COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of December 20, 2019

COP on the Hill

4 contacts in WH: I learned this week that another, long-term professional friend is working in the White House. That makes four with 3 of them working on domestic policy. 2 of the 4 – I met at the Grover Norquist weekly meeting.

End of year analysis: 2019 started with great promise, as we expected the Democrats to pass meaningful legislation to roll-back or repeal the 1937 law of federal, marijuana prohibition. 12 months later and well, not much…the banking bill was passed by the House and now gathers dust in the Senate. Late this year the MJ de-schedule ( MORE Act ) bill was passed out of committee and then stopped again. The Congress only decided to protect medical MJ from federal interference, less than the last fiscal year.

2020 Predictions: I am at low confidence, we will put anything on the President’s desk. The States via the legislature or ballot initiative will have 6-8 “go Colorado.” All the real action will be at the state level in my opinion. So, do I take 2020 off? No. I will continue the COP work of making contacts, presentations and building relationships. I am working with Tulsi Gabbard’s office to introduce a bill to have the feds “go Portugal” decrim. Despite being a lot closer to the end of the tunnel / goal post re: marijuana, this is still a marathon, not a sprint.

My new horse continues to make steady progress and I have high confidence she will be ready for politics starting about May or June. Like the five weeks I spent in Michigan last fall, Missy and I will go somewhere and help ensure a win.

This week’s stats:

388 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week (WH policy advisor)
02 Meetings – Grover, NCIA (National Cannabis Industry Association)

COP stats since inception: August 2009

317 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
3298 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0this week
166 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week
85 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
102 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio) Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press + 9 other MI papers. Chicago Tribute, Honolulu Star Advertiser {foto and caption}, Reason Magazine, Reuters
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
43 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
* Consider being a member of COP at $40.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 40 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 drug prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
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