Posted January 19th, 2015 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of January 16, 2015
Shhh! Don’t tell anybody” The House staffer had just presented to the Grover Group and was headed out the door. We met by the elevator, I introduced myself, he asked for our input on reducing spending, exchanged cards and away he went. This has happened twice more since January first.
Sitting at the VIP table at Grover’s, folks must think I am important. I’ll never tell.
Finally, a good team: one of my meetings this week was a strategy meeting regarding just marijuana legislation. For the first time since we met five (5) years ago – where I pushed to adopt the strategy of a complete MJ repeal bill – the groups were together again. I am happy to report this team is not only the best ever (COP, DPA, MPP –now has two full-time federal lobbyists—one for Dems and one for Rs—NICA (Nat. Industrial Cannabis Assoc), EVERYONE is competent and hard-working.
We have many long hours and months of work ahead but it is just wonderful to be part of such a team. I am absolutely not a Lone Ranger anymore.
This week’s raw data:
1690 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 04 this week
53 Radio Interviews.. 1 this week
4 meetings this week
- COP stats since inception: August 2009
105 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
11 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress.. 0 this week
- 20 major conferences attended.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0 this week
54 brief chats with Members of Congress.. 00 this week
- 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. 0 this week
80 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $79,000).. 0 this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
- 28published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine…this 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. …
Posted January 12th, 2015 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of January 2 & 9, 2015
This is where the money went in 2014..
Salaries, labor costs: $0.00… a shout out to Dwight in Denver who maintains and improves the COP website
Vehicle mileage, parking and mass transit (train & subway): 2200
Conference costs to attend Drug Policy Alliance: 1000 – United Nations in Vienna & New York City (planning meeting): 2300 – CPAC: 600 and the NRA – National Rifle Association in Indiana: 800—-TOTAL: $ 4,700
Admin: $2,000 – office supplies, internet & cell phone connections, etc. (NOTE: this is about 700 more than usual due to one-time purchase of a new computer: the old, donated computer was obsolete)
Meals: 500
Misc: 300
TOTAL: $9,200
COP work done in calendar 2014:
- 221Presentations to Congressional staffers..
- 14 Radio Interviews..
- 2 brief chats with Members of Congress..
- 11 chats with Members of Congress (5 minutes or more)
- 58 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc
- 5 major conferences attended (United Nations in Austria, DPA, NRA, CPAC, CBC (Congressional Black Conference)
- 4 Appearances on major TV networks..this week(Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
- 8 published LTEs
- 4 Presentations to Grover Norquist Wednesday meeting + Weekly attendance at the brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
- Assisted in having Grover Norquist speak to large audience at Burning Tree.
- Established a solid relationship with members of the German, French, Uruguay and Swiss embassies.
- A request came from the German and French embassies for COP to arrange meetings in Colorado as part of a fact-finding mission. A large shout out to the law firm of Vicente & Sederburg LLC in Denver who put the nuts and bolts together. We knocked it out of the park.
- Established a working relationship with a White House staffer
Cost: $9,200
Note: the large reduction in presentations to Congressional staffers reflects a new approach of talking to staffers once every two years, instead of every year. All 535 offices receive several visits to drop off materials & remind them of law enforcement presence on the Hill who are against Drug Prohibition.
Favorite Foto of 2014: see attached below
At a televised event sponsored by the National Journal – asking a question to the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee – Goodlatte (R-VA)
***A humble thank you to all who donated to keep COP going . COP could not produce the above without your generous support.
Posted December 21st, 2014 by hiwayhowie
Work done in fifth fiscal year (August 1, 2013 thru July 31, 2014):
The bread and butter Congressional presentations numbered roughly 296. This number is down about 100 from last year. This reflects Howard working closer to 40 hours a week instead of 50. All 535 offices received visits to drop off materials, ask for an aides time, etc. Dozens of hearings and meetings were attended through DC.
Know that about 20% of the offices simply refuse to meet with me. 50% of the House offices force me to go door to door to meet as opposed to responding to my email for an appointment to meet. Luckily the Senate offices agree to set up a meeting about 60% of the time.
The champions of the House are Misters Polis (D-CO), Farr (D-CA) and Rohrabacher (R-CA). Rohrabacher’s HR 1523 was the flagship of this session of Congress ending up with 28 co-sponsors (21 Democrats and 7 Republicans). COP continues to educate the Congress on the need to repeal federal, marijuana prohibition. NOTE: 1523 was 39 words long and simply acted to repeal federal marijuana prohibition.
I attended the weekly Grover Norquist meeting of 150 influential conservatives every week I was in DC. This relationship continues to bear fruit. Norquist is a vocal supporter of COP efforts. I attended the CPAC convention in DC, DPA conference in Denver, the NRA national conference in Indianapolis and the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) September conference.
I attended an 11 day United Nations conference in Vienna, Austria at the request of SSDP. Using my four languages, I spoke to delegates from 27 countries. Also, I delivered in Spanish a 12 minute presentation at an officially sanctioned breakout session. The Spanish was in recognition of the tens of thousands who have died in Latin America due to worldwide prohibition.
In July I attended a one day planning session at the UN building in New York City. The belief of COP is that these international efforts will pay solid dividends in Washington, DC. One obstacle to repeal of drug prohibition in Congress is the United Nation’s 1961 Single Convention Treaty. COP will continue to do its part to end worldwide drug prohibition.
COP raised $14.666 in fiscal year #5. Expenditures were $9,770. Money in the bank at the end of the fiscal year was $32,231.
Posted December 19th, 2014 by hiwayhowie
December 19 & 26 & January 2, 2015
You’re doing the Lord’s work: While I was eating lunch the active-duty customs agent/supervisor spied the jacket and made contact. He gave me a five minute report on how much time his agency wastes at ports of entry scooping up tons of marijuana. He agreed that all drugs should be legalized. As he left to catch his train (we were in Union Station), he urged me to continue my efforts and said I was doing the Lord’s work. Nice.
