BostonWolverine

July 2nd, 2021 at 9:18 AM ^

No. The problem isn't that someone broke the rules knowingly. It's that the rule exists in the first place. I see where you're coming from, but you need to take it one step further. 

By your logic, Rosa Parks should've been arrested and jailed. She knew it was against the rules to sit in the front of the bus, but did it anyway. And before you say "false equivalence," it isn't. Cannabis legalization is a Civil Rights issue, and should be treated as such. 

BostonWolverine

July 2nd, 2021 at 1:33 PM ^

It is a Civil Rights issue. Given the racist policies of the War on Drugs, the overwhelmingly black prison population incarcerated for marijuana possession and related offenses, and the fact that marijuana has not yet been legalized on a federal level for ALL, thereby denying the rights of millions. 
 

It’s also putting an undue strain on government resources on both the enforcement and penal systems, hijacking funding that would be much more effectively used elsewhere. That then takes a toll on public well-being and resource availability, keeping people from being able to access opportunities that different spending priorities would afford them. It’s an out and out disaster for Americans. 

B-Nut-GoBlue

July 1st, 2021 at 11:30 PM ^

Yikes.  This sucks and is really dumb.

Can't imagine the asinine comments happening around the internet from the "folks".

"Serves her rot, she knews the rules".

carolina blue

July 2nd, 2021 at 6:55 AM ^

B nut is getting negged because it’s mocking a valid point of view. People are upset she’s been busted for violating a dumb rule while simultaneously admitting she broke the rule. you can’t knowingly violate a rule then get pissed when you get in trouble for it. 

Angry-Dad

July 2nd, 2021 at 9:49 AM ^

The arbitrary way this country treats weed is a joke.  Marijuana is still a Sch. I drug according to the federal government.  Along with Heroin, LSD, Ecstasy, etc...  

Makes zero sense.  It was part of the war on drugs during the Nixon administration with almost zero research or evidence to support placing it in the top tier of scheduled drugs.  How it has been allowed to stand for the past 60 years is embarrassing.  

Angry-Dad

July 2nd, 2021 at 3:18 PM ^

In order to be a sch I drug it must be determined to be highly addictive and subject to abuse and have no FDA approved medical purpose.  
 

being a “mind/mood” altering drug is not part of the equation.  Sch I drugs are deemed to be among the most dangerous and need of the most restrictions.  To put marijuana in that group is in my opinion ridiculous. 
I can’t comprehend how anyone would group it with the other drugs in that category.  If that makes me obtuse, as you say, I am ok with that.  

Hab

July 2nd, 2021 at 4:01 PM ^

My mistake, you understand.  You just don't care.  And that's absolutely fine.

It's high potential for abuse, by the way, which may or may not be the same thing as highly addictive.  But I'm quibbling at this point, mostly because I don't care.  This issue is so highly politicized and people's views so entrenched that proponents "just can't even" carry on a conversation without bringing their emotional investment in the topic to the party.  And this thread is a perfect example.

This was a story about a potential Olympic athlete who broke a rule proscribing marijuana use and competing in a high-level competition at the same time.   Is the discussion focused around whether the rule was imposed arbitrarily, or even whether it was based on evidence, unnecessarily punitive, etc.?  Nope.  There were some general takes that "this rule is dumb," but that's about it.  Instead, what do we get?  Yep, recycled rage about the injustices associated with criminalized marijuana possession. 

Let's put this silliness to the test.  For all of you keyboard warriors, I want a show of hands.  Who here actually suffered legal punishment beyond the occasional civil fine?  Better yet, who here has gone to take care of the family of someone who got busted for manufacturing/delivering and had to serve or is serving a long sentence for getting caught with significant quantities?  I'll wait. 

For the vast majority of people likely to be posting on these boards, their moral rage stems from nothing more than not being able to have a good time by lighting up when you want, where you want, with what you want.  Yet their online rage is no different than that of gun-rights advocates.  You can have my pot when you take it from my cold dead hands.  You all are the same.

 

Hab

July 9th, 2021 at 1:14 PM ^

For the record, it's been a week and I see no hands.  Well done lads and lasses.  

There's an interesting article in the NYTimes ($) today that brings what I strongly suspect to be proponents' long-held, closely-guarded, actual desire into the light of day.  Here's the money quote:

But while we can now begin to glimpse an end to the drug war, it is much harder to envision what the drug peace will look like. How will we fold these powerful substances into our society and our lives so as to minimize their risks and use them most constructively?

...

That conversation begins with the recognition that humans like to change consciousness and that cultures have been using psychoactive plants and fungi to do so for as long as there have been cultures. Something about us is just not satisfied with ordinary consciousness and seeks to transcend it in various ways....

