Posted June 27th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jun 2010
Author: Howard Wooldridge
Mr. Jim Bayne’s column Sunday ( “Mexico has a legitimate gripe when it comes to our drug habit” ) refused to mention the elephant in the room; namely, drug prohibition. As he exhorts us to only use legal drugs, he and the prohibition crowd force us to use alcohol, a much more dangerous drug than marijuana, to take the edge off the day at 6 p.m. He is flat wrong that marijuana is a gateway drug. Every government research in five countries has concluded it is not ( the last was our Institute of Medicine in 1999 ).
Mankind has been taking mind-altering, intoxicating, addictive drugs for thousands of years. Drug prohibition – a self-inflicted wound – continues to be the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crow. As a retired police officer, I am baffled why this country continues to cling to the notion that drug prohibition is worth keeping.
Howard Wooldridge
Adamstown, Md.
Posted June 26th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Pubdate: Thu, 24 Jun 2010
Author: Howard Wooldridge
MARIJUANA ENFORCEMENT WASTES POLICE RESOURCES
Speaking as a retired police detective with more than 18 years of experience in the trenches enforcing marijuana prohibition, I say Norm Jackson’s commentary ( “Legalizing marijuana makes no sense,” June 17 ) missed many key points on the issue of prohibition. I responded to about 1300 calls generated by the use of alcohol, including homicide, suicide, and rape. Marijuana, which does not provoke violence, produced zero calls in those 18 years. Anyone who switches from alcohol to marijuana will make for a safer world.
Public safety is dramatically reduced by every hour we chase a non-problem-causing cannabis smoker, which means we miss such deadly DUIs as the driver who killed Jackson’s sister. Chasing pot smokers and their suppliers is a horrific waste of our time. The police cannot stop bad choices; only family and friends can.
Howard Wooldridge, CitizensOpposingProhibition.org
Washington, D.C.
Posted June 21st, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Originally published June 21, 2010
When you lie down with dogs, often you will get up with fleas. Yet another in my profession (Megan Mattingly) has been tainted by the enforcement of drug prohibition. Add her to the many, many thousands who have been corrupted or killed, or who have committed suicide after being corrupted. And for what?
We in law enforcement know that every drug dealer arrested is replaced within days. The nine suspects released (or even if they had gone to prison) are meaningless.
A trillion tax dollars spent and 40 years of serious effort have resulted in a Maryland free of drugs? No. Quite the contrary. Drugs are cheaper, stronger and readily available to our teens.
Please tell this reader again why you support this Bridge to Nowhere policy.
HOWARD WOOLDRIDGE
retired detective/officer
Buckeystown
Posted June 20th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
COPs on the Hill
Stories from the week of June 11, 2010
Boy Scout Ready – Merit Badge: At Grover Norquists brunch this week I was approached by a member of the Republican National Committee that I met a year ago. We always chat in Spanish = fun for both of us. He pressed something in my hand saying it was something ‘muy importante’ to display.
I read the button. FIRE PELOSI.* I thanked him and put it on. Upon leaving the meeting I removed the button. After reflection, I decided not to keep the button. Love or hate Speaker Pelosi, she is with me on the issue of drug prohibition.
Seen you before?: After lobbying hard all morning, 6 construction-business owners from Tulsa, Oklahoma sat near me at lunch. One asked where I was from. I replied Connecticut.* After we had a good laugh, we had a good conversation on my issue. Four of the six agreed with my position. Just before leaving, one asked, “Have I you seen you on TV?” “Could be, I replied. I was on national TV a couple of times, as I rode my horse across North America. “
Rightly or wrongly, being on TV makes one more credible. It was just a fun 20 minutes.
Sideways step: About a month ago Aaron Houston, the chief lobbyist for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), became the Exec. Director of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy. Aaron had been THE man to repeal federal prohibition of marijuana. His leaving MPP will probably mean that using the muscle of MPP to introduce legislation will possibly be delayed. The good news is that Aaron stays in DC and will harness the nationwide network of SSDP chapters to move issues around the country and DC. I and reform will miss his advice, experience & access to senior staff and Members.
*Pelosi = Hauptpolitkerin im US House of Representatives. Die Republicaners hassen sie.
* Connecticut = Staat im Nordost USA…es gibt sehr wenig Pferde und Cowboys in diesem Staat
COP stats since August 2009:
383 presentations to Congressional Staffers
7 presentations to VIPs (elected officials)
33 published Letters to the Editor (that we know of)
Numerous conferences, hearings & briefings attended. C-Span broadcast my question at a Senate briefing
11 radio shows
6 TV interviews (Colombian TV, Fox and Univision)
Consider being a member of COPs at $30.00 or more per year. It is tax-deductible. Add your voice to those who agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow. Go to: www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or check.
Howard
Detective/Officer Howard Wooldridge (retired)
Drug Policy Specialist, COP – www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org
Washington, DC
817-975-1110 Cell
howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org
Citizens Opposing Prohibition – Become a Member
PO Box 772
Buckeystown, MD 21717-0772
Modern Prohibition/The War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional & immoral domestic policy since slavery & Jim Crow.
Posted June 19th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jun 2010
Author: Howard Wooldridge
Perspectives on Drug Prohibition
As a retired police detective from the USA, I thank you for publishing Johann Hari’s analysis of drug prohibition ( 11 June ).
During my 18 years in the trenches of this destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy, I witnessed part of the one trillion dollars spent so far to make my country “drug-free”. As my colleagues spent their shifts in pursuit of a baggie of cannabis, drunk drivers were freer to slaughter tens of thousands of innocents. When detectives are flying around in helicopters looking for green plants, the paedophiles in the chat room have an easier time of making contact with our 13-year-olds.
Privately many police officers will admit that drug prohibition increases crime and reduces public safety. Scotland Yard’s Detective Chief Superintendent Eddie Ellison ( RIP ) was among the first UK “top cops” to speak plainly in public. It is past time for them to follow his courageous lead.
Howard Wooldridge
Washington DC
