Posted February 14th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Citizens Opposing Prohibition: 2020 Annual Report (Covid Year)
The Covid Year of 2020 started well. January was average as I made numerous presentations to staffers on the Hill. February brought me to the primary in New Hampshire with my MPP partner in trouble-making, Don Murphy. Like we did in 2016 in NH, we had dozens of media interviews, many published with our fotos. I spoke personally with 6 of the candidates, regarding applying the 10th Amendment to God’s green plant.
CPAC 2020 was another 4 days of fun and work, as I had about 150 conversations plus a dozen interviews.
I was working closely with the JD staffer for Tulsi Gabbard, as that office planned to introduce either a resolution or bill, calling for total drug decrim at the federal level. Launch date was early March and hello, Mr. Covid took all the oxygen out of the room and locked me out of Congress. My staffer friends informed me that no offices would hear any info or ideas outside of Covid related issues.
I did make a decision in late summer to abandon the issue of marijuana and focus on the single largest part of the Drug War post marijuana; the 1.4 million arrests my colleagues make every year for simple possession of all drugs. Moreover, during the five years of Obama and four of Trump administrations, federal agents had not bothered state-legal operations. Thus, Drug Decrim became the focus of COP.
Those same staffers informed me around Labor Day that the Congress was ready to hear ideas for 2021. I engaged by telephone. After an adjustment period, I was back in the saddle, enjoying my work as I also got the message out. I was able to do about 150 presentations the remainder of 2020. The message was well-received by staffers of all persuasions, as I focused on the madness, the damage of Mass Incarceration and its impact on voter suppression.
International: No meetings abroad due to Covid. I was in email communication with the Swiss Federal Health Ministry who reviewed, updated and approved the 2021 version of the HAT (Heroin Assisted Treatment) program for distribution to Congress. All things being equal I will have lunch with her and her staffer in September 2021 in Bern.
166 presentations
6 chats with Democrats running for President
10 chats with Members of Congress
5 radio interviews
40 Minor press interviews (most from New Hampshire primary work)
7 TV interviews, major press comments
5 radio interviews
2 major conferences, events attended
09 Chats with minor officials, VIPs
Posted February 12th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the Week of February 12, 2021
Sobering Moment: The presentation was completely normal, until I asked for questions, concerns. The aide from Texas said he related to much I had said. His dad had been arrested for simple possession, losing his voting rights and had suffered his whole life from the label of “convicted felon.” The aide at 15 was ordered out of the car with his friends w/o cause. Drug paraphernalia was found and all the boys were arrested, which he had to reveal when he took the bar exam.
My breathing nearly stopped as the young man could be a poster child/family of the Drug War. Rarely in my 5,000 presentations over 15 years have I had heard such a history. God. I wanted to reach thru the phone and hug him. Instead, I told him I will work hard to end the War on Drugs.
Activity this week:
3538 Presentations to Congressional staffers…13 this week..
1 meeting this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
90 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
327 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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
Posted February 5th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the Week of February 05, 2021
Tough Sell: No surprise that total drug decrim is opposed by conservatives for several reasons, prominent in my opinion: it has been highly effective the past 40 years suppressing mostly Democratic votes. Secondly, it is easier to deport immigrants, after a drug arrest. Thus, doing the right thing – decrim- will result in more Democratic candidates winning across USA.
Thus, a large majority of the offices that refuse a meeting are Republican. And since you pay me the big bucks, I will keep doing the necessary to obtain a meeting. Currently, that means Ccing the aide’s boss and the Chief of Staff of each office.
–Somebody hit ‘reply all’: marketing, marketing and marketing
| Smith, Jane <jane.smith@mail.house.gov> name changed for privacy |
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11:13 AM (48 minutes ago) |
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| to howard@citizensopposingprohibition.org |
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I think this is the guy that walks around the Cafeteria in the Cowboy hat.
Sidetracked: Explaining to a Michigan R staffer why the prosecutors in Oregon opposed decrim, my standard story goes thusly: ‘when cops search a car for drugs, 9/10 they find none. But, from time to time, they find cash, say $600 in the glovebox. “What’s the cash for?” The citizen replies, “I am en route to buy a bicycle off from eBay and the guy wants cash.” Nice story replies the officer, but I think you are going to buy drugs….and he seizes the money….6 months later the citizen goes to court to convince a judge all was legit…the officer’s lawyer is a prosecutor, to help the him/her keep the money AND make money for the prosecutor…. Across USA, the pros. office charges on average 10% of all seized assets as a fee for providing the prosecutor.
After I finished the 15-minute pitch, I asked him for questions. “They can really take the $600?” He then asked several more questions about civil asset forfeiture..conflict of interest was discussed….and so it goes.
Activity this week:
3525 Presentations to Congressional staffers…09 this week..
the Senate has come to a standstill, waiting on the impeachment trial. In the House, the “easy” 25% have had a presentation…now it will be tougher and I can’t go door to door.
1 meeting this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
90 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
327 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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
Posted January 30th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the Week of January 29, 2021
Father and Son: Enjoying my Saturday ritual of bagel and coffee at a Panera, a 14 y/o lad and his father pulled up to my table and the lad asked why legalize heroin. We had a most excellent 5-6 minute chat with the dad ( a doctor) asking many of the questions… .. stuff like that keeps me going.
As of this week, I have completed 50 of the 100 Senate offices + many of the House members who are on the judiciary committee.
Activity this week:
3516 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 13 this week
2 meetings this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
90 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
327 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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
Posted January 26th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the Week of January 22, 2021
Feelin Good: I had extra great chats this week; one former public defender, x- FBI agent, one all in Spanish, one with a Republican aide who was all on my side (fairly rare) and one with the criminal justice aide to the #2 Democrat in the House. Keeps me going, it does.
Another busy week of 16 presentations.
Activity this week:
3503 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 16 this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
90 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
327 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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 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.”
* 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
