Dear Editor, As a Michigan police detective, I learned that every drug dealer arrested or shot was replaced within days. My colleague, Bob Cooke, I am sure has had the exact same experience.Thus, his lament on the cuts in federal money to fund more arrests is ill-advised. Every meth lab busted is quickly replaced either in California or Mexico.Though fed money helps arrest drug dealers, it is the taxpayers of California who must then foot the bill to keep them in prison for decades, costing millions. [continues 57 words]
Dear Editor, As a retired police officer, the only thought I can add to Mr. Brown's excellent article "America needs to rethink ineffective marijuana prohibition (Jan. 25)," is how public safety would be dramatically improved. I have crunched the numbers and street officers spend about 10 million hours looking for and arresting about 750,000 each year for simple possession. My profession also spends about 10 million hours seeking and arresting 1.4 million DUIs. Imagine if we doubled our hours for DUI enforcement by spending zero time trying to prevent adults smoking pot in their own homes. Instead of having 17,000 citizens slaughtered by drunk drivers, we could nearly cut that in half. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [end]
Re: "Ban cigarettes or legalize drugs (Letters, Jan. 27). As a retired police officer, I believe Georges Plourde's assessment is correct. The prohibition of drugs does encourage the growth and development of gangs with their violence and death. It is indeed puzzling why Ottawa is a fan of this policy. Washington's reason is simple. They are unable to say the three hardest words in English: We were wrong. Howard J. Wooldridge Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Frederick, Md. [end]
Re: Drug czar's claims rejected, Jan. 21. As a retired Michigan police officer, I apologize for my drug czar, John Walters, and our country. Walters is desperately trying to scare citizens in North America to continue and even expand the war on drugs. He and others have, and will continue, to lie to justify a policy which is the most dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Frederick, MD [end]
Re: Why Marijuana Shouldn't Be Legal, letter to the editor, Jan. 16. Letter-writer Roger Freihoff wants to "push thegovernment to protect Canadians" and he calls for continued marijuana prohibition because he "wasted half a decade of [his] youth 'self-medicating' with marijuana." No government has the resources to prevent personal, self-destructive behaviour done in the privacy of one's home. As a conservative and a former police officer, I would like to see a cannabis policy based on personal responsibility. That would allow those in my former profession to focus on real public safety threats, like drunk drivers and child predators. Howard J. Wooldridge, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (www.leap.cc),Washington, D.C. [end]
AS a police officer in the US who has worked the trenches of the drug war, I can attest to the absolute futility of making a dent in drug supply or availability. Today, I know that the UK's sworn enemy Al qaeda makes two billion pounds per year, which they use to fund operations such as 7/7. Too many thousands of police officers in the UK are not investigating leads on terrorists, rather they are out breaking into a house with a cannabis growing operation. [continues 57 words]
As a retired police detective and student of history, I heartily agree with Cynthia Tucker's assessment of the war on drugs ("When will we end the failed drug war?" Opinion * Commentary, Dec. 31). No one can state one positive outcome after the expenditure of, by my group's estimate, more than $1 trillion in tax money and the arrests of 38 million Americans, mostly citizens of color, in the drug war over the last 30-plus years. We have not and never will make a dent in the supply, purity or price of illegal drugs. Perhaps one day we will become as wise as our grandparents and end our modern-day drug prohibition. Howard J. Wooldridge Frederick The writer is a retired police officer and an education specialist for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. [end]
As a retired police detective, I heartily agree with the views and recommendations of Ronald Fraser ("Florida's flawed prison system needs reform," Viewpoint, Dec. 31). Having my profession pursue and arrest non-violent drug users who choose marijuana instead of whiskey is fence post stupid. Citizens like Rush Limbaugh or Jeb Bush's daughter need our compassion and understanding of their addictions. Putting them in prison simply hurts their chances at recovering from their addictions, while it slams the taxpayers with the $27,000 per year to put them in prison instead of rehab. Howard J. Wooldridge Education Specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition www.leap.cc Washington, D.C. [end]
What Cop Learned From Years on Front Line (Re: Dec. 12 guest column, "Prison not part of solution to drug, alcohol addiction," by Hal Don House. Dec. 16 rebuttal, "Arguments against jailing drug users have become totally wasted," by James A. Farren.) As a retired police officer and detective who worked in the trenches of the drug war for 18 years, I heartily agree with House's remarks. I know my profession has failed to make a difference in drug price, purity and availability. Indeed, these crucial factors are worse than they were 36 years and a trillion U.S. tax dollars ago. Illegal drugs are more plentiful, cheaper, stronger and easier for our kids to buy. [continues 322 words]
As a retired Michigan police officer, I found the comments of my colleague, Macomb County Sheriff Mark Hackel, regarding policing medical marijuana, puzzling. If a person has a permit for marijuana, the officer simply takes no action. No permit would mean arresting the person for possession. The same principle applies for those found in possession of a concealed weapon. This is not complicated. I hope Michigan votes in favor of allowing sick people to use God's medicine. Our profession has more important things to do. Howard J. Wooldridge Education Specialist, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Washington, D.C. [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]
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 retired police detective, I am not qualified to address if cannabis smoking causes lung cancer. However, doctors at the University of California in Los Angeles working under a federal grant, examined people who have smoked every day for 30 and 40 years. They discovered that these massive smokers of cannabis have the same lung cancer rates as non-smokers. The analysis was that cannabis also contains something which acts to protect the lungs from lung cancer. Nice try, Aled Jones, to demonise cannabis, but that dog won't hunt. Cannabis is a bad choice; it is a mind-altering and addictive drug, but its proven drawbacks are a puppy compared with the use of alcohol. [continues 9 words]
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]
Sir, As an American and retired police officer, I apologise for the incredible distortions by Joseph Califano in his article "Drug legalisation is playing Russian roulette" (August 16). He must know that the Swiss abandoned the Needle Park project in Zurich in 1994. From that failure arose the "treatment-on-demand" programme, which has dramatically reduced crime, death, disease and drug use. It has been copied in six countries because of its success. Mr Califano is not board-certified in addiction psychiatry. Those who are have stated that drug use would change little in a legal, regulated market. They have stated that the glamour factor of the forbidden fruit created by prohibition will attract more kids to try the drugs than are deterred by its being illegal. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports for the US: "Drugs are readily available to American youth." [continues 89 words]
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]
As a retired police officer, I fully support Rebecca Ogle's call in her Feb. 20 op-ed "Sensibility on cannabis" to reduce penalties for simple possession of marijuana on the campus. During my 18 years of service, I was dispatched to zero calls for service generated by the use of marijuana. What else does one need to know? Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (ret.) Education specialist Law Enforcement Against Prohibition [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]
