Pubdate: Fri, 03 Oct 2008 Source: Ashland Daily Tidings (OR) Copyright: 2008 Ashland Daily Tidings Contact: http://www.dailytidings.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1165 Author: Howard J. Wooldridge Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n906/a05.html SAFETY REDUCED BY POLICE CHASING POT During my 18 years as a police officer in Michigan I saw how marijuana prohibition reduced public safety. As my colleagues spent their midnight shifts looking for a baggie of pot under some kid's seat, the deadly DUI sailed on by and killed more. As detectives flew around in planes looking for a pot garden, they were missing the child molesters near the playground. Note that during my 18 years of service I went to zero calls generated by the use of pot. Marijuana, like all mind-altering drugs, is a poor choice. Having the police chase adult users dramatically reduces public safety in Oregon. Howard J. Wooldridge Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (retired) Washington, D.C. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin