Pubdate: Mon, 25 Jun 2007 Source: Oregon Daily Emerald (U of Oregon, OR Edu) Copyright: 2007 Oregon Daily Emerald Contact: http://www.dailyemerald.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1518 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n702/a06.html Author: Howard Wooldridge MARIJUANA PROHIBITION REDUCES PUBLIC SAFETY As a retired police officer, I know something about the issue of marijuana prohibition. Mr. Petryni's article did a fine rehash of the pros and cons but he left out a huge area of consideration; namely the reduction in public safety caused by the prohibition. In my 18 years as a cop, I was sent to zero calls for service generated by the use of marijuana. My colleagues spend millions of hours chasing adult pot smokers which leaves a lot less time to arrest drunk drivers and child predators. No question from a police perspective, the prohibition of cannabis reduces public safety. Officer Howard J. Wooldridge (retired) - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake