Phelps did nothing Wrong... however, 19,065 folks did

Total South Carolina Drug Law Arrests by Age, Race, Sex and Charge (2006)

Age/Charge	Total Number	Total Percent	White Male	Black Male	Other Male	White Female	Black Female	Other Female
TOTAL, ALL AGES	38,035	100.0	12,768	17,585	174	4,381	2,548	39
SIMPLE POSSESSION	27,723	72.9	10,302	12,441	131	3,156	1,666	27
Opiates/Heroin	610	1.6	318	100	3	163	25	1
Cocaine	2,283	6.0	813	1,100	14	255	98	3
Crack Cocaine	4,457	11.7	856	2,703	5	535	352	6
Marijuana	19,065	50.1	7,534	8,398	105	1,839	1,172	17
Hallucinogens	97	0.3	57	24	1	11	4	0
Other Drugs	1,211	3.2	724	116	3	353	15	0
SALE/MANUFACTURE	6,906	18.2	1,386	3,961	35	508	470	6
Opiates/Heroin	187	0.5	65	58	1	56	6	1
Cocaine	876	2.3	249	513	9	61	44	0
Crack Cocaine	2,415	6.3	173	1,920	7	99	215	1
Marijuana	1,876	4.9	516	1,086	7	124	141	2
Hallucinogens	28	0.1	14	10	1	1	2	0
Other Drugs	984	2.6	369	374	10	167	62	2
DRUG EQUIPMENT / PARAPHERNALIA	3,406	9.0	1,080	1,183	8	717	412	6

Source: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Crime in South Carolina 2006.

I don't feel sorry for Michael Phelps. He got caught, it's illegal, it's the law. However, he's sad and folks are outraged that he's being 'targeted'.

But I want people to look at the non-celeb-Olympic winners who also "did nothing wrong" in South Carolina. They get charged with possession and they don't have media attention to spin their stories. When they get charged, they can lose their jobs or the opportunity to get jobs. Phelps ain't suffering, so let's stop pretending he is. I'm not blogging about weed rights, I'm talking about this view of Phelps being a victim.

So you are going to fight the power, start with the non-millionaires who can't afford a way out and don't have a voice...or a gold medal.

via Jossip