Pubdate: Fri, 30 Jan 2009
Source: Times, The (Trenton, NJ)
Copyright: 2009 The Times
Contact:  http://www.nj.com/times/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/458
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n092/a01.html
Author: Howard Wooldridge

POT ARRESTS PRE-EMPT POLICE TIME FOR MORE SERIOUS CRIME

As a retired police officer, I can add only one observation to the 
excellent observations in the letter "Legalize marijuana, de-fang the 
drug gangs" (Jan. 25), on why marijuana should be legal, regulated 
and taxed -- namely, that public safety would be improved.

We in the police profession cur rently spend millions of patrol hours 
looking for a baggie under a citizen's front seat. Meanwhile, the 
deadly DUIs [driving under the influence] are caught less often as we 
make these easy nickel-and-dime arrests for pos session.

Howard Wooldridge, Washington, D.C. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake