot possesion

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news;_ylt=Aqc9...ov=ap&type=lgns

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)—Olympic superstar Michael Phelps could face criminal charges as part of the fallout from a photo that surfaced showing the swimmer smoking from a marijuana pipe at a University of South Carolina house party.

A spokesman for Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, who is known for his tough stance on drugs, said Tuesday the department was investigating.

“Our narcotics division is reviewing the information that we have, and they’re investigating what charges, if any, will be filed,” said Lt. Chris Cowan, a spokesman for agency.

The photo first shown in British tabloid News of the World on Sunday was snapped during a November party while Phelps was visiting the university, according to the paper.

Phelps, 23, and his team have not disputed the photo’s accuracy. Phelps has issued a public apology, acknowledging “regrettable” behavior and “bad judgment” after the photo appeared.

One of Phelps’ agents, Drew Johnson, said Tuesday authorities had not contacted the swimmer. “So we really can’t speculate,” he said.

Last fall, Phelps was introduced to large applause at South Carolina’s football game with Arkansas. He met with players and visited with Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier, who gave Phelps one of the ball coach’s trademark visors.

Phelps also spoke at a university class on sports’ role in society.

Where exactly the party occurred isn’t clear. The university said its police have no evidence it was on campus, and city police said they won’t pursue criminal charges unless more information comes forward.

The Richland County sheriff can pursue charges as long as the party was in the county, the spokesman said.

“The bottom line is, if he broke the law, and he did it in Richland County, he’s going to be charged,” Cowan said. “And there’s no difference between Michael Phelps and several other people that we arrest for the same type of a charge everyday.”

Under South Carolina law, possession of one ounce or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor that carries a fine up to $200 and 30 days in jail for the first offense. Possession of paraphernalia is a $500 fine.

The Richland County sheriff has long sought to fight drug crimes. He rose from patrol officer to captain of the narcotics division in the early 1990s, after the television series “Miami Vice” made its splash.

Lott played the part well. He wore stylish suits and had long hair then. He drove a Porsche seized from a drug dealer and even worked undercover with federal agents in Florida.

Associated Press writers Jeffrey Collins and Pete Iacobelli in Columbia, and Paul Newberry in Atlanta contributed to this report.

I'm pretty sure they won't be able to find any evidence of this since it happened a few months ago but what do you think will happen to him?

nothing, i dont understand why it is such a big deal

nothing, i dont understand why it is such a big deal

Marijuana is illegal.

Marijuana is illegal.

So is tying your mule up in front of the Capitol Building; and so was a Jew owning a business in Germany; and so was drinking a beer in prohibition. There is nothing wrong with smoking a bong. This story is horrendously absurd.

Nothing will come of this...in fact it has blown over more or less...thank goodness he ISN'T PacMan Jones (now that would be news right?!?)
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It's illegal, he's an American poster boy (x time Olympic champion, world reord holder, blah blah blah), and a sports athlete "role model" (whether he wants the tag or not).

USA swimming suspended him for 3 months today. Not that it really does much to him the olympics arent for years

It could have been tobacco....

It could have been tobacco....

i said that yesterday actually bit it prob wasn't. And i agree with Logan.. somewhat

norml.org

Yeah probably not, but if I were him ( I would never do this because I hope I would be honest) but if I were him I would just be like 'What's the big deal, I was smoking tobacco?' I've seen it before....but whatever. His people aren't that bright apparently.

Yeah probably not, but if I were him ( I would never do this because I hope I would be honest) but if I were him I would just be like 'What's the big deal, I was smoking tobacco?' I've seen it before....but whatever. His people aren't that bright apparently.

He shouldve just said, "What's the big deal, I was just smokin pot?"

He shouldve just said, "What's the big deal, I was just smokin pot?"

Well, it's illegal, leads to harder drugs, and has the same effects of drinking and driving if driving a car.

I'm sure Josh Hamilton started out with "just pot" and it almost ruined his life.

I know one guy who started out with "just pot" and he ended up as the gang leader of one of the biggest prison gangs in the country. He is good now, but "just pot" can lead to several bad things.

