Pubdate: Fri, 21 Jan 2011
Source: Dispatch, The (MD)
Copyright: 2011 The Maryland Coast Dispatch, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3263
Author: Howard Wooldridge
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n028/a10.html

ALCOHOL A BIGGER ISSUE THAN DOPE

Editor:

My colleague Chief DiPino supports marijuana prohibition but never 
explained why. I know our profession is given $13 billion per year to 
pursue and arrest the Willie Nelsons and Michael Phelps of our 
country. This prohibition generates good job security and overtime 
which are even more important in our recession economy. The Mexican 
drug cartels and thousands of teen dealers also support marijuana for 
the same reason as Chief DiPino; namely the money.

Certainly it was my police experience that marijuana is a much safer 
drug than alcohol for both the user and those around them. Chief 
DiPino and others in the prohibition crowd essentially drive many 
people to drink which everyone knows is much more dangerous than 
marijuana. Sad that money trumps common sense.

Howard Wooldridge

Adamstown. Md.

(The writer is a retired detective/officer.)
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom