Posted February 18th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
This Week:
Where is Dunkin Donuts?: I had cleared security and about to head out, when the question of why was asked (on my jacket)..After the 30 second response, she asked where the Dunkin was…I said follow me which gave me another 2 minutes…she asked for my card…She works with CBS news…good start to my day
IPI (impress, persuade, inspire): ..finishing my lunch in the crowded House cafeteria, 3 ladies asked why (jacket was visible on the back of my chair). Noticing their Spanish accent, I switched to Spanish and had a good 5 minute chat, as they asked many questions…the next table over had a half-dozen fire chiefs who were day lobbyists in their uniforms..when I switched to Spanish, several cocked their ear our way…fun.
This Week:
02 meeting.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting
6099 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 05 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
477 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 0 this week..
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, 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, Stern
* 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted February 18th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
This Week:
Nice to be asked: At my weekly conservative meeting I was asked to provide a one-pager on why the police want to legalize marijuana. The gentleman asking represents several million in his org.
Congrats: Off the train and walking into Union Station, a long-time user of the train made contact. He congratulated me that the DMV (DC, MD and VA) have all legalized marijuana in the past few years. He asked about the “legalize heroin” message on my jacket. He wished me luck in making that happen.
Note to self: you are 73 y/o and had very major surgery two months ago. You are not able to work as usual. Do not walk more than a mile per mile, until the doc says its okay.
Yes, I walled two miles on Wednesday and had to stay home to recover on Thursday.
This week:
01 meetings.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting;
6088 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 04 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
478 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 0 this week.. conservative Member of the Australian Parliament.
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 01 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, 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, Stern
* 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted February 17th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
This Week:
Back in the Struggle:
This week I was back in the halls of Congress, meeting staffers and pushing the COP message of make drugs a medical issue. Felt great!
I had a good chat with a staffer of David Joyce (R-OH). Joyce is a friend of ours and co-chair of the House Cannabis Caucus. Just down the hall, I had a solid chat with a staffer of Jim Jordan (R-OH) who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and would have jurisdiction on any drug bills.
Allies: I had an excellent, hour-long meeting with the new, Exec. Dir of MPP (Marijuana Policy Project), Lauren Daly. She was with philanthropist John Gilmore in her office. I urged her to support a one-page, 10th Amendment/De-schedule bill in the new Congress; versus the 38 page MORE act of de-schedule marijuana which has 0.0 Republican support and thus failed in the last Congress. Time will tell.
This Week:
02 meetings.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting; MPP meeting
6084 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 03 this week
478 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week.. conservative Member of the Australian Parliament.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 01 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, 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, Stern
* 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Posted January 20th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
This Week:
Toe in the Water: After 6 long weeks of physical therapy I felt confident to venture to downtown DC and attend the Wednesday meetings…it involved a half mile of walking, using my cane only a few times. All good and this week, I’ll be back to my usual 2 days a week.
I gave Grover my outlook for 2025 (bleak for marijuana and drug war in general…I see no changes). I informed him he only bright spot was the real progress I expect on the issue of using hallucinogens at the VA to help our mentally wounded warriors.
He asked me to make a presentation on this. I am working with MAPS to get the best info. More later
02 meeting.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting
477 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 0 this week..
COP stats since inception: August 2009
6081 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 01 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, 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, Stern
* 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Status of the War on Drugs in 2024
After 53 years of efforts, 54 million arrested on drug charges, 1,000,000 Americans dead from Drug OD the past 14 years and 1.5 trillion tax dollars wasted, fentanyl is easily purchased in every small town in America. By any objective measure, this has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crowe.
Cheerful News: There is no heroin for purchase in USA. Bad news: the cartels began 7 years ago to replace heroin with Fenty because the profit margins are much higher…the transition was complete in 2023..
Cheerful News: the number of opioid addicts has gone down each of the last 7 years (doctors stopped prescribing Oxycontin like candy) . Bad News: OD deaths have stayed stable at about 200 per day, as the much more powerful Fenty entered the market place.
Do not look for any change in supply, as 86% of Fenty comes through a Port of Entry on our southern border. Moreover, drug dealers accept Death and long prison terms as a condition of employment. Trump’s promise of the death penalty for dealers will have 0.0 impact.
Regarding treatment: the US approach has not changed in my lifetime, despite 1,000,000 dead in the past 14 years. The Swiss strategy is vehemently Pro-Life. And no one in Congress has been interested, except X Senator Rob Portman who visited a clinic in Bern in 2000.
All illegal drugs remain “readily available “ per the analysis of our DEA.
Marijuana: 24 states have legalized it, mostly like beer…another 15 states have medical use only, including Nebraska which just passed it. North and South Dakota and Oklahoma voted no to legalize/regulate. Even red states like Ohio and Missouri have legalized it.
