SALINAS GETS VISIT FROM MARIJUANA-FRIENDLY 'COWBOY'

Retired Officer Makes Rounds in Promoting Proposition19

Howard "Cowboy" Wooldridge, 59, circled his horse, Misty, around the
intersection of North Main Street and Harden Parkway in Salinas,
bearing a sign and T-shirt that earned him hundreds of honks and
waves Monday morning. "Ask me why cops say legalize pot," the T-shirt
read. "Control & Tax Cannabis, Yes On 19" read the sign.

Wooldridge and Misty came to California from their home in Fort
Worth, Texas to support Proposition 19 on California's November
ballot. If passed, Prop. 19 would allow people over age 21 to legally
possess up to one ounce of marijuana for personal use. Individuals
could grow marijuana gardens of up to 25 square feet on private
property; cities and counties would decide whether to allow sales and
taxation of the drug within their boundaries.

Wooldridge speaks from his 18 years of experience as a police officer
in Michigan.

"The war on marijuana is nonsense," he said. "Every hour spent
chasing Willie Nelson is an hour spent not catching drunk drivers or
child molesters."

Wooldridge retired from active duty in 1994 and has been involved
with the movement against the prohibition of marijuana for 13 years.
He is one of five founding members of Law Enforcement Against
Prohibition, an organization of current and former law enforcement
officers that now has 14,000 members worldwide.

In 2005, Wooldridge rode Misty from Los Angeles to New York City for
his cause. Today, she rides in a trailer as they travel between
cities. This month, they have visited cities across the state,
including Sacramento, Stockton and Fresno. Next month, they will stop
in San Diego and Los Angeles.

Though Wooldridge is the spokesperson for the mission, Misty is the
star. People are drawn to the horse and she opens the door for
discussion, he said.

But not everyone was a fan of Wooldridge's Monday ride.

"[Wooldridge] has been out of law enforcement for too long," Monterey
County Sheriff Mike Kanalakis said, "and is not in touch with the
problems in California." Kanalakis argues that Prop. 19 will
"undermine the quality of life in our communities."

State law enforcement organizations, including the California
Narcotics Officers Association, California Police Chiefs Association,
the California State Sheriffs' Association and the California
District Attorneys Association, have spoken out against Prop. 19.
They say the measure is a threat to public health and safety and is
likely to lead to more drug-related crime.

Still, police forces across the country are experiencing reductions,
Wooldridge said. "Yet the body of law they must enforce is getting
bigger each year," he said. "Officers must prioritize. What is more
important: flying helicopter raids or catching pedophiles?"

Lalo Villegas, spokesperson for the Salinas Police Department,
acknowledged that the department has made layoffs this year and that
marijuana is not a high-priority crime for the area.

"It is still against the law to possess marijuana," Villegas said.
"We believe [possession of marijuana] is a gateway crime. Many people
who now use cocaine and methamphetamines started off with marijuana."

Wooldridge disagrees, believing marijuana should be treated like beer.

"As an intoxicant it is no play toy," he said, "but from professional
and personal experience, it is safer than alcohol for the user and
everyone around."