Posted June 2nd, 2010 by hiwayhowie
http://wweek.com/editorial/3629/14071/#comments_add
*BY PETER GRIFFIN |*
It’s not every day an ex-cop rides into town encouraging the legalization of
pot.
And that, of course, makes Howard Wooldridge just the kind of atypical
advocate whom supporters of marijuana’s legalization like to present to
reporters. We confess, his résumé made us curious.
Here’s his background: Wooldridge served 18 years on the police force in
Bath Township, an 8,000-resident municipality in Michigan. He retired in
1994, frustrated by what he says was too much law enforcement devoted to
marijuana busts and too little to other substance-abuse problems like
drunken driving.
Famous for cross-county campaigns with his horse Misty, the 59-year-old
Wooldridge has spent the past 13 years in Washington, D.C., with a group of
like-minded current and former officials called Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition.
Wooldridge visited Oregon as state legalization supporters are gathering
signatures to put a measure on the November ballot that would legalize and
tax marijuana. The Oregon measure is Initiative 73.
*WW: Do you think most police officers would agree with you that legalizing
pot is a good idea? *
Howard Wooldridge: In my travels, about 60 percent to 65 percent would say
legalize and tax marijuana. They have the same experience as me: 20 years,
30 years, and never being to a call generated by marijuana. It’s like, ‘This
is stupid. We’ve got better things to do.” But if you get them in front of a
camera, a reporter, they’ll say marijuana is a dangerous drug and we don’t
want to condone it and make people think it’s OK, so we need to keep this
thing illegal.
*How can you never have had a marijuana-related call in your time as a cop?
*
We’re dispatched to a call…there’s a family fight, a disturbance, a
whatever. Cannabis consumption generated zero [of those calls]. People
drinking? 1,300. The prohibition of cannabis caused one murder in my
township, and one armed robbery and shooting. The bad guys were coming in to
rob the marijuana growers, and the gunfight blah blah blah. But that’s due
to prohibition.
*So why don’t more cops speak up? *
Ask cops, “Do you think you have a conflict of interest?” If they say no,
challenge it. We depend on prohibition for a big, fat overtime check,
special grants from Salem and Washington, D.C., to go after these drug
dealers. Task forces, marijuana in the fall, helicopters flying around. Just
your knock-and-talk drug busts down here. These are all monies we get to
enforce prohibition. Absolutely, we have a financial interest to continuing
this thing.
*Do you use marijuana?*
I have not smoked in 32 years. I smoked for about seven years, starting
around my 19th birthday. I stopped just before going into the police academy
because I figured it was time to grow up. But I learned from being around
hundreds of people who were using cannabis like I was, that the harm
associated with the drug is down to almost nothing, for both the user and
the people around them. So it’s just not worth police time. We’ve got better
things to do.
*If you stopped because it was time to grow up, why do you favor legalizing
it for others?*
The war on drugs has failed. After 40 years, a trillion dollars [and] the
arrest of 40 million people on drug charges, drugs are cheaper, stronger and
readily available. The idea that if it just saves one life, that will make
it worth it? No. Because as we’re trying to save one person, we’re missing
the drunken drivers, the child molesters, people flying airplanes into
buildings…we’re causing hundreds of thousands of Americans to be crime
victims.
*Which state is most likely to legalize marijuana, and when?*
It’s going to be California, and it’s going to be this year. The polls are
still tracking in the 56th percentile.
*What do you think the prospects are in Oregon?*
If it’s on the ballot this year, you’ve also got an excellent chance of
making it legal, regulated and taxed in Oregon, because the people here have
had a long experience with medical cannabis, and realized the sun still
comes up every morning. And for all the yelling and screaming in law
enforcement, where are all the massive problems, death and destruction
caused by the medical marijuana program?
*FACT: Supporters of Initiative 28, which would allow medical marijuana
patients to buy marijuana legally for the first time from dispensaries in
Oregon, turned in more than 110,000 signatures last week. Oregon law
requires 82,769 of these signatures to be valid in order for the initiative
to make the November ballot. *
Posted May 30th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Re “Fear into law” ( From the Edge, by Anthony Peyton Porter, May 13 ):
Mr. Porter’s column touched some issues, but not public safety–the primary mission of law enforcement. There is no doubt in my mind that when my California colleagues stop chasing the green plant, public safety will improve. From my perspective as a retired police detective, road patrol will arrest more DUI and reckless drivers, and detectives will arrest more pedophiles and rapists.
Cannabis is a drug and no play toy. My college roommate flunked out because of it and went to Vietnam. However, during my 18 years of police service I did not go to one call generated by its use. Legalizing and regulating marijuana is a no-brainer.
