The insanity of our drug policy and Michael Phelps.

As most people know by now, a student at the University of South Carolina took a photo on his camera phone of Michael Phelps smoking marijuana. The Richland County Sheriff's Office is investigating and may bring charges against Phelps.

It's complete idiocy to to prosecute Phelps (or anyone else) for smoking marijuana in the privacy of his, her, or any other home. Driving over the speed limit is also illegal, but I break the speed limit every day, as does just about everyone else I know. Does it make sense for the police to spend every waking second catching every single speeder? No. It would be a poor utilization of resources. As is trying to prosecute drug crimes. Legal authorities have only so many resources to stop crime. I think they should put their resources where it will do the most good; community policing, investigating violent crime, teen programs to limit gang violence, etc..

I also think we need to radically rethink our drug laws, which have been disastrous for our country. They have filled the criminal justice system with non-violent offenders, and they have prvented billions of dollars in tax revenue that legalization would provide. I'm for the legalization of all "illegal" drugs, but I'm especially dismayed by our policy concerning marijuana, which is only illegal because in the 1930's, the main people who smoked it were darker than the people who made the laws. Haven't we evolved enough as a society to leave our nativist and racist drug policies behind? I hope so.

The logic of the potential charges against Phelps is patently absurd. The people I've heard defend the charges use the circular logic that follows.

1) Drugs are bad.

2) So when successful people take drugs, like the all-time Olympic Champion (and the current president), they demonstrate that drug use isn't that bad.

3) So we must penalize successful people harsher than everyone because,

4) when successful people who use drugs get into a lot of trouble, it proves drugs are bad.

Michael Phelps got arrested at 19 for drunk driving, an act that put his life and the lives of others at risk. It earned barely a mention in the press. Yet, because he smoked marijuana in the safe haven of a college house party, Phelps risks prosecution and the loss of millions in endorsements.

It's about time we talk about reforming our insane drug policy, which has stressed our prison system and our criminal court system beyond measure.