COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of December 2, 2016

COP on the Hill:

Stories from the week of December 2, 2016

Karma is always welcomed: Updating my info of House offices this week by going door to door, I chanced to catch Congressman Danny Davis (D-Chicago) in the reception area. He granted me a minute of his time. “If you ever have a chance to speak to President Obama before he leaves office, please ask him to address the nation’s 800,000 police officers and tell us the War on Drugs is over.”

Davis responded that he was having lunch with POTUS on Tuesday and he will consider bringing it up. Stay tuned.

This week’s stats:

1 meeting
2267 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 09 this week
139 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 01 this week

COP stats since inception: August 2009

205 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
14 interviews and reports in minor media = this week.
67 Radio Interviews.. 00 this week
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week (NBC twice)
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
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 $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of November 11, 2016

Stories from the week of November 11, 2016

It’s what I do: On Saturday the 5th I spoke on a panel for the NORML chapter in Harrisonburg, VA. The James Madison U students were eager to move the issue forward. Karen was there in her shirt and thus, we made a ‘cute couple.’

Early congrats: I accepted MPP’s election night party invitation. I left a bit early due to the alarm going off at 0600 the next morning to go to work. I had an opportunity to talk to Rob Kampia, ED for MPP. I predicted 5 of 9 wins for the night and thanked him for his leadership. You probably know it turned out to be 8 of 9 wins. We will know in six months, if this Tsunami of a winning night will translate into votes in the Congress and beyond.

PS – Rob was quite certain that Michigan is the 2018 state to ‘go Colorado.’ It being my home state for some 25 years, you can be sure I will be in the thick of it.

This week’s stats:

3 meeting

COP stats since inception: August 2009

2249 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
134 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. this week
205 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week (Attorney General of South Carolina)
14 interviews and reports in minor media = this week.
67 Radio Interviews.. 00 this week
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week (NBC twice)
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
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 $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of October 14, 2016

Stories from the week of October 14, 2016

Invitations help: I was among those invited to meet the Attorney General of South Carolina after the regular Grover Norquist Wednesday meeting. I maintained my seat at the big table, enjoying my lunch, when Grover sat next to me. Alan Wilson the AG made a brief statement and opened the floor to Q & A.

I was the first called upon. “Mr AG. The war on drugs has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral, IMMORAL, policy since slavery and Jim Crow. If you were the King of South Carolina for life, what would you do with these illegal drugs?”

I am not allowed to tell you his answer, simply I can report I was impressed with his response.
Grover was called upon, right after me. His question was a follow-up to my war on drugs theme.
Having Grover Norquist follow my lead = priceless….and that is why COP pays me the big bucks….small steps.

NOTE: Since Congress went home for the election, there is precious little to do in DC…so I am traveling again.

This week’s stats:

205 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week (Attorney General of South Carolina)

1 meeting

COP stats since inception: August 2009
2244 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
134 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. this week

14 interviews and reports in minor media = this week.
67 Radio Interviews.. 00 this week
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week (NBC twice)
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
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 $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of October 7, 2016

COP on the Hill:

Stories from the week of October 7, 2016

German Support – Member of their Parliament (Bundestag)

Frank Tempel, a LEAP Germany board member, former police officer and currently a member of the German Parliament (lower chamber – Bundestag) met with me for two hours in his hometown of Erfurt (central Germany – formerly part of East Germany). Over coffee we had a straightforward, cop to cop exchange of values, current status of drug issues in both countries, what LEAP in both countries is doing to move the issue and how to proceed going forward into 2017. Since he only speaks ‘tourist English’ ( he had to learn Russian as a kid), the chat was in German. Frank and I spoke and listened intently the entire time, having coffee instead of Oktoberfest beer to stay sharp ( big sacrifice on my last day in Europe).

To move the public in Germany, LEAP participates in public discussions, TV panels and other mass media events. Yes, there are a few service orgs like Rotary, but they are few. Drug reform in general is not a priority for their society at the moment, rather it is refugees (and their costs) and terrorism. Thus, I suggested linking the wasted police resources going after drugs & MJ in specific, with the prospect of monitoring and catching more terrorist threats, if our colleagues did not chase green plants and white powders. Frank understood the concept and will study it.

Going forward in 2017 Frank has some radical (for Germany) ideas that he will introduce as legislation next year. I can’t say more than that. His ideas will not be easy to pass AND PM Merkel is not our friend on this issue in general.

Also in 2017 Germany will launch a solid MMJ program with distribution handled by pharmacies and paid for by their national healthcare system. Their HAT program for heroin abuse, already in use, will be expanded.

Going fwd in general, I will be supplying Frank’s office with any and all news from the USA, especially MJ news. Though he only speaks very limited English, his aides are near native fluency. Thus, documents, articles in English are no problem. To that end, I have already asked the major players in DC to send me info, as soon as they have it. I am also asking you to send relevant articles, especially human interest stories on this.

Also, I made him aware of the existence of the German Embassy report prepared by my German FBI friend in 2015.. Recall (COP facilitated) a 6 person team from the German and French embassies who made a three day visit to learn from both sides how Colorado was doing.

To summarize – LEAP has an articulate and steady voice in the German Parliament who believes in the legalize/regulate all drugs. He and I have a solid relationship to build on in 2017.

NOTE to COP donors: this German meeting cost COP 4 cups of coffee, a motel & parking. Karen and I were in the area as part of our vacation.

This week’s stats:

204 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week
1 meeting

COP stats since inception: August 2009
2244 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
134 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. this week

14 interviews and reports in minor media = this week.
67 Radio Interviews.. 00 this week
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week (NBC twice)
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
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 $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of September 2, 2016

COP on the Hill:

Let’s talk about Heroin:

To prepare for our luncheon, I had been studying my German & French non-stop for two weeks. The purpose of the visit was to 1) establish a relationship with Catherine. 2) demonstrate my knowledge of German, French and the Swiss HAT program and 3) learn all the latest changes and improvements in the program…My wife Karen and I met Catherine Ritter of the Swiss Federal Health Ministry at a café in Geneva. When Karen needed a personal moment, we had a five (5) minute chat in German. I asked if the Swiss Govt was still willing to send a three (3) person team to the US Congress, if formally invited. She hesitated not and confirmed the offer of eight (8) years ago was still valid. NOTE: the team would consist of an MD who runs a heroin treatment clinic, a police officer and a federal, health bureaucrat/manager.

After our 90 minute meeting and lunch, we strolled about 8 minutes to the Geneva facility which handles 460 patients who are addicted to heroin. Catherine’s colleague joined us and we spent the next two (2) hours receiving a deluxe tour and explanation en français of how the Swiss treat their citizens who become addicted to heroin. Karen was our unofficial photographer.

This being my third visit to a clinic (2001 and 2008), I learned of the latest, minor changes in procedure and approaches. The largest was the introduction of a slow-release (24 hour) morphine pill which patients are using instead of pure heroin. I don’t pretend to understand the science/medicine, rather I was just becoming aware of the Swiss always trying to improve their already life-saving approach to this nasty drug.

Karen and I spent that night in France in a house built around 1500 – très romantique..As this was part of the our second honeymoon, it was the least I could do after taking her to a heroin clinic, n’est-ce pas?

NOTE to COP donors: this meeting cost COP only a lunch, a motel & parking. Karen and I were in the area as part of our vacation.

This week’s stats:

2 meetings

COP stats since inception: August 2009

2244 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
134 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. this week
203 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
14 interviews and reports in minor media = this week.
67 Radio Interviews.. 00 this week
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week
42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week (NBC twice)
24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
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 $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org