Originally Published October 5, 2005
Howard Wooldridge of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) will end a coast to coast trip at Battery Park in lower Manhattan today. He's advocating the legalization of drugs. He's a former cop and self-styled cowboy from Texas. He's concluded that the 'war on drugs' is more harmful than letting people ingest whatever they want without government interference. How many effete pundits, gutless politicians and other useless rabble from the intelligentsia would survive a trip across country on a horse ? Let alone tirelessly advocating a fundamental change in the mindset of the average American ? I had the opportunity to help Howard out during his trip.
I always attempt to avoid personal narration in this venue, but this visit was unexpected and fruitful. A guy on horse popped out of the exit entrance on a trip to the store a late September evening. Seeing his white T-shirt that said at least cop and drugs, I knew who he was. The state Libertarian Party had sent out updates about his ride. Convincing the wife that we could shop tomorrow, we got off two exits later and backtracked. Our timing was perfect. A park and ride made a perfect place to greet the man on horseback who traveled across the country. She swung back home for a camera with the kids. We only spoke for about five minutes before people started stopping. We briefly covered the drug war and my indication of my libertarian ways found me holding the reins on 'Sam' the horse has Howard chatted up some senior citizens. While he may not cover ground as fast as a car. He's got the three minute stump perfected after three thousand miles.
When my wife returned with a camera a few more folks stopped. A young man in his twenties I'm sure. Howard was on a cell phone by the time I retrieved my son to get a picture with the cowboy. He wasn't interested. We were about to leave when Howard asked me if I knew anybody who could the horse in for the night. I thought of a neighbor and went to go check. He said he'd be right there. Sure enough a rather stunned neighbor, whose husband I do business with agreed to offer a round pen for the night. When we swung back the cowboy's ride had arrived. A medium RV circa 1989 with 'Cops Say Legalize Drugs - Ask us Why' on the side, it pulled a horse trailer. A women was with him. He introduced my wife as my better half and we lead the way to the horse farm. When we pulled in it was close to dark. Various people, including the hosts, trickled out and met Howard.
The first question from the matriarch of the 'ranch' was " OK, what's your deal ? " Howard looked her straight in the eye and said. " Well, I think you should be able to go into a drugstore and buy any drug that you want. If you need treatment, you should get it." After that the stage was set for pleasantries and logistics for the night and we were on our way. The host had worked in prisons for years and agreed with Howard that the drug war created too many criminals. We saw Howard and his traveling companion from LEAP, Norma at the local family eatery later on. We told the aging X-Gen waitress about him and pretty soon young dishwashers and table setters were looking out at the cowboy causing a local stir. A group of about twelve senior citizens sat beyond us and were remarking about the cowboy.
The next day, Howard and Norma actually stopped by our shop and had a quick chat with the guys. Howard then made his way down Rt. 9 sharing some of his strategy on right wing talk radio shows just before he left. Norma took advantage of Internet access and stayed for some updates. On my way to a customer I saw Howard again at one of the local quickie shops talking with a group of guys outside with the horse. I stopped one more time and had one more quick conversation with Howard. As I leaned on the car door he said to me that the night before at the restaurant those seniors were outside after he was done with dinner. He said that they agreed with the idea that prohibition wasn't the answer anymore. Just before I gave him directions to the tiny Amercian-ancient village, he said he was actually hopeful, they were the hardest people to convince. I watched Howard let the horse relieve itself on the side of the road and waved good-bye to him. Good luck Howard, hope you get on Letterman.