As a retired, Michigan police officer, I heartily endorse legalizing and regulating drugs. I know from our history that the violence and death from the drug trade will disappear, once the government allows the legal manufacture and sale of dangerous drugs. Legalization is a solution to the violence of prohibition. If you have a drug problem, see a doctor. HOWARD J. WOOLDRIDGE (retired) [end]
As a retired, Michigan police officer, I heartily endorse legalizing and regulating drugs. I know from our history that the violence and death from the drug trade will disappear, once the government allows the legal manufacture and sale of dangerous drugs. Legalization is a solution to the violence of prohibition. If you have a drug problem, see a doctor. Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) [end]
Re: Justice Minister Responds, letter to the editor, Nov. 24. To his credit, the Justice Minister did not say that stronger punishments for drug dealers would reduce the overall number of drug dealers. That was refreshing. As a Michigan police officer, I learned that every drug dealer arrested, shot or killed was replaced within days. What will Rob Nicholson do with the new drug dealers who replace the ones arrested? And the ones who replace those, ad infinitum? Eventually Canada will look like America: wall-to-wall prisons. And drugs will still be readily available. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (ret'd), education specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Washington. [end]
As a retired Michigan police officer, I am stunned that Canada is now marching down the same, failed road as the U.S. -- namely getting tough on drug prohibition laws. Increased penalties have been a spectacular failure to curb drugs in the States. We are rolling back our harsh sentences. Why oh why does Mr. Nicholson believe Canada will have a different result? Ask any economist or sociologist or police officer why this approach will fail. There is so much money to be made, there is always someone greedy or desperate enough to make and sell drugs. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [end]
As a Michigan police officer, I learned there were three major groups who support drug prohibition; Al Qaeda, drug dealers/makers and my profession - law enforcement. All three make huge amounts of money off the drug trade. Terrorists use the money to fly planes into buildings and blow up buses and trains. The drug dealers make big bucks in order to buy nice cars and a Swiss chalet. Police officers enjoy job security, exciting work and large overtime checks. Canada benefits because prohibition has resulted in less crime, less death, less disease and saved the taxpayers billions. Wait. Scratch that last sentence. Those reductions are what the politicians promised us, when we marched onto the prohibition road. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) Washington, DC [end]
As a police officer, I learned that marijuana prohibition dramatically reduces our ability to detect and arrest the deadly DUI driver. Police spend millions of hours arresting for simple possession. Mr. (Jeff) Soplop's accurate comments ("What to do about the doobie: part two," Nov. 15) unfortunately left out the most compelling reason to end prohibition. Thousands of lives will be saved each year, when my profession focuses on the deadly DUI and reckless driver. If you have a problem with pot or any drug, see a doctor. Howard J. Wooldridge Education Specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition [end]
Dear Editor: As a retired police officer and student of history and economics, Dan Lemieux's column Growing, Selling Drugs Not Victimless Crimes (North Shore News, Oct. 31) on drugs and crimes leads me to believe he flunked history and economics in school. Mr. Lemieux, you did an excellent job demonstrating all the ills of a prohibition policy and then at the end you call for more punishment. Do you not receive any news south of the 48th parallel? We have had mandatory 20-plus year sentences for dealing and making drugs for the past two decades. The result? Drugs are even cheaper, stronger and easier to buy. What part of the fact that someone will always risk even death to make the big, "easy" dollars don't you get? Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) Washington, DC [end]
To the Editor, As a retired police officer and student of history, I would ask Ms. Vamenta to do some research on the topic of marijuana prohibition. It has been the unwritten policy of the federal government to allow no research to prove that marijuana is an effective, low side-effect, low-cost medicine. They know from reading the medical journals prior to 1937 and overwhelming anecdotal evidence that God didn't make no junk. When the Texas Legislature in 1919 prohibited the sale of cannabis, they made an exception for both human and animal use. Ms. Vamenta should learn that when cannabis is legal for medical reasons, the pharmaceutical industry will lose between 1 and 5 percent of its $640 billion gross sales. Follow the money, Ms. Vamenta, follow the money. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [end]
