The lead editorial in today's New York Times calls for passage of marijuana legalization measures in Alaska, Oregon, and the District of Columbia, describing the drug as "far less dangerous than alcohol" and denouncing "harsh criminal penalties."
Meanwhile, over in reality — I mean, the sports section — a "news analysis" of swimmer Michael Phelps entering a six-week inpatient alcohol rehabilitation program after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence reports:
So much of Phelps's bad behavior over the years has been enabled by people invested in him carrying his sport on his broad shoulders. Would he be guilty of continuing lapses in judgment if USA Swimming had suspended Phelps for more than three months in 2009, after the marijuana pipe photograph surfaced, and he had been forced to sit out the World Championships in Rome that year?
So the editorial page is arguing that the marijuana penalties are too harsh, while the sports page is arguing that in the case of Olympic gold medalist Phelps, the marijuana penalty wasn't harsh enough. It's like they used to say about the Wall Street Journal news and editorial sections — two papers for the price of one.