Year end analysis: The mood in DC is jubilant and almost stunned disbelief that the Congress approved employing states rights – 10th Amendment on the issue of the medical use of marijuana….at least for the next 10 months. We ‘High-Five’ each other all over town. The consensus is the Congress will find it very difficult to close that door on October 1.
The November election victories have also thrilled us. Oregon, Alaska and DC have all ‘gone Colorado.’ Florida medical MJ grabbed 58% on its first try. All of this in the face of a Republican Tsunami in an off-year election when many young voters stay home. Woohoo!
I just learned that Congressman Rohrabacher will introduce the same language (one sentence) in 2015 to repeal the federal prohibition on marijuana. Perfect! The four organizations which place a full-time advocate on the Hill (COP, MPP, DPA and NCIA (Nat. Cann. Industry Assoc) are happy to again champion this KISS type bill. ( text at bottom)
Busy Work: I will stay engaged this end-of-the-year time…projects such as producing in Arabic why Muslims should support change, already an on-going project for the German embassy, 150 emails to every media person I know and 200 others to those I met in 2014 and finally spending the many hours it takes to add in the 100 plus new Members of Congress into my spread sheets.
It takes a village: I hope & trust you have enjoyed the newsletter in 2014. I pledge more hard work on my part in 2015. I humbly believe that my nine years, 3 sets of boot leather and over 3,000 presentations to Congressional staff had an impact on the vote in May and in December. If you agree, please consider a tax-deductible donation to COP. Go to: · www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
- Citizens Opposing Prohibition
POB 543
On behalf of the COP Board of Directors: Eric Sterling, Jerry Epstein, Karen Anderson & Orrin and Linda Carr we wish the very best of the season to you and yours.
This week’s raw data:
02 meetings these three weeks
- 01 this week…….. 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..
- COP stats since inception: August 2009
1686 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
105 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
11 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress.. 0 this week
- 20 major conferences attended.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0 this week
54 brief chats with Members of Congress.. 00 this week
80 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $79,000).. 0 this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
52 Radio Interviews.. 00 this week
- 28published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine…this 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. …
HR 1523
‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of this subchapter related to marihuana shall not apply to any person acting in compliance with State laws relating to the production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marihuana.’’.
Posted December 14th, 2014 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of December 5 & 12, 2014
Nothing new here: I attended a Heritage event concerning marijuana. I had a solid, five minute chat with a Congressman from Oklahoma who claimed an OK poll showed citizens there want the federal MJ prohibition! Who knew?! The panel of conservative experts included a former drug czar. I endured two hours of marijuana is a dangerous drug and legalization will be cause the end of life as we know. And then, they took no questions.
The good news is the panel conceded change thru a decrim approach. Also, they used the same tired, ¾ lies they always use. And the citizens are increasingly ignoring them & voting for change.
Ear of the White House: After another meeting a member of the White House staff gave me three minutes. I asked him to direct SAMHSA to conduct a new study to determine how many teens are employed selling drugs & carrying guns. See old, 2005 report below.
Being wined and dined: My friend at the German embassy invited me and his French embassy counterpart to lunch. He again thanked me for the Denver tour. He said his report is now being discussed in Berlin. Pierre said Paris also has his report on their desk.
Looking ahead to 2015 there might be some new projects where COP help might be needed. That is all I can say at the moment. It was my first 30 dollar lunch, since my arrival in 2005, which my host picked up. Pretty cool.
Hell froze over: Shortly after my arrival in DC nine years ago, the Washington Post published my first letter-to-the-editor I sent them….9 years and dozens of tries later – my second published LTE is at the very bottom.
This week’s raw data:
105 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 02 this week
11 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress.. 01 this week
07 meetings these two weeks
80 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $79,000).. 01 this week
· COP stats since inception: August 2009
- 20 major conferences attended.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0 this week
54 brief chats with Members of Congress.. 00 this week
1686 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
52 Radio Interviews.. 00 this week
- 28 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine…this week
- 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this 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. … Go to: · www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:
- Citizens Opposing Prohibition
POB 543
Why do more than 900,000 teenagers sell drugs1 but not alcohol or cigarettes?
Because alcohol and tobacco are regulated and sold through stores
Notes:
1) “Alcohol Use and Delinquent Behaviors among Youths,” April 2005, SAMHSA Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (www.SAMHSA.gov), USDHHS. (www.hhs.gov)
In 2003, nearly 9 million (36.1 percent) youths aged 12 to 17 had engaged in at least one delinquent behavior during the past year. Almost 6 million (23.8 percent) youths took part in a serious fight at school or work, 4.5 million (18.1 percent) youths took part in a group-against-group fight, 2.1 million (8.3 percent) youths attacked someone with the intent to seriously hurt them, 1.1 million (4.5 percent) youths stole or tried to steal anything worth more than $50, more than 900,000 (3.6 percent) youths sold illegal drugs, and more than 900,000 (3.6 percent) youths carried a handgun during the past year.
The WP edited it a bit but still made my essential point
December 11 at 5:26 PM
Regarding Samuel T. Wilkinson’s Dec. 7 op-ed, “Big Pot?”:
As a retired detective and co-founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, I understand Dr. Wilkinson’s concerns about marijuana.
It should be given the same respect, laws and regulations as beer. What are the advantages of the current policy, in which drug cartels produce and distribute marijuana and thousands of teens are selling it off sidewalks and in schools? Is Dr. Wilkinson worried about replacing bloodthirsty cartels with government rules? That deserves more explanation.
Howard Wooldridge, Adamstown, Md.
