Celebrate Progress: On the 10th I gathered at the private home of long-time activist and LEAP speaker, Dick Kennedy to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the legalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was a sentimental and powerful feeling to pass a few hours with dedicated volunteers who made it all happen.
Doing Nothing is Unacceptable: One meeting in 2 weeks is unbearable. Thus, I left this week for Iowa and the 2022 RAGBRAI event. Recall the Three Amigos went out in 2019 to meet/ride with a few presidential candidates. Recall my accident at mile 6, breaking 3 ribs and a shoulder. Recall I “damned the torpedoes” and rode the last 70 miles on the 7th day, having good chats every 8-10 minutes, as 24,000 of my closest friends rode by me much faster…..I promise to keep a better eye out for the potholes in the road, lest my family follows thru on their promise to dump me out of the casket and beat to death a Second Time!
| Weekly Activities:
3805 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 01 this week 420 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: spoke to 1 candidate running for the US House. Meetings: – 2 – Grover Norquist center-right : 1 gathering of VA MJ activists
COP stats since inception: August 2009
334 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week – 94 Radio Interviews… 0 208 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week. 107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week 44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week 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.” * Consider being a member of COP at $40 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
|
Don’t expect much change in this level of production until September, when Nancy lets us back in the buildings.
| Weekly Activities:
3804 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 04 this week 419 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: spoke to 1 candidate running for the US House. Meetings: – 2 – Grover Norquist center-right : 1 podcast on war on drugs
COP stats since inception: August 2009
334 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week – 94 Radio Interviews… 0 208 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week. 107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week 44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week 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.” * Consider being a member of COP at $40 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
|
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly:
The Bad: I had only one presentation the first two weeks back from holidays.
The Good: The one meeting was with the chief legal counsel to Majority Leader Schumer and her assistant. Great 30-minute exchange on a variety of topics. I met with Minority Leader McConnel’s counsel about a year ago.
The Ugly: It is my feeling/intuition that there will be no votes on drug law reform during this Congress, no hearings, nada. Dem Leadership wants a ‘legalization of MJ’ bill with lots of extra goodies that violate the 10th Amendment which guarantees it will never pass.
I sent out over 100 meeting requests and had one response…I am simply going to have to wait the Congress is open to the public, scheduled by Nancy for early September 2022. Yes, going into an office and asking to see the legislative aide is successful enough to make a good day’s effort. (once I can pester the guy/gal at the reception desk).
Something useful: I was asked by Grover Norquist to present on why US states should adopt Red Flag Laws this week. It was a packed room with 150+ attendees. The easiest take aways were; Law Enforcement is leading the charge for this and the NRA could not cite one egregious case where a citizen had their guns removed unjustly.
| Weekly Activities:
3800 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 01 this week 419 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: spoke to 3 candidates running for the US House. Meetings: – 2 – Grover Norquist center-right
COP stats since inception: August 2009
334 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week – 94 Radio Interviews… 0 208 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week. 107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week 44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week 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.” * Consider being a member of COP at $40 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
|
Double Time on Sunday??: Sunday afternoon I participated in a German podcast regarding full legalization, Oregon and decrim – and the status of USA drug laws and the forecast for this year. There were lots of Q & A, all in German, for the audience in Germany. Fun it was.
Honored to be asked: On Monday morning I had an hour + zoom chat with a Facebook, META, Twitter investigator, mostly about hallucinogens. Meta found me somehow and decided I am an expert in drugs and drug policy. His team learns from experts all over the globe, so it was truly an honor.
Bonus: I noticed about every 5 minutes he would say a word and the accent was not quite native USA…as we were wrapping up, I asked him what his first language was. German, he replied…we chatted auf Deutsch the last two minutes! Fun it was.
Spring Break — My better half and I are jumping the pond next week for a month of R & R in Old Europe. Six solid months in Washington, DC and the boy is in need of a break.
As I leave: 78 out of 100 Senate offices – Done; 344 out 435 House offices – Done
| Weekly Activities:
3799 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 03 this week 416 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 94 Radio Interviews… 01 (podcast) Meetings: – 2 – Grover Norquist center-right Interview with Meta (Facebook, Twitter)
COP stats since inception: August 2009
334 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week –
208 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week. 107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week 44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week 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.” * Consider being a member of COP at $40 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
|