As a retired police officer who worked the trenches of the drug war, I was grateful that Jerry Seper did not say that putting Francisco Javier Arellano-Felix in prison for life will make any difference in the availability of prohibited drugs ("Ex-cartel leader to be sentenced on drug charges," Nation, Monday). That was refreshing. We in law enforcement know (but won't tell unless you ask) that every drug dealer shot or arrested is quickly replaced. The only net effect of this drug dealer's being put behind bars for life is that more than a million tax dollars will be wasted. Will we ever be as wise as our grandparents and end this new Prohibition? Education specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington [end]
To the Editor: As a retired police officer, I deeply regret the time my Canadian colleagues spend busting marijuana growers. Every hour they do, drunk drivers are able to kill more. Child molesters have less chance of being caught before they entice a teen to 'meet in real life.' Marijuana is a poor choice and should always remain illegal for non-adults. It is lunacy to have my profession chase cannabis while Canada allows unrestricted sales of the alcohol, the second deadliest drug in Canada behind tobacco. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) [end]
As a retired police detective from Bath Township, Mich., I agree with Nolan Finley. My profession has spent a trillion dollars to arrest 38 million Americans on drug offenses and drugs are now cheaper, stronger and easier for our kids to find and buy. You have a drug problem? See a doctor. Howard J. Wooldridge Education Specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [end]
Being in Portland for a conference, I caught your article on medical pot. As a police officer and detective (now retired), I learned that people from politicians to priests break the law. Of course some of the medical pot patients give in to temptation to sell excess pot, since the price an ounce fetches is the same as pure gold. When Oregon is allowed to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana for all purposes, my profession can stop wasting time chasing pot growers. By the way, during my 18 years of police service I was sent to zero calls generated by the use of marijuana. Howard J. Wooldridge Education specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [end]
Thanks to Mr. Steigerwald for his column on the drug war "New Prohibition." Please know that on Oct. 4, Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia held the first-ever hearing to discuss the New Prohibition as a policy issue. The topic was "Mass Incarceration in the United States: At What Cost?" Webb promised to hold more hearings and take testimony from more experts. With the exception of Webb and Reps. Dennis Kucinich, Bobby Scott and, of course, Ron Paul, Steigerwald is most correct: There is a thundering silence on this issue, even as the drug war kills more in a month than Iraq does in a year. Howard J. Wooldridge The writer is a retired police detective from Fort Worth who represents LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) on Capitol Hill. [end]
As a retired, Michigan police detective and student of history, I will bet my pension on an effective strategy to dramatically end half the violence in Windsor; namely, end drug prohibition. Windsor and other cities in Canada are increasingly being the victims of drug trade-related violence. Near Lansing, a solid 75 per cent of my felony case load (as a detective) touched drug prohibition. You know the path to take. All you need now is the courage to act. HOWARD J. WOOLDRIDGE (Ret.) Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [end]
In response to "Getting real about marijuana" (July 9 Viewpoint): As a retired police officer, I heartily endorse Kathleen Parker's call to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana. During my 18 years of service I was sent to zero calls generated by use of marijuana. Having police chase adult pot smokers means we miss drunk drivers, who killed 17,000 last year. We surely are a Thin Blue Line. Where should we focus our efforts? Howard J. Wooldridge Washington, D.C. [end]
As a police officer, I focused on DUI and red-light running -- proven killers of innocents. When I found pot on a red-light runner who wasn't intoxicated, I wrote the traffic ticket and tossed the pot into a ditch. That allowed me to continue looking for public safety threats. I urge my colleagues to do the same. Simple possession of pot is a violation of the law but not a public safety issue. In my 18 years of service, I responded to zero calls generated by the use of marijuana. I don't agree with Barry Cooper. (See June 20 news story "Ex-cop markets DVD on avoiding pot busts.") But I understand his frustration that our profession has lost its focus on public safety. Dallas [end]
Howard J. Wooldridge, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Frederick, Md. -- During my 18 years of police work, I was sent to zero service calls generated by the use of marijuana (Not The Groovy '60s: Today's Cannabis Is Harder And Meaner - June 27). Today's smokers buy pot that is two to four times stronger than the weed of the 1970s. The only difference is that the user (making a poor choice to use the drug) can become high, faster. It is the equivalent of switching from a weaker beer to a stronger one: It is still beer. Margaret Wente is using scare tactics instead of science to frighten Canadians. Moreover, how is the prohibition of cannabis helping anyone in Canada? [end]
