T
The420Guy
Guest
Nye Beach was the destination of the 3,100-mile ride for Cowboy Cop Harold
J. Wooldridge and his pinto, Misty. It took them three years to cross the
county as a promotional event for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
(LEAP). Wooldridge is now on his way back to his home in Fort Worth, Texas,
where he will retire his worn out T-shirt that states "Cops Say Legalize
Pot Ask Me." The ride across America might be over, but not his campaign.
Wooldridge Will Join Others This Fall In Getting His Cause Discussed During
The Upcoming Presidential Campaign
When Cowboy Cop Howard J. Wooldridge rode into Lincoln County, he felt a
little like the pioneers did when they completed the Oregon Trail. Well,
maybe 5 percent like a pioneer.
The rest was a modern cowboy with an ATM card, cell telephone, an email
address, and bridges. "Bridges are wonderful," he said, as he explains that
on one of his first days out, he knew bridges made his trip possible.
Wooldridge kept thinking of Daniel Boone and how that pioneer probably had
wet clothes all day long as he forded one river after the other without the
help of a bridge. Wooldridge and his pinto, Misty, started their
cross-country trip March 15, 2001, from Savannah, Ga. The trip was planned
to promote Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). LEAP is a
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, the U.S. must end drug prohibition, according to
LEAP's website. LEAP believes a system of regulation and control is more
effective than prohibition. Like Paul Revere, who rode his horse to warn
that the British were coming, Wooldridge has done the same. In the 10
states he crossed to get to the West Coast, the retired police officer
warned "that drug prohibition causes more pain, suffering and death than
the drugs themselves." The total trip was 3,100 miles, and it took three years.
The first leg in 2001 was 400 miles. "I had no idea what I was doing," he
said Friday at the home of Jennifer and Mike Knight in Toledo. He returned
home to regroup before continuing the journey. In 2002, he picked up the
trip where he had left off the previous year. He rode 1,400 miles to
Denver, Colo., and returned home again to Fort Worth, Texas. In July of
this year, he and Misty returned to Denver and started the ride again.
On Saturday, he reached Nye Beach. Wooldridge chose a route that took him
through temperate climate, as he wanted to make sure his nights were cool
enough to sleep. Nights were spent with friends he made along the way. He
traveled about 25 miles a day, alternately walking and riding Misty. His
saddlebags weighed about 16 pounds, and he carried a gun. He crossed 10
states and lost as many pounds.
The cowboy is ready to throw out his third pair of walking shoes, and Misty
is on her sixth set of horseshoes. The only gravel road he covered was from
Harlan to Elk City. It was a route he chose for safety and to avoid the
narrow sections of Highway 20. Very few of his routes took him on a
freeway. This year in Denver, he was joined by his brother, Rex, who
accompanied Wooldridge on his bicycle.
Rex carried grain for Misty and was taking time off from his job with an
oil company in Norway. A third brother, Frosty, a lobbyist in Denver,
joined them over the weekend with a horse trailer for the return trip to
the Texas. As for publicity for LEAP, Wooldridge said most people supported
him, if not publicly, then privately. "So many people believe in this but
are afraid to say anything because of the government. Our public policy has
failed, but no one wants to speak out about it," he said. "All drug use and
abuse should be a medical matter, not a police or prison issue." He said he
had three reasons for the trip. The first was "male menopause," he said
with a laugh.
He said he also saw the trip as an equestrian challenge and an adventure,
and he also wanted to call attention to LEAP and its cause. He believes
that more than half of the police he has talked with in each of the states
would vote secretly for LEAP. "In the 15 years I was a cop, I never took a
call for an accident, suicide or assault resulting from use of marijuana,"
he said. Drug use is a "poor personal choice," just like cigarette smoking
and too much alcohol. "I am not promoting drug use. All drug use is
inappropriate unless for medical purposes," he said. He suggests parents
ask their children how easy it is to buy marijuana. "It is easier to buy
than beer. It is illegal, so it creates more points of sale. It is a
terrible situation," he said. Wooldridge is looking forward to the air
conditioning of his truck as he heads home. The 9-year-old mare will get
three months off, while Wooldridge will head to New Hampshire to join
others in trying to get the presidential candidates to discuss and debate
the LEAP cause.
Pubdate: Sun, 10 Aug 2003
Source: Newport News-Times (OR)
Copyright: 2003 Lee Enterprises Inc.
