MARIJUANA A SAFER DRUG THAN ALCOHOL

With all due respect to my colleague Chief Gary Yabuta (The Maui
News, Jan. 22),we both know from our time in the trenches that
marijuana is a much, much safer drug than alcohol. Of course we want
young people not to use an intoxicant.But let's be real, they
will.Any youth who chooses marijuana instead of alcohol makes a safer
choice for themselves, their family and community.

During my 18 years as a cop, I went to zero calls generated by the
use of marijuana. Alcohol, on the other hand, generated about 1,300 -
including murder, rape, child abuse and felony assault.

To reduce crime and misery on Maui, Chief Yabuta's time would be
better spent urging teens and adults to reduce their drinking or not
drink at all.

Detective Howard Wooldridge Retired

Washington, D.C.