During my 18 years of police service, I was sent to zero calls for service generated by the use of marijuana. With all due respect to my colleague, Const. Jay Hutton, his statement about marijuana being linked to violence is a deliberate non-truth bordering on perjury. It is irresponsible for a police professional to mislead the paper and the public with such a statement. Shame on you! Mr. Barth was correct in his letter. The prohibition of cannabis causes a great deal of violence, corruption and death. The solution is to legalize, regulate and tax cannabis. It ain't rocket science. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Education specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) [end]
Re: Put The Gangs Out Of Business: Legalize Drugs, Michael C. Chettleburgh, June 13. As a police officer, I helped spend (US)$1-trillion to arrest some 37 million Americans for drug offences. The return on that investment is that, today, drugs are cheaper, stronger and much easier to find than in 1971. Mr. Chettleburgh's idea of selling all drugs in a legal, regulated and taxed market was spot on. Here in the U.S., our government believes one million teens are in the business of selling drugs, a job which gets them shot, killed or sucked into a life of crime. It is simply immoral to endorse a policy that gives teens a job option which gets them killed. Howard J. Wooldridge, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Washington, D.C. [end]
As a retired police officer, i agree with Alan Young's appeal that baby boomers in suits need to step up and call for cannabis to be a legal, regulated and taxed product. I smoked for seven years, quitting as I entered the police academy. I now work full-time representing LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, www.leap.cc ) in the United States Congress. Our mostly retired membership is working 24/7 to end the prohibition of cannabis and the drug war in general. Howard J. Wooldridge Washington, DC [end]
As a retired police detective from Bath Township, Michigan (near Lansing), I read with interest your idea to increase tourist dollars by legalizing/regulating and taxing marijuana (a la Amsterdam-type coffeehaus). Thank you for your courage to propose such a sensible step. May I add another, perhaps more important aspect of ending marijuana prohibition? During my 18 years of police service I was dispatched to zero calls generated by the USE of marijuana. Its use is NOT a societal problem. I have always urged my fellow citizens to not use any mind-altering, intoxicating and addictive drug, which includes marijuana. However, having my profession still chasing the Willie Nelsons of Michigan does REDUCE public safety. Offr. Howard J. Wooldridge (ret.) education specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, DC [end]
Re: "Still losing war on drugs," by Lee Franke, Monday Letters. As a police officer, I helped spend over a trillion tax dollars in the past 3 1/2 decades to arrest some 38 million Americans. What has been the return on that investment? Drugs are cheaper, stronger and much easier for our kids to buy. Lee Franke's letter was spot on. Will we ever be as wise as our grandparents and end our new prohibition? Howard J. Wooldridge, Dallas [end]
The May 27 letter to the editor was spot on ("Pawlenty let us down with medical marijuana stance.") During my 18 years of police service, I had plenty to do arresting drunken drivers and as a detective, arresting child predators. My profession should not be wasting our time chasing sick people who need marijuana as a medicine. Gov. Tim Pawlenty should have talked to street cops like me before invoking my profession's name to justify his position. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired), Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Washington, D.C. [end]
Regarding the letter, "Drugs ruined what was once a nice little neighborhood," (AC-T, May 19): During my 18 years of police service, illegal drugs became cheaper, stronger and even easier to buy. My profession has already spent a trillion tax dollars to achieve that result. The letter writer bemoans (and rightfully so) the drug dealing in her neighborhood. Nothing will change until we end the New Prohibition and have all drugs sold from a state-regulated store. Howard J. Wooldridge, Frederick, Md. Woolridge is a retired police officer and an Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) [end]
During my 18 years of police service, I saw my profession lose focus on the drunk and reckless driver and spend ever more time on trying to find a baggie of marijuana under someone's front seat.-- Sam Bennett's May 15 column was correct that it is very dangerous to be on the roads of Frederick and Maryland. One big reason is my profession spends so much time on the non-public safety threat of simple possession of marijuana. As an officer, I focused on red lights, stop sign and reckless violations during day shift and reckless and drunk drivers on night shift. I urge my colleagues to do the same and save lives. Frederick [end]
