MISGUIDED POT LAW WOULD WASTE POLICE OFFICERS' TIME

Dear Editor,

As a retired New Jersey state trooper with 12 years as an undercover
drug narc, I concur with letter-writer Ken Marsh that, on many topics
related to public drug policy, police officers have strong credibility.

So with regard to discussion of the proposed legislation in Canada to
arrest anyone with even a hint of marijuana metabolites in their
system, I submit this would be a ridiculous overkill and a tremendous
waste of valuable police resources.

It is reasonable and perhaps even urgent that we, as police, support
efforts to reduce the number of drivers who are operating their
vehicles while demonstrably and measurably impaired by any drugs.

But the current proposal would lump in all drivers who have used
marijuana for up to several weeks prior, regardless of whether their
driving can be demonstrated to be measurably impaired.

The net loss of police man hours to enforcing this misguided proposal
would certainly increase potential for more crimes against persons
and property.

Such crimes would be more likely to proceed unimpeded by a police
force that is depleted when one or more officers is wasting time
processing an unimpaired driver whose only use of marijuana was days
or even weeks prior to their traffic stop.

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, of which I am executive
director, strongly supports policies which increase public safety.
And we sternly denounce proposals which are clearly misguided.

Your readers deserve this expert perspective backed by the many
police and criminal justice professionals who make up our membership.

Jack A. Cole, Medford,

Massachussets, USA