Is Michael Phelps smoking marijuana a major issue professional or on a PR basis?

It was more of a publicity stunt. Smoking marijuana does not enhance his performance as an athlete. It does not affect his swimming career. It was his choice, and it proves that even Olympic athletes make bad choices sometimes. The challenge is that Michael Phelps is considered a role model, and a hero, and the fact that he's shown smoking this drug does not set a good example to children who aspire to be athletes, yet at the same time he was chastised for doing so, and he apologized in the article, therefore he has made up for some of what he has done wrong. However, it's something that will always stay with him, and even when he apologized it will be hard for this to be erased. Hopefully those who look up to Michael Phelps will not look at him as a smoker, yet more so look at him as a great athlete, someone who has great perseverance, and a love for competing in the sport of swimming.

Does it put his future Olympic career in any kind of jeopardy?

No, he apologized to the public, and said he wouldn't do it again. Since it does not enhance his performance, it's likely that it would not jeopardize his career or anything like that. If he was taking steroids or a drug that made him swim quicker, it might be a different issue. If he got caught using this or any illegal substance prior to or during the Olympics he would be closer to getting himself into some real trouble with the US and International Olympic Committee.

Could an olympic athlete come out and public admit they use marijuana?

Yes, it's their personal choice to do so. I don't believe this will stifle Michael Phelps' Olympic career, or cause him to lose any medals unless he was caught doing it during the race and it was considered a performance enhancing drug. I believe marijuana for the most part hinders performance. If the marijuana was the reason he had a competitive advantage, then it would be a different story all together.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_marijuana_in_the_United_State...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_(sport)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7516484.stm

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It may not be a major issue for him personally as an athlete - at the end of the day, he does produce the results and is 100% dedicated to his sport. But I also believe that being a public figure, carries a certain level of social responsibility. Sports is inspiring in so many ways - the stories of resilience, survival, redemption are endless and the greatest sportsmen are role models to upcoming athletes and more importantly kids.

So, no I dont think it would jeopardize his future Olympic career, but from a PR standpoint, it ranks a little low.
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