As a retired police officer with 18 years of experience, I can assure you that my profession will have no problem enforcing a medical marijuana law in Minnesota. When the patient has a state-issued card, certifying that person as a medical marijuana patient, the officer who comes in contact with that patient and marijuana will simply not arrest, nor seize the marijuana. This is the same concept that many states with concealed weapon permit use; for example, if the possessor of the pistol has a permit, we let them go. The possessor does not have a permit, we arrest them and seize the weapon. This is not rocket science. The majority of officers do not want to chase sick people. Howard J. Wooldridge, Frederick, Md. Wooldridge is a retired officer and the education specialist for LEAP, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. [end]
Editor: As a retired police officer I was dismayed, but not surprised, that my colleague RCMP Constable Richards counsels patience to 'win' the war on drugs. He and I know that every dealer busted and every grow-ops busted is quickly replaced. This has been going on in the States for over 35 years. We have spent a trillion dollars and arrested 36 million people (like arresting the entire country of Canada) and still drugs are cheaper, stronger and easy for our kids to buy. Patience? Stop giving the citizens false hope, Cst. Richards. OFFICER HOWARD J. WOOLDRIDGE (retired) Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Washington, DC [end]
Editor, The News: With all due respect to my colleague Saginaw County Sheriff Charles Brown, we both know the use of alcohol causes the most demand for police services in Michigan. We both know it is the drug trade that causes nearly all the violence associated with illegal drugs. We both know this prohibition causes 75 percent of felony crime, and it funds terrorism. I challenge him to state the positive benefits and explain how the "New Prohibition" is reducing crime, death, disease and drug use. Howard J. Wooldridge Bath Township [end]
The War on Drugs. How is that working for us in America? Is it reducing crime? Is it reducing our rates of death and disease? Is it effective in keeping drugs and drug dealers away from our children? These are important questions because our current prohibition strategy will cost us, the taxpayers, some $70 billion this year. As a police officer, I fought on the side of the "good guys" for 18 years in the War on Drugs, giving me frontline, actual experience in the trenches. After much time, consternation and out-and-out frustration with not achieving a single, policy directed long-term goal, I came to the conclusion that we must be doing something wrong. [continues 434 words]
TO THE EDITOR: As a retired police officer who worked the trenches of the drug war during the '70s, '80s and '90s I was saddened that Sen. Elizabeth Dole has no clue about how fruitless police efforts are regarding drug seizures. After arresting 35 million Americans, filling warehouse after warehouse with illegal drugs, spending a trillion tax dollars and building 2 million prison beds in the past 36 years, drugs are cheaper, stronger and readily available to teens. We know that every drug dealer ever arrested or killed is quickly replaced. We know the cartels build into their business model a loss of about 20 percent from manufacture to retail sales, thus all dope "busted" is meaningless. It is prohibition, Sen. Dole. Will we ever be as wise as our grandparents and end our new prohibition? Officer Howard J. Wooldridge, Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition [end]
To the Editor, During my 18 years as a police officer, I saw another form of corruption develop which Mr. Fraser's excellent article did not address. (WAR ON DRUGS IS HARMFUL TO POLICE FORCE: February 26) Officers will routinely lie in police reports and in court, when they conduct an illegal search and find drugs. Too many officers develop a 'Holy War' attitude and believing God is on their side, commit perjury in order to win drug cases. And justice suffers and will continue to suffer as long as we continue the policy of drug prohibition. OFFICER HOWARD J. WOOLDRIDGE (retired) Education Specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, DC [end]
Re the Feb. 18 story U.S. base with vital role in drug war facing closure: As a retired police officer, I was surprised at the story's sky-is-falling tone about the impending loss of the airbase in Manta, Ecuador. The cartels smuggle in tons of cocaine and heroin. They have built into their business model the loss of a certain percentage of their product because of the planes at Manta. Therefore, every ton seized is meaningless. The price of cocaine and heroin has been dropping during the past 30 years, indicating an oversupply. Prohibition guarantees that Miami will always have an ample supply of drugs. As the sale of drugs funnels billions to terrorists, will we ever be as wise as our grandparents and end the new prohibition? Howard J. Wooldridge, education specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [end]
Editor: As a retired police officer and student of history, your appeal for citizens to call the RCMP when they suspect drug activity is the wrong approach. You are giving the citizens the false hope that if just enough calls are made, Merritt will become safe from the violence of the illegal drug trade. Hope is not a strategy, nor should it be policy. History teaches us that one can pass all the laws one cares to but no one can repeal the laws of supply and demand. Every RCMP and constable knows that each and every drug dealer or grow-ops taken down creates a job opportunity which is quickly filled. As the United States learned in 1933, having the government regulate, control and manage dangerous drugs eliminates the black market and the violence. False hope is nearly the same is lying to your readers. Howard J. Wooldridge Washington, DC [end]