Take whatever position you want on what it looks like, but at least be as honest as this writer.  You just want to get high.  So let's agree that it's time to drop the moral outrage and relying on the suffering of others to justify your (presumed) dissatisfaction with your ordinary consciousness.

 

CRISPed in the DIAG

July 2nd, 2021 at 12:40 PM ^

1) Chances are you never got ticketed for going 57 MPH. And if by some small chance you were ticketed for going 57 MPH you could probably keep your drivers license. An Olympian banned for something that is legal in most state (and counting) may not get another chance to be an Olympian. Dumb.

2) I did and as a result enjoy legal marijuana.

Hab

July 2nd, 2021 at 2:30 PM ^

The better analogy would be that she was given permission to drive on GM's closed test track, so long as she had no marijuana in her system.  She didn't comply with the rules to be on the track and so GM said thanks for coming by.    

She's not facing criminal, or even civil penalties here...  If there is a sympathetic point, its in the timing of all of this, because the minimal punishment (a three-month time out) happens to fall exactly at the only time she can qualify.  The rule is being applied consistently, and although you can feel it's a dumb rule, no one was complaining about it before this particular athlete broke it.  I recall the Michael Phelps situation a while back, vaguely...

JonnyHintz

July 2nd, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^

But dumb rules still are rules. If you want to complain that dumb rules shouldn’t be rules, by all means do so. Most would agree with you. 
 

But breaking a dumb rule is still breaking a rule. Breaking a rule has consequences. Complaining that you or someone else is facing consequences for breaking a rule is silly. 

JonnyHintz

July 2nd, 2021 at 5:34 PM ^

Shouldn’t, but is. She knew that and did it anyway. So what are we really talking about here? 
 

You thinking it shouldn’t be a rule is fine, but many people throughout the world think it should be. Opinions will differ depending on what someone’s specific culture has deemed “acceptable” in today’s society. 
 

Regardless, it’s an international organization that sets the rules and policy for their own events. They are allowed to do that. It is up to the participants to follow that policy or face the consequences. Its their event. What we think is “just” doesn’t really play a part here.

AZBlue

July 2nd, 2021 at 12:55 PM ^

I really don’t see anyone here saying that it is a good thing she got hit by a dumb rule….they are saying IT IS A RULE and she got caught breaking it - case closed.  
 

If she disagreed with this rule she could:

  • Give up he dream to be an Olympic Athlete and get blazed whenever she wants.
  • Lobby to change the rules with other competitors and organizations in the sport but until that time…
  • Ignore the rule and just learn to curtail her usage to avoid testing positive when tests are scheduled — like I suspect a large portion of competitors do - aka don’t be dumb.

We lost a year of Mitch McGary playing for Michigan by his getting caught by a dumb rule.  In his case it was less “stupidity” and more not understanding that even inactive members of the NCAA tourney travel party could be tested (and that a positive NCAA test had a mandatory 1-year suspension unlike school administered tests.)

trustBlue

July 2nd, 2021 at 4:40 PM ^

There's no "case closed" because there is no "case" here. Richardson got caught breaking their dumb rule and won't be allowed to compete. That's understood.

My point is that removing an athlete like Sha'Carri Richardson from competing in the Olypmics over smoking pot is a BAD outcome. Its not just bad for Ms. Richardson. It's bad for the U.S. It's bad for the Olympic Games. It's bad for everyone. It's not something that should happen.

When you say "case closed" what you really means "I'm totally fine with outcome, because making sure athletes following dumb rules is the only thing that merits consideration here." 

georgesanderson2319

July 2nd, 2021 at 7:53 PM ^

Or perhaps holding star athletes at the VERY highest level, to the standard to which they AGREED in order to participate...would be prudent and should be the way her violation is viewed until the rules actually change?

Gobgoblue

July 1st, 2021 at 11:36 PM ^

I had no idea weed makes you faster. 
 

But really, that’s fucked up. Interesting chain of decisions too after they insisted the move only Simone Biles can do stay at a low difficulty starting score. 

MeanJoe07

July 1st, 2021 at 11:51 PM ^

Good. We all know one minute you're smoking weed and then before you know it you're doing the naughty business in an alley for a dimebag. Then your family life falls apart and you beat your kids and might be addicted for life.  She should do something more safe like the alcohol or prescription meds her doctor will give her. No one ever messes their life up using the societally accepted drugs.

 

StephenRKass

July 2nd, 2021 at 12:16 AM ^

I don't get what so many posters here don't get. If the IOC dictates that you can't smoke weed, and they run the Olympics, it seems pretty cut and dried that you shouldn't smoke weed. I mean, I guess I feel bad for her and all, but cumong. You gotta know the rules. It seems extremely likely that Olympians have smoked weed, even while at the Olympics. But you never know when there is going to be a drop. Change the rules? Sure. But until they change? Don't do it.