You're stupid to use it and even more of a fool to get caught with it.

Consider Notre Dame point guard Kyle McAlarney damned of the latter and probably guilty of the former. Otherwise, why else would he have the stuff? For decorative purposes?

In a development that was startling, disappointing and altogether untimely, McAlarney was arrested, booked and then subsequently released from St. Joseph County Jail, all within a matter of hours last Friday morning.

Unfortunately for the budding sophomore standout, the stain on his reputation and the stigma he'll carry with him will last much longer, perhaps even a lifetime.

McAlarney is now confronting a pressure-packed situation much more extreme than anything he's ever faced on the basketball court. He's staring at the real possibility of being charged with three misdemeanors including marijuana possession and possession of paraphernalia.

If you asked McAlarney right this second, do you think he'd say it was worth the risk? Would he want a do-over? Was it worth jeopardizing his Notre Dame career and sullying his good name for a cheap and transitory high?

A high, incidentally, that does nothing but distort your senses, releases inhibitions, makes you silly and gives you the munchies of Paul Bunyan. And those are the less destructive aspects to using grass. If you're under the influence and doing something that requires a clear mind, like driving a car, for instance, you become a menace.

Though only 19, McAlarney should have known better. As the floor general and quarterback of the surprising Irish, McAlarney had been given a great responsibility and trust.

His role carried with it the inherent obligation to conduct himself with a maturity that belied his years. He was ND's leader on the court and it was incumbent upon him to set a positive example both when he played and once he left the arena.

To say he failed his teammates, his school and himself is beyond question. The guy messed-up big-time. He simultaneously traveled, double-dribbled and fouled-out.

The question is why? You would have thought that coming off a career-best 21 points versus Rider just hours before his arrest would have provided the New York native with enough euphoria. Could there have been a more satisfying natural high?

Apparently not! Based upon his actions, McAlarney was seeking a bigger kick. And that quest led him to untold embarrassment and shame.

If  McAlarney's lapse in judgment affected solely him, you might be inclined to be more forgiving. But his bonehead decision has now disrupted and perhaps distracted an Irish team that was on a roll.

Without McAlarney ( who's been indefinitely suspended ) to lead them, it's anyone's guess how the Domers will react to his absence. Just when both McAlarney ( 10.3 pts., 5.4 assists per game ) and Mike Brey's club were hitting their stride, this totally unexpected circumstance threatens a promising season.

The fact that it comes right as the Irish are embarking on their critical Big East campaign makes it all the more egregious. This downer of a development couldn't have come at a worse moment. Talk about atrocious timing!

What makes this whole fiasco even more disheartening is that many Irish followers have come to admire and embrace McAlarney. He was rapidly becoming a fan favorite.

And why not. The 6-2 guard plays with a bit of an edge, a perceptible confidence and assurance befitting his Staten Island roots. He brings with him a swagger and presence that's invaluable and something that's been sorely missing in South Bend as of late.

Moreover, McAlarney's game was truly jelling. A sensational shooter in high-school, Kyle was finally striking that fine balance between scorer and distributor. He was coming on like gangbusters. Now, he's merely busted.

It's been an anguishing time for McAlarney since he felt the pinch of the law. First, McAlarney had to undergo the trauma of facing his teammates and profusely apologizing to those he betrayed more than any others. Later, he had to endure an emotional meeting with Brey at which time the youngster was informed of his suspension.

Needless to say, McAlarney has had better days.

By all accounts, McAlarney has been genuinely contrite about his misdeed. He's acknowledged the grave mistake he made and thus far has, as Brey says, "handled it like a man."

McAlarney seems prepared to take his medicine and deal with any penalty that's meted out to him.

That's good! That means he's willing to face up to his transgression and not shirk responsibility for it. That's the first step towards redemption and making amends.

No one would argue that he shouldn't pay a steep price for his misstep but his error shouldn't bury him. McAlarney is family and as such Notre Dame and Brey should treat him like a wayward son. Punish him yes but let him know that he can be redeemed and salvaged.

Offer him the opportunity  to return if he toes the line and does all in his power to set things right. McAlarney is reputed to be a good kid and up to this point, a solid citizen. Unless there's something else stirring below the surface, he's deserving of a second chance.

As he ponders how dramatically his world has changed in less than a week, McAlarney must rue his decision to turn dumbbell and fall prey to the lure of the hemp. Because he sought the weed, he's now going to bleed.

His desire to get high has laid him low and brought him down.

Let's hope that he's learned a painful lesson and opts to seek another type of high. Like taking the high road and putting this sorry episode behind him.