Pubdate: Fri, 07 Jun 2002
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Page: A20
Copyright: 2002, The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.globeandmail.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Howard J. Wooldridge, Retired Police Officer
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1048/a09.html?1173

SMOKE SCREEN

Fort Worth, Tex. -- Lynn Crosbie's recent comments on marijuana (Testing 
Positive With The Stoner Demographic -- June 5) reminded me of Reefer 
Madness, the 1930s U.S. government propaganda film. I especially liked her 
comment that users are, "by nature slow and methodical people."

I stopped using pot two weeks before starting the police academy. During my 
seven years of use I became fluent in German and French, received a BA and 
bench-pressed 130 per cent of my body weight. Slow and methodical types 
include hundreds of professional athletes, the current mayor of New York 
and the former president and vice-president of the United States.

I am neither for nor against marijuana. I do know that pot smoking causes 
law enforcement zero problems. The prohibition of pot causes police 
officers and others to die every day. And for what?

Howard J. Wooldridge

Retired Police Officer 
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MAP posted-by: Beth