In a story that appeared in Oregon newspaper, "The World," former police detective Howard Wooldridge of Citizens Opposing Prohibition (COP) highlighted the relative safety of marijuana compared to alcohol and how current laws drive people to drink.

Americans are being driven to drink. That's how lobbyist and retired police detective Howard Wooldridge views marijuana prohibition.

'The irony here is, marijuana is a much safer drug for the user and their family. And we're driving people to drink because drinking it's legal," Wooldridge said. 'It's obviously counterproductive."

In 18 years in law enforcement, Wooldridge said, he responded to zero violent crimes sparked by marijuana use. Compare that with 1,300 calls on homicides, suicides, rapes, assaults, and child abuse cases involving alcohol.