Contact: editor@newportnewstimes.com
Website: Breaking News from your Local News Source Leader in Newport Oregon | Newport News Times
J. Wooldridge and his pinto, Misty. It took them three years to cross the
county as a promotional event for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
(LEAP). Wooldridge is now on his way back to his home in Fort Worth, Texas,
where he will retire his worn out T-shirt that states "Cops Say Legalize
Pot Ask Me." The ride across America might be over, but not his campaign.
Wooldridge Will Join Others This Fall In Getting His Cause Discussed During
The Upcoming Presidential Campaign
When Cowboy Cop Howard J. Wooldridge rode into Lincoln County, he felt a
little like the pioneers did when they completed the Oregon Trail. Well,
maybe 5 percent like a pioneer.
The rest was a modern cowboy with an ATM card, cell telephone, an email
address, and bridges. "Bridges are wonderful," he said, as he explains that
on one of his first days out, he knew bridges made his trip possible.
Wooldridge kept thinking of Daniel Boone and how that pioneer probably had
wet clothes all day long as he forded one river after the other without the
help of a bridge. Wooldridge and his pinto, Misty, started their
cross-country trip March 15, 2001, from Savannah, Ga. The trip was planned
to promote Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). LEAP is a
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, the U.S. must end drug prohibition, according to
LEAP's website. LEAP believes a system of regulation and control is more
effective than prohibition. Like Paul Revere, who rode his horse to warn
that the British were coming, Wooldridge has done the same. In the 10
states he crossed to get to the West Coast, the retired police officer
warned "that drug prohibition causes more pain, suffering and death than
the drugs themselves." The total trip was 3,100 miles, and it took three years.
The first leg in 2001 was 400 miles. "I had no idea what I was doing," he
said Friday at the home of Jennifer and Mike Knight in Toledo. He returned
home to regroup before continuing the journey. In 2002, he picked up the
trip where he had left off the previous year. He rode 1,400 miles to
Denver, Colo., and returned home again to Fort Worth, Texas. In July of
this year, he and Misty returned to Denver and started the ride again.
On Saturday, he reached Nye Beach. Wooldridge chose a route that took him
through temperate climate, as he wanted to make sure his nights were cool
enough to sleep. Nights were spent with friends he made along the way. He
traveled about 25 miles a day, alternately walking and riding Misty. His
saddlebags weighed about 16 pounds, and he carried a gun. He crossed 10
states and lost as many pounds.
The cowboy is ready to throw out his third pair of walking shoes, and Misty
is on her sixth set of horseshoes. The only gravel road he covered was from
Harlan to Elk City. It was a route he chose for safety and to avoid the
narrow sections of Highway 20. Very few of his routes took him on a
freeway. This year in Denver, he was joined by his brother, Rex, who
accompanied Wooldridge on his bicycle.
Rex carried grain for Misty and was taking time off from his job with an
oil company in Norway. A third brother, Frosty, a lobbyist in Denver,
joined them over the weekend with a horse trailer for the return trip to
the Texas. As for publicity for LEAP, Wooldridge said most people supported
him, if not publicly, then privately. "So many people believe in this but
are afraid to say anything because of the government. Our public policy has
failed, but no one wants to speak out about it," he said. "All drug use and
abuse should be a medical matter, not a police or prison issue." He said he
had three reasons for the trip. The first was "male menopause," he said
with a laugh.
He said he also saw the trip as an equestrian challenge and an adventure,
and he also wanted to call attention to LEAP and its cause. He believes
that more than half of the police he has talked with in each of the states
would vote secretly for LEAP. "In the 15 years I was a cop, I never took a
call for an accident, suicide or assault resulting from use of marijuana,"
he said. Drug use is a "poor personal choice," just like cigarette smoking
and too much alcohol. "I am not promoting drug use. All drug use is
inappropriate unless for medical purposes," he said. He suggests parents
ask their children how easy it is to buy marijuana. "It is easier to buy
than beer. It is illegal, so it creates more points of sale. It is a
terrible situation," he said. Wooldridge is looking forward to the air
conditioning of his truck as he heads home. The 9-year-old mare will get
three months off, while Wooldridge will head to New Hampshire to join
others in trying to get the presidential candidates to discuss and debate
the LEAP cause.
Pubdate: Sun, 10 Aug 2003
Source: Newport News-Times (OR)
Copyright: 2003 Lee Enterprises Inc.
Contact: editor@newportnewstimes.com
Website: Breaking News from your Local News Source Leader in Newport Oregon | Newport News Times