Well, it's illegal, leads to harder drugs, and has the same effects of drinking and driving if driving a car.

I'm sure Josh Hamilton started out with "just pot" and it almost ruined his life.

I know one guy who started out with "just pot" and he ended up as the gang leader of one of the biggest prison gangs in the country. He is good now, but "just pot" can lead to several bad things.

Its only leads to other drugs if you let it. You can control anything that you do.

Well, it's illegal, leads to harder drugs, and has the same effects of drinking and driving if driving a car.

I'm sure Josh Hamilton started out with "just pot" and it almost ruined his life.

I know one guy who started out with "just pot" and he ended up as the gang leader of one of the biggest prison gangs in the country. He is good now, but "just pot" can lead to several bad things.

A knew a guy who hung himself on antidepressants. So what? Everybody has a "i knew this guy" story about any subject you choose. And youre completely wrong about the driving part. Marijuana has a much lower addiction potential than alchohol or over-the-counter sleeping and congestion pills. If I remeber correctly, 6% of first time pot smokers get addicted, while 16% or more do drinking.

Can't you just read up on something before making an ignorant, blanket statement about something? You swallowed every line they fed you in DARE class, didnt you?

A knew a guy who hung himself on antidepressants. So what? Everybody has a "i knew this guy" story about any subject you choose. And youre completely wrong about the driving part. Marijuana has a much lower addiction potential than alchohol or over-the-counter sleeping and congestion pills. If I remeber correctly, 6% of first time pot smokers get addicted, while 16% or more do drinking.

Can't you just read up on something before making an ignorant, blanket statement about something? You swallowed every line they fed you in DARE class, didnt you?

Very well put

A knew a guy who hung himself on antidepressants. So what? Everybody has a "i knew this guy" story about any subject you choose. And youre completely wrong about the driving part. Marijuana has a much lower addiction potential than alchohol or over-the-counter sleeping and congestion pills. If I remeber correctly, 6% of first time pot smokers get addicted, while 16% or more do drinking.

Can't you just read up on something before making an ignorant, blanket statement about something? You swallowed every line they fed you in DARE class, didnt you?

agreed, though i thought the alcohol percent was closer to 20%????

agreed, though i thought the alcohol percent was closer to 20%????

Probably. I wouldnt doubt it.

what ever statistic you want to put out there to make you feel better about your drug use Logan the fact is that the drug is illegal. Phelps was/is the face of America athletics and he shouldn't of done it. he embarrassed him self and the country.

He may have embaressed himself. But everyone makes stupid mistakes. He has grown up in the public eye. Everything is going to get Blown up. How many people have DWI's- How many of us have tried pot- Alot. He is a kid being a kid.

what ever statistic you want to put out there to make you feel better about your drug use Logan the fact is that the drug is illegal. Phelps was/is the face of America athletics and he shouldn't of done it. he embarrassed him self and the country.

Don't make assumptions about me.

Recognition of scientific facts about the effects of a drug has nothing to do with usage.

What I do or don't do in my free time is none of your business. You can't possibly know. It's the internet. I could be an 80-year-old woman for all you know.

That said, why don't you try and refute anything I've said. Have you ever drank a beer? If so, then you're a drug user. A user of a drug responsible for huge numbers of deaths every day. When was the last time you heard of someone getting hit by a stoned driver; or someone coming home from a night of smoking and beating his wife and children; or homeless people lying around baked on the sidewalk, driven to ultimate poverty over their addiction and liver disease?

How many of us have tried pot- Alot. He is a kid being a kid.

That's a pretty depressing statement on the "kids" today; I've never understood how using drugs is a milestone in growing up. Admittedly I would have no hesitation about mingling with anabolic steroid users, but there's a vast line between using a drug for physical enhancement and progressing further within a chosen path (such as bodybuilding for profession) and using a drug for "recreation" or "fun". There's no ethical justification for the latter.

stlbaseball15- Was your question re: "when's the last time you heard about.." passive or are you looking for an honest answer? A simple google search will find news articles and studies, especially European where marijuana use is rampant, about those statements.