COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of September 26 & October 3, 2014

Stories from the week of September 26 & October 3, 2014

We don’t use the ‘F’ word around here: a legislative aide attached to the Senate Foreign relations committee remembered me from a meeting at Brookings. We chatted. I mentioned the failure of policy in Latin America ( his specialty) and it is hurting & killing so many there. ‘I would not say a failure. The policy has some positives also.   We don’t use the F word around here.’

I smiled knowingly and we finished a very positive chat = he agreed prohibition had to go.

What is the ????????? word for ‘bouncer’?: On the first I had a 90 minute planning meeting at a major, European embassy. My contact said two others might be there (I prepared materials for three). Five showed up and we spent the first hour in a round-house discussion on why we should abandon drug prohibition and legalize/regulate all drugs! It was my first rodeo – speaking their language– to articulate our position. I was thrilled.

Note: This nation is sending a three person delegation to Colorado in November on a fact-finding mission. Thanks in large part to my contact in CO: Brian Vicente and partner Christian Sederberg….   I –we- drug reform looked like a well-oiled machine. Brian & Christian have arranged for meetings with friendly state and local politicians & grow-ops and stores. I arranged to have a federal judge and district attorney ready to meet the delegation. Of course, the delegation will meet with the DEA field office, CO state police, etc.

*Bouncer – I was describing how the coffeehouses in Amsterdam don’t employ them, since MJ makes one non-aggressive.

I will let you know which nation after they finish the tour in November. I might be too cautious keeping this quiet but this effort may be my most important work in nine years on the Hill. This could change UNGASS in 2016 to go our way.

Sunshine state: I will be spending at least the last 14 days before the election in Florida on detached duty for LEAP. My Spanish is needed.

Note: my raw work these two weeks is below average due to spending many hours making sure I had all the drug reform words & arguments in one of my languages. It paid off.

This week’s raw data:

1685 Presentations to Congressional staffers..  07 this week

49 Radio Interviews..  01 this week

3 meetings this week

·         COP stats since inception: August 2009

101 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     00 this week

54 brief chats with Members of Congress..   00 this week

10 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress..  0  this week

• 37 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)…this week
• 19 major conferences attended..  this week (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc)   this week
• 28 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine…this week

• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    this week

79 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $78,000).. 00 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

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• Buckeystown, MD 21717