At the federal level, our side has had the votes to pass a one page bill to repeal federal prohibition and or the Banking Bill for 6 years. Democratic leadership decided not to pass that bill, rather they have pushed a 38 page bill (MORE Act) which contains many elements which are contrary to the 10th Amendment…Chuck Schumer has never allowed a vote on any bill. I expect no major changes anywhere in the next 4 years; not state, not federal. There is no political advantage for Republicans to pass anything, so they won’t.
MJ arrests have gone from an all-time high of 800,000 per year, down to about 300,000 – this as 24 states legalized sales and possession. Total drug war arrests are down from 1.6 million to 1.1 million.
Last: Oregon voted to decrim simple possession of all drugs 3 years ago…the public became disgusted as addicts began shooting up anywhere and everywhere…the experiment ended this year in disgrace…they should have left in place the crime of public consumption.
Questions/Concerns ?
Posted January 20th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill – Stories from the week of November 8, 15, 22, 2024
Back from vacation: While i was in Switzerland, I took the opportunity to renew my relationship with the Swiss Health Ministry. I had an hour long chat in German with the new contact person for their Heroin Assisted Treatment program. She gave the changes for 2025 and later approved the document I will distribute to the Congress in 2025..very productive.
Election Night Party/Funeral: I attended the Grover Norquist election soiree’. As the sad news came in, I salvaged the night with 5 media interviews in four -4 languages. After two hours I left, unable to share their happiness of the results.
Drug War Status: Last week I made my short presentation to the Norquist Center-Right Wednesday meeting…notes below.
Main takeaway is I expect 0.0 changes for the better in the next two years, as least…there is no political advantage for Republicans to change direction/laws regarding marijuana or anything else.Senator Schumer (D-NY) has never allowed a vote on MJ banking nor bills to end MJ, fed prohibition….the incoming Majority Leader Thune is stuck in Reefer Madness mentality, as is all Republican leadership, House and Senate.
Thus, the next two years I will continue my anti-prohibition message and mainly educate the aides on the benefits the Swiss Medication Assisted Treatment for heroin.; Yeoman’s work for sure.
In two days I am having my right knee replaced…simply wore it out…I’ll be on a walker for a couple of weeks. I do expect to be able to walk well enough in January to resume my meeting with staff.
Happy Thanksgiving and Season’s Best you and yours,
This Week:
02 meeting.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting
477 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 0 this week..
COP stats since inception: August 2009
6081 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 01 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (3 UN drug conferences in Vienna, Austria), LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Media: Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, OAN, 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, Stern
* 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 ( to donate by Internet)
To send a check:
COP
POB 543
Buckeystown, MD 21717
Status of the War on Drugs in 2024
After 53 years of efforts, 54 million arrested on drug charges, 1,000,000 Americans dead from Drug OD the past 14 years and 1.5 trillion tax dollars wasted, fentanyl is easily purchased in every small town in America. By any objective measure, this has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crowe.
Cheerful News: There is no heroin for purchase in USA. Bad news: the cartels began 7 years ago to replace heroin with Fenty because the profit margins are much higher…the transition was complete in 2023..
Cheerful News: the number of opioid addicts has gone down each of the last 7 years (doctors stopped prescribing Oxycontin like candy) . Bad News: OD deaths have stayed stable at about 200 per day, as the much more powerful Fenty entered the market place.
Do not look for any change in supply, as 86% of Fenty comes through a Port of Entry on our southern border. Moreover, drug dealers accept Death and long prison terms as a condition of employment. Trump’s promise of the death penalty for dealers will have 0.0 impact.
Regarding treatment: the US approach has not changed in my lifetime, despite 1,000,000 dead in the past 14 years. The Swiss strategy is vehemently Pro-Life. And no one in Congress has been interested, except X Senator Rob Portman who visited a clinic in Bern in 2000.
All illegal drugs remain “readily available “ per the analysis of our DEA.
Marijuana: 24 states have legalized it, mostly like beer…another 15 states have medical use only, including Nebraska which just passed it. North and South Dakota and Oklahoma voted no to legalize/regulate. Even red states like Ohio and Missouri have legalized it.
At the federal level, our side has had the votes to pass a one page bill to repeal federal prohibition and or the Banking Bill for 6 years. Democratic leadership decided not to pass that bill, rather they have pushed a 38 page bill (MORE Act) which contains many elements which are contrary to the 10th Amendment…Chuck Schumer has never allowed a vote on any bill. I expect no major changes anywhere in the next 4 years; not state, not federal. There is no political advantage for Republicans to pass anything, so they won’t.
MJ arrests have gone from an all-time high of 800,000 per year, down to about 300,000 – this as 24 states legalized sales and possession. Total drug war arrests are down from 1.6 million to 1.1 million.
Last: Oregon voted to decrim simple possession of all drugs 3 years ago…the public became disgusted as addicts began shooting up anywhere and everywhere…the experiment ended this year in disgrace…they should have left in place the crime of public consumption.
Questions/Concerns ?
