posted November 26, 2002
A policeman who works with a group that believes in "regulating" drugs rather than banning them, is riding his horse Misty into Chattanooga on his bicycle on Friday.
It will be the final leg of a three-month trip for Howard Wooldridge.
He is associated with LEAP: Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.
He states, "After three decades of fueling the U.S. war on drugs with over half a trillion tax dollars and increasingly punitive policies, illicit drugs are easier to get, cheaper, and more potent than they ever were. Our quadrupled prison population has made building prisons this nation's fastest growing industry, with two million incarcerated - more per capita than any country in the world. Meanwhile, people are dying in our streets and drug barons grow richer than ever before. We must change these policies.
"Current and former members of law enforcement recently created this new drug-policy reform group that believes the United States' drug policies have failed and that to save lives, lower the rate of addiction, and conserve tax dollars, we must end drug prohibition.
"LEAP believes a system of regulation and control is more effective than one of prohibition."
The group said Howard Wooldridge "is riding his horse across America to warn the people that prohibition causes more pain, suffering and death than the drugs themselves."
His shirt says: "COPS SAY LEGALIZE POT. ASK ME WHY." And everyone does.
He said his trip "included great discussions, occasional stout opposition and many new friends."
He is resting for three days in South Pittsburg until Friday morning when he begins the final leg of his journey.
Wooldridge spent most of his 15 years as a police officer pushing a patrol car around Bath and DeWitt Townships (near Lansing, Mich.).
Officials said, "Like every officer, he quickly learned that alcohol was the drug that killed and injured more people than all the rest combined. Soon he became known as 'Hiway Howie' for his fierce efforts to combat drunk drivers, earning recognition from MADD.
"Howard knew that something was wrong with our law enforcement priorities from the beginning. Though drunks were hurting and killing the most people, many fellow officers spent most of their time trying to find marijuana and searching cars in order to seize them. When his wife transferred to the Dallas, Tex., area in 1994, he took an early retirement. Three years later he became a bi-lingual speaker for the drug-policy reform movement.
"Much like Paul Revere, he rides his beautiful Paint horse on the streets of Fort Worth to inform the people about the need to end prohibition. To 'Protect and Serve' is in his blood and now that motto takes the shape of ending prohibition and promoting personal responsibility for those who choose to use any drug."
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