Pubdate: Wed, 11 Nov 2009
Source: Aspen Times Weekly (CO)
Copyright: 2009 Aspen Times
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/zKpMPhQ7
Website: http://www.aspentimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3784
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n1007/a06.html
Author: Howard Wooldridge

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA MAKES COMMUNITIES SAFER

Dear Editor: Roger Marolt left out of his op-ed on marijuana the
single, most important reason to legalize, regulate and tax
marijuana; namely to improve public safety. During my 18 years of
police service I saw first-hand the wasted police time spent looking
for a baggie in some kid's car. This after the officer had determined
the kid was not high. The officer thus occupied, the deadly DUI is
much more able to slaughter an innocent motorist.

As detectives fly around in helicopters looking for a pot garden, they
are not arresting the child molesters and rapists who roam freely back
on the ground. Previously thousands died in Colombia for our drug war
and now the Mexicans are suffering thousands of dead. Many in the name
of marijuana prohibition.

Ending this modern prohibition of cannabis is a no-brainer from a
police perspective.

Howard Wooldridge

Golden
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