During my 18 years of service as a police officer, I was dispatched to zero calls for service generated by the use of marijuana. The majority of officers will do a 30-year police career and never go to one. Adult use is not a societal problem. Associate Judge Frieling and Lafayette Mayor Pro Tem Strungis must be congratulated for their courage to speak out against the increase in penalties. If it passes, watch for more marijuana busts and fewer arrests for DUI, as the officers will concentrate on the wrong "criminals." We are a Thin Blue Line. Where do you want us to go? Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Louisville [end]
As a retired police officer, I applaud and agree with the arguments made in The Gazette's editorial on the failure of drug prohibition. As one who is educating Congress on this disastrous policy, I know how difficult it is for politicians to say the three hardest words in the language: I was wrong. >From Gov. Bill Ritter and former Gov. Bill Owens to nearly every politician in Colorado, no one wants to inform the citizens that the billions they have spent and continue to spend are completely wasted. Drugs are stronger, cheaper and very easy for our children to buy. What else does a parent need to know? [continues 74 words]
As a retired police officer from the Lansing area, I was saddened to see my profession spend so much time on such a minor case as the one involving Greg Francisco. As drunken drivers kill innocents and evil men troll the Internet trying to entice young teens to meet them, our profession spends entirely too much time trying to catch adults in simple possession of marijuana. Marijuana prohibition does reduce public safety. Howard J. Wooldridge [end]
Re 'Arrests break up cocaine ring, DEA says' (news, Dec. 27): As a police officer who fought in the trenches of the drug war in the '70s, '80s and '90s, I was pleased that my colleague, DEA agent Randy Benavente, did not make the usual statement that this bust would put a dent in local supplies of cocaine. That was refreshing. I regret that dedicated federal cops like Benavente continue to waste precious time chasing cocaine instead of tracking down people who fly airplanes into buildings. If one day you have a drug problem, see a doctor. Will we ever be as wise as our grandparents and end the New Prohibition? Howard J. Wooldridge Virginia Beach [end]
Re: "Get crime off street? They see one way," Dec. 26: As a retired police detective, perhaps I can help Steve Carmichael in reducing crime in Camden by 50 percent overnight. His idea of a one-way street may be of some slight benefit in reducing crime and violence, but it is just a slight nibble at the edges. The cancer, the up-stream problem, is the policy of drug prohibition. End it and no more drugs will be sold on the sidewalks. Customers would park their car and walk into a state-regulated store, just like Pennsylvania has for the two deadliest drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Ending prohibition is not a solution for the drug problem. It is a time-tested solution to the crime associated with prohibition. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington [end]
During my 18 years of police service near Lansing, Mich., I went to zero calls for service generated by the use of marijuana. As I focused on the deadly threat of DUI drivers, too many of my colleagues like Tom Gorman (editorial, Oct. 10) spent their shift trying to find a baggie of marijuana. Please end marijuana prohibition and allow my colleagues to focus on DUI, child molesters and other public-safety threats. Howard J. Wooldridge Louisville [end]
To the Editor, As the debate takes place on October 17th, keep this in mind. As an organization of hundreds of law enforcement professionals, we support the Nevada effort to have the governement, not criminals, regulate marijuana. Marijuana prohibition reduces public safety. Road officers in Nevada will spend about as much time searching for a baggie of pot, as they do searching and arresting DUIs. Detectives/narcs who bust those who sell adults an ounce of pot are not at that moment searching for child molestors, rapists and those breaking into our homes. [continues 60 words]
As a retired police officer with 18 years experience, I am surprised that in 2006 you still say that "crime is driven by drugs" ("Budget cuts: What happened to drug 'war?' " Oct. 5 editorial). It is the prohibition of drugs which causes 75 percent of felony crime - not the use. If we were as wise as our grandparents and ended the new prohibition, we would experience a tremendous drop in felony crime. Also, a serious drop in DUI deaths would result because then officers could focus on drunk drivers instead of Willie Nelson. As Thomas Paine wrote in The American Crisis in 1776: "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." Howard J. Wooldridge Member Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Frederick, Md. [end]