Howard Wooldridge
Citizens Opposing Prohibition
Washington, D.C.
Posted May 26th, 2010 by hiwayhowie
How to gain votes?: Recently my wife gave notice* to her CPA firm (she wants a job without a long commute). Her colleagues have long seen the message on her rear end (car) MOMS SAY – LEGALIZE POT. Still she was a bit startled (accountants are known to be quiet people), when a senior partner came to her office and asked if the free samples would end. They both had a good laugh. NOTE: free samples to Congressional offices will continue. LOL
To me this is just another sign that the Tipping Point has been reached, or nearly. When CPAs make casual jokes about cannabis, it is a sign.
If you are not angry, you are not paying attention:
I attended two hearings this week. The Senate’s Dick Durbin (D- IL) determined in only two hours that the Rule of Law in Mexico is threatened by the 24,000 dead citizens and anarchy in the northern states.
The House Judiciary held a ultra sober two hour hearing on the problem of rape kits not being opened across the USA. See my summary below which I gave to columnist Kathleen Parker. The star actress from the TV show Law & Order – SUV was especially effective in pointing out how society places so little value on women. The Members made nice speeches about the problem but no action is expected. Recall NPR had an excellent report 18 months ago about the 400,000 unopened kits. And the lawmakers have snoozed.*
Snapshot* of testimony on Rape Kits not Being Tested
All witnesses agreed that the number of kits untested in unknown. Kits are left at hospitals (never picked up), evidence rooms and labs. Police departments are reluctant to find out how many they have, due to adverse* publicity. Detroit PD has about 15,000 untested. Los Angeles has about 12,000. New York City recently worked off a 17,000 kit backlog…the only bright spot in testimony.
- It costs about $900 to 1000 to process a kit.
- At 50% of police depts, forensic DNA evidence is NOT a priority.
- From the actress on Law & Order – SVU Mariska Hargitay—since the police don’t test, the victims (thousands of whom have written her) interpret not testing, as a sign that the police, society does not care about rape. IMHO the victims are correct. NOTE: while testifying, she cracked emotionally for about 10 seconds….very moving.
- It was a very depressing two hours.
*give notice = kündigen
*snooze = schlafen
*snapshot = klein Blick
*adverse = ungünstig
COP stats since August 2009:
348 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 May 23rd, 2010 by hiwayhowie
Re: “No end in sight in Mexico cartel war — Turf battle in Juarez may take years to play out, authorities say,” Monday news story.
During my 18 years as a police officer, I saw drugs become cheaper, stronger and readily available to our youth. My profession went from “protect and serve” to “search and arrest” those who chose marijuana instead of alcohol. Public safety took a back seat to making a drug arrest on all the Willie Nelsons of the world.
This sobering report on the agony of Mexico should wake up those citizens who cling to the idea that this modern prohibition will one day become effective. Prohibition has failed, again. Solution? Same as 1933 — repeal and then legalize, regulate, tax.
Howard Wooldridge, Dallas
Posted May 21st, 2010 by hiwayhowie
COPs on the Hill
Stories from the week of May 14, 2010
Still mostly silence from the Congress: On Thursday the House Judiciary Committee had Attorney General* Holder as their sole witness. Chairman Conyers’second item in his opening remarks was directed at the failed war on drugs (his words). However, though nearly every Member aked questions, no one brought up the issue in the macro during the 4 hour hearing.
Looking for ideas: At Grover’s brunch this week I listened to Congressman Neugebauer of Texas ask for ideas which the Republicans would turn into bills and force theDemocrats to vote against. The ideas must focus on limited government and increasing personal freedom. I wrote up my idea of repealing federal prohibition of cannabis. …No, I won’t hold my breath.
When I am not here…: I had been holding my breath since January that the House version of the Webb –National Criminal Justice Commission Act- would be introduced. Of course it was introduced a few days after I arrived in Oregon. HR 5143 mirrors the Senate S-714 word for word.
After only five years (smiley face here) the bill I wanted has been introduced. Despite new support from the Chiefs of Police, Fraternal Order of Police and the National Narcotics Officers— it may not get thru this year. Senator NO (Coburn-R Oklahoma) is the problem in the Senate. All of reform is working very hard to see that the president signs the bill before August recess. I will keep you posted.. Small step.
Spreading the word: To date five people bought the COPs t-shirt in Oregon. The most popular logo? “MOMS say legalize pot.” Go moms!!
*Attorney General = Bundes Staatsanwalt
COP stats since August 2009:
348 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.
