ILLEGAL DRUGS BENEFIT DEA

Dear Editor:

As a retired detective I thank you for the excellent op-ed on drug
prohibition/war on drugs ("Who thinks Aspen's just like Pakistan? The
DEA, of course," Andy Stone, June 8, 2011, The Aspen Times).

Yes, the DEA is mostly concerned about losing their paycheck. They
know better than anyone that police efforts are equal to a mosquito on
the butt of an elephant.

Most street cops privately agree that we should treat marijuana like
beer. Their command officers, however, know that without prohibition,
our profession will lose about $12 billion in good overtime and job
security. Thus, they blackmail politicians to keep the money rolling
in by threatening them with loss of political support.

It is a sad picture indeed.

Howard Wooldridge

Golden