Subway Keeps Phelps on Board

And yet Phelps is vilified for smoking pot

(NEWSER) - Michael Phelps smokes a bong at a private party and becomes Public Enemy No. 1. Lance Armstrong signs a deal to hawk beer for Anheuser-Busch and—nothing. Therein lies a lesson about our nation's "absurd drug policy," writes David Sirota. Alcohol is the demonstrably more dangerous drug, yet it's fine for a world-class athlete—a cancer survivor, no less—to encourage us to drink it. More»

Winter sports design looks like a joint to many

(NEWSER) - The 2010 Olympic torch gets attention wherever it goes, much of it from people who look at the sleek metal shape and see a joint, the Toronto Star reports. The resemblance is probably unintentional——the design is supposed to look like the tracks skis and skates leave on snow and ice—but "people who already enjoy a joint will feel a little more kinship to the Olympics," says the editor of Cannabis Culture magazine. More»

(NEWSER) - Michael Phelps’ suspension ended today, and the swimmer is back in the pool preparing for a tourney next week in Charlotte, the AP reports. The Olympian said he was actually unaware of the end of the 3-month ban, imposed after photos emerged of him hitting a bong. “I had no idea,” he said. But he’s happy to be competing again, for the first time since his stunning success at the Beijing Olympics. More»

Stars from Paris to Brad are probably celebrating today

(NEWSER) - We all know that Seth Rogen and the rest of Team Apatow are probably celebrating “Pot Day.” But what other celebs are joining them? In honor of 4/20, BuzzFeed compiled a list of Hollywood’s highest:

• James Franco: “There's a reason he’s squinting in almost every picture you see.”
• Paris Hilton: Pictured toking in “nostalgic” photos from the mid-2000s “when banks had money and everyone listened to the Postal Service.”

(NEWSER) - In his first post-bong-photo interview, Michael Phelps says he has a sure-fire way to stay out of trouble—get back to the "normal routine" of the swimming pool. In the interview—it airs tomorrow on NBC's Today show, notes Entertainment Tonight—Matt Lauer asks Phelps if he's worried the bong photo would supplant his image as a champion. "I have no control over that," says Phelps. The only thing he can control is getting back to the pool, "where my home is," and where "I know I can't do anything wrong." More»