LIFTING BAN FREES UP POLICE

While columnist Danette Mitchell asked many good questions on whether
California should end marijuana prohibition ("Idea worth more study,"
May 23), she left out the most important aspect: public safety.

During my 18 years of police service, marijuana use sent me to zero,
nada, zip calls for service. Despite that, my colleagues spend
literally millions of hours looking for and arresting/ticketing
persons who happened to possess a baggie of the green stuff.

As California ponders whether to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana,
keep in mind that its prohibition reduces public safety. The Thin Blue
Line is dangerously stretched and taking marijuana off our plate would
free up time to arrest more deadly drunken drivers and child molesters.

Howard Wooldridge

Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

Washington, D.C.