As a police officer, I arrested about 400 drivers for DUI of alcohol and 2 for DUID (both intoxicated on prescription pain killers). In 18 years of police service, I went to zero calls for service generated by the use of marijuana. Pot, like any mind-altering drug, is a poor choice, and I urge everyone to be as drug-free as possible. However, chasing pot users is a horrible waste of good police time. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Member, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [end]
As a retired Michigan police officer, your call for a harder fight in the war on drugs made me chuckle. After 35 years and a trillion dollars spent, 100,000 dead Americans and 2 million in prison, drugs are cheaper, stronger and readily available to kids. The policy of drug prohibition has been and will always be an abject failure. There is too much money to be made. Legalize, regulate and tax the 10 illegal drugs. If you have a drug problem one day, see a doctor. Howard J. Wooldridge Frederick, Md. [end]
As a police officer, I worked the trenches of the war on drugs for 18 years. Mr. Melloan's comments were right on. I would add that as we chase pot smokers, etc., we have less time to arrest DUIs, pedophiles and people who fly airplanes into buildings. As a detective, 75% of my case load was generated by drug prohibition. Drug gangs now plague medium and even small towns. What part of this policy is benefiting America? None of it. Howard J. Wooldridge Education Specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) Washington [end]
Editor: Re: Whatever happened to the pot debate? Thomas Barker, Barking at the Big Dog, Houston Today, Jan. 25 - Yet another marijuana grow-op busted near Hungry Hill. I heartily agree with your article on the monumental waste of police time chasing the Willie Nelsons of the world and their suppliers. In Alaska simple possession of up to four ounces in the privacy of one's little castle has been legal for over two years. There has been a thundering silence of problems associated with that legalization. As a retired police officer, I applaud Alaska's law. Marijuana prohibition is a horrible waste of good police time. In my 18 years of police experience I was dispatched to zero calls for service generated by the use of marijuana. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc) Washington, D.C. [end]
In my 18 years of police experience, I never went to one call generated by the use of marijuana. Why? Alcohol releases reckless, aggressive or violent feelings by its use. Marijuana use generates the opposite effects in the vast majority of people. Every major study by the U.S. government has shown it not to be a gateway drug. Indeed, President Nixon's Shaffer Commission recommended it be legal, regulated and sold to adults. Mr. Rice is a believer in the prohibition approach which has made pot much easier for kids to buy than alcohol. While he was wasting time on pot, I was arresting hundreds of drunk drivers, saving the lives of innocent citizens. I challenge him to name one substantive advantage of prohibition. Howard J. Wooldridge Retired Officer, Education Specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Frederick, Md. [end]
As a retired police officer, I found Mr. Stoker's defense of drug prohibition so sad. He refuses to recognize that prohibition causes 75 percent of felony crime decade after decade. Drug use is a consensual act, whether it's whiskey or pot. Murder, rape, etc is a non-consensual act and will always remain illegal. As legal drugs kill at a 55:1 ratio over illegal drugs, he wants my profession to continue chasing pot smokers instead of focusing on drunk drivers who killed 17,000 innocent Americans last year. [continues 56 words]
As a police detective in Michigan, I was fully aware of the problems that the Prince George's County police face ["Bullets Keep Flying," editorial, Dec. 7]. I learned that drug laws generated about 75 percent of my caseload and that nonviolent felonies often were not investigated because of lack of time. Switzerland has cut its felony crime in half by having the state regulate and sell heroin to addicts in a government program. What part of drug prohibition is making Prince George's County a safer place to live? Will we ever be as wise as our grandparents and end drug prohibition? Howard J. Wooldridge Frederick The writer is a director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. [end]
Re: "Terrorism of the cartels," by Jill Sandoval, Saturday Letters. As a retired police officer, I share Ms. Sandoval's concern that illegal drugs fund terrorism. We in law enforcement are completely aware after 35 years of a drug war that we cannot even slow down drugs, let alone stop them. (Meth is an excellent example.) Legalizing and regulating these drugs would completely eliminate this source of funding for terrorists, like Osama bin Laden and North Korea. Howard J. Wooldridge, education specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Dallas [end]
After 35 years of drug war, a half trillion dollars spent and tens of thousands of Americans killed, you correctly describe a terrible world filled with the violence and death of drug prohibition. After 35 years of going backwards (drugs are cheaper and stronger than ever), how many decades of drug dealers saturating Durham with their destruction are you proposing the people endure and suffer and pay for? Editor's note: The writer is an education specialist in the organization Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Washington, D.C. Frederick, Md. [end]
