Cops on the Hill: Stories from the week of November 5, 2021

Re: Oregon ……“We have no hammer,” said Josephine County Sheriff Dave Daniel, whose deputies had not issued a single class E violation as of Oct. 1, according to circuit court records. “What does that do for law enforcement to focus on those violations right now? We can look for car thefts, burglaries, assaults, and those sorts of things.”

https://www.opb.org/article/2021/10/27/oregon-pioneering-drug-law-raises-more-questions-than-answers-early-months/

10 minute read…treatment facilities are lagging and slow to get up to speed.

Two minutes on War on Drugs – my interview in Germany last month

https://twitter.com/leapdeutschland/status/1450466766807879684

One minute in French to our fellow officers in France who are now an organization of 150 who want to also legalize/regulate all drugs.  Their leader is near-native fluent in 3 languages.  I have extended them an offer to help anyway COP can.

https://twitter.com/collectifPCP/status/1451564314381402137?s=20

Cops on the Hill: Stories from the month of October 2021

International:  I managed four (4) solid events during my five weeks of holidays.

I had a  meeting in Germany with the now retired federal officer who was the liaison between Germany and the USA law enforcement the past four years.

I spent the whole day with Dr Bürki, co-creator of the 1994-2021 Heroin Assisted Treatment in Switzerland.  He invited me accompany him to the “Top of Europe” and walk across the glacier there.  The good Doctor is still actively treating patients and his new information and insights were / will be helpful.

I had a working, two-hour lunch with a representative of the Swiss Health Ministry en français in Bern.  My usual contact was out on sick leave.  Lucien was very enthusiastic to see more changes in the Swiss approach to illegal drugs. We discussed all the changes and updates to their HAT program (heroin assisted treatment).

Always bring the cowboy hat:   In October, out of the blue, I had a request from LEAP Germany to go to Frankfurt for a day and a half of video interviews with a professional documentarian.  He is putting together vignettes of the interviews for use in LEAP’s public awareness campaign…Klaus said the American cowboy and cop combo will do well with a German audience…here is a snippet (in English)..1 minute .. Who is Howard?

https://twitter.com/leapdeutschland/status/1448654827781771264

This week:

Meetings this week:  04-International meetings

208 interviews and reports in minor media …01 this week.

COP stats since inception: August 2009

3679 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week..

398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –

330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0

92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week

207 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
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 Tribune, 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.”

* 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

Cops on the Hill: Stories from the week of September 17, 2021

Knocked my Socks Off;

I was having another solid week of presentations this week, when I opened an email from a Facebook investigator.  She was researching a post which FB had deleted regarding the drug ayahuasca.  She was asking “drug policy experts” to submit in writing their views/information on the topic.

No, I have no idea why she chose me and others.  I stated I was honored to be asked and this was

My response:

I am not a doctor.  I have received no medical training.  I have never used nor been near anyone who was using ayahuasca.  I have been involved in shaping drug policy (illegal drugs) since 1998, the last 16 full-time in the US Congress.

My best information is:

I have had substantive discussions with 3 military veterans who had received a guided experience with LSD, etc and the results were life-changing positive.  This was at a briefing, sponsored by a Congressman in December 2019.

Ayahuasca is a substance which has the potential to have a medium to severe impact on a person’s mind.  It is roughly in the same category as other hallucinogens like LSD, Psilocybin, etc.  There is anecdotal evidence that when given to a person by an experienced mental health advisor that improvements can be made to one’s mental health, particularly in the area of PTSD.  That said, the drug is powerful enough to damage one’s mental health, if not consumed properly.  Ayahuasca is absolutely not a play toy.  It should only be used in a controlled, professional setting.

Whether FB should delete a person’s experience with the drug, or ban encouraging the drug, or allow testimonials which ignore the risks…. this is beyond my pay grade.

Respectfully submitted,

Howard J. Wooldridge

Detective, Bath Township PD, Retired

Drug Policy Specialist, Citizens Opposing Prohibition

Holidays:  I leave on Monday for a 5 week break in western Europe.  I will do a little bit of business on two days.  I have a meeting with Swiss Health Ministry officials on the 28^th (in French) in Bern to learn the updates in their Heroin Treatment approach.

In early October I will spend a day near Frankfurt, Germany being interviewed and videoed by a cop who represents LEAP Germany.  They believe my views may help them convince the politicians in Berlin to end their drug prohibition.

The next newsletter will be October 29.

Stay Healthy

This week:

3679 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 09 this week..

Meetings this week:  01-Grover’s center-right

COP stats since inception: August 2009

398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –

330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0

92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week

207 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
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 Tribune, 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.”

* 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

Cops on the Hill: Stories from the week of  September 10, 2021

Note from a House staffer after I wrote, asking to set up a meeting….first time in my 15 years on the Hill:

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for your message and advocacy. Congresswoman Pressley is happy to cosponsor this bill.

Best,

****

A Good Week: Besides a solid 15 presentations, about half of both R & D legislative assistants sounding enthusiastic about total drug decrim; “I will run this up the flagpole and recommend it.” Was heard; especially when it came from the assistant from a member of the Judiciary Committee’s Crime sub-committee.

This week:

3670 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 15 this week..

Meetings this week:  01-Grover’s center-right

COP stats since inception: August 2009

398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –

330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0

92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week

207 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
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 Tribune, 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.”

* 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

Cops on the Hill: Stories from the week of August 27 & September 3, 2021

Cops on the Hill

Curtain Call: After I wrote  a one minute memo to explain how Biden could return MJ to State control vs federal, my Wednesday meeting host asked me to prepare the same remarks for his next  Wednesday meeting, which I did.   Several cogent questions were asked and one was about the ‘punch’ of today’s MJ versus what I smoked in college.  LOL

Nice & Busy:  I Just had two solid weeks of 9 and 11 presentations to a lot who wanted to learn about this new ‘Oregon Decrim’ thing.  One Senators’ aide was a 5 generation cowgirl, ‘born in the saddle’ and we spent a few minutes about how to ride 6 months on a horse..Note: I use that as a lead-in to articulate why the 10^th Amendment is needed and should be employed for all drugs.

Another aide was a former public defender and knew as much about my topic as I did…THAT is always a special joy to encounter and establish a relationship with.

I had my first Republican aide who indicated the boss might sign on to the decrim bill: HR 4020.  That Member has already voted yes to 10th Amendment for MJ.

These weeks:

3655 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 20 this week..

Meetings this week:  01-Grover’s center-right:   01 – Working group on legalize all drugs

COP stats since inception: August 2009

398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –

330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0

92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week

207 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
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 Tribune, 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.”

* 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