COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of March 28, 2014

Stories from the week of March 28, 2014

United Nations CND (Conference on Narcotic Drugs)  – Final Thoughts:

This effort took up a solid month of my time; two weeks of preparation and 12 days of being there + this week to recover from jet lag, etc. Based on all the information I have, it was worth the effort and expense.   I contributed to the growing body of information that law enforcement efforts are  completely futile, this issue should be dealt with on a nation by nation basis (not one, world-wide prohibition policy) and if one has a drug problem, the medical community is the appropriate responding profession, not police.

The cost was significant..1200 for the flight, 700 for 11 nights of lodging (Motel 6 equivalent…with breakfast buffet) and meals plus transport another 400 ( I am sick of  Subway and McDonalds).

Rewards:  I sent out 24 emails from those I collected business cards from.  And I meaningful chats with another 8-10 that we did not exchange cards.   How do you measure having a delegate from Iran, then Sudan, then Ivory Coast, then Myanmar, Norway etc. come up and spend 5-10 minutes discussing the issue?

Standard Pitch: First,  I made a point of showing how completely futile the authorities (police, customs, military) have been and will be to make a tiny dent in drug supplies.  Second, if one has a drug problem, the person has three (3) layers of help…family who love them, friends who care  about them and members of a church or mosque who care about them.  The government needs to be involved with education and prevention but not have police involved with drug users.

The second point was being emphasized by many nations in their official statement to the body.  Under the guise of “Human Rights” …this was code for nobody goes to jail for simple possession or use.

Clown or Class:?  As always, I was dresses in hat, buckle, boots (see foto below).  This was an august body and some may have wondered if I were another  Bush 43.  I made it a priority of speaking anything but English, if possible and this surely helped my marketing.

Good Feeling:  Nine years ago in New Mexico I debated a DEA Agent Finn Sealander.  I just learned that after retiring he became LEAP speaker.  I hope/trust his decision was based partly on our debate.

COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 75 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     this week
• 41 Radio Interviews..   this week   
•  1490 Presentations to Congressional staffers..    this week
• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    this week
• 36 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)… this week
• 18 major conferences attended..  this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc)    this week
• 26  published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… this week

         77 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $75,000)..  this week

             55 brief chats with Members of Congress..   this week

• 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
• Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders.   Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
• Consider being a member of COP at $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 dollars buys all the copy paper COP uses in one year.   Law Enforcement’s voice in opposition to current policy is vital on the Hill to achieve a repeal of federal prohibition.  COP provides that voice.    …  Go to: ·       www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
• Citizens Opposing Prohibition

POB 543

• Buckeystown, MD 21717