Posted April 20th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Left out of Matt Cameron’s excellent, balanced report on marijuana was the issue of public safety. As a police officer for 18 years, I saw the horrific waste of good police time spent chasing the non-violent, non-problem causing marijuana smoker ( think Willie Nelson and Michael Phelps ).
As officers tear apart hundreds of thousands of cars looking for a baggie, the deadly DUI kills a Virginian every day. As our detectives fly around in helicopters looking for green plants, they miss rapists who stalk the sidewalks and jogging paths. No question, the prohibition of marijuana reduces public safety.
Howard Wooldridge
Drug Policy Specialist
Posted April 6th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Dear Editor,
Left out of Matt Cameron’s excellent, balanced report on marijuana was the issue of public safety. As a police officer for 18 years, I saw the horrific waste of good police time spent chasing the non-violent, non-problem causing marijuana smoker ( think Willie Nelson and Michael Phelps ).
As officers tear apart hundreds of thousands of cars looking for a baggie, the deadly DUI kills a Virginian every day. As our detectives fly around in helicopters looking for green plants, they miss rapists who stalk the sidewalks and jogging paths. No question, the prohibition of marijuana reduces public safety.
Howard Wooldridge
Drug Policy Specialist
Posted March 30th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
PROHIBITION STILL FAILS
As a retired police detective and a student of history, I know there is only one sure method to rid the streets of Columbus of drug dealers; namely, to put all the dangerous, illegal drugs in a state-regulated store, perhaps with the same rules and controls as alcohol.
My profession has arrested millions of drug dealers in the past 40 years, and drugs remain readily available to our children. There is always someone who will take the chance of prison or death to make the ‘easy’ money.
Howard Wooldridge
Albany
Posted March 26th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
In regard to your March 17 editorial “Murder in Mexico”: As a police detective who worked the trenches of our failed modern Prohibition-like war on drugs, I experienced firsthand the fact that the strategy has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral domestic policy since slavery and Jim Crow. Americans are loathe to admit this policy has been a mistake, even after 40 years of failure and a trillion tax dollars spent. However, Rep. Ron Paul favors repealing drug prohibition and he was a candidate for president ( and raised a ton of money ). He is now a force in Republican politics.
You state that drug use would rise with a legal, regulated market. Besides a business and finance expert, are you also a doctor, board-certified in addiction psychiatry? I have spoken to eight such doctors and they state that almost no one would start using heroin, crack or methamphetamines just because it became legal. Most Americans are not that stupid.
Howard Wooldridge
Drug Policy Specialist
Citizens Opposing Prohibition
Washington
Posted March 16th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Dear Editor,
Mr. Hager and Stutman both left out the most vital reason to repeal marijuana prohibition; namely it reduces public safety.
Every hour my colleagues spend chasing a Michael Phelps and his supplier mean less time for the deadly reckless and DUI.
As detectives fly around in helicopters looking for green weeds, they are not catching child molesters and rapists.
Public safety suffers as we chase the adult marijuana smoker into their home.
The Hager/Stutman dog and pony show has been going on for years to help those gentlemen earn a living, not really inform the public.
Detective/Officer Howard Wooldridge ( retired )
