Posted September 19th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
Slow Start:
Between the jet lag from Europe and catching a medium cold, I had just enough energy for one day on the Hill..All better as I write this…next week will be normal activity.
Weekly Activities:
4031 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 03 this week…
442 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 01 this week > Republican candidate running for the US House…another one ready to apply the 10th Amendment to MJ.
Meetings: 01 Grover Norquist
COP stats since inception: August 2009
362 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
98 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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 August 11th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
Back in the Saddle: While my legs and neck recovered from the bike ride in Iowa, I was back in the halls of Congress, making presentations to staffers. Everyone was extra relaxed during this August recess and the chats were longer and better.
The “kids” (23-33 y/o) AKA Legislative Assistants of both parties continue to be much in tune with the COP broad message of making drug issues a medical situation versus police/prison. Certainly, it makes my job easier and more a joy than a chore. Now, they just, LOL, need to convince their Boss, the Member, to change their Point of View.
Surprise of the week: Brand new Member of the House, McGarvey, (D-KY) will be a quite popular office for everyone, as I spread the word that; when you open his office door, there is a 15 foot long cabinet, 3 levels full of Kentucky’s finest whiskeys!! And yes, you may have a sample.
Note: 6 states offer Congressional tourists their peanuts, Wisconsin offers free cheese, California offices offer free almonds, one Texas office has a freezer of ice cream made in that district = all good…me thinks I may have to recall the words of a famous song, “It’s five o’clock somewhere,” when after a long, hard day of running my mouth (building up a thirst), I retire to Longworth 1527 and sip a shot of Basil Hayden.
Personal Note: I’ll be politikin the next 20 days in Denmark and Norway, as my fiancé attends a conference in Copenhagen + some sightseeing.
Weekly Activities:
4051 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 22 this week…
Meetings: 01 Grover Norquist
COP stats since inception: August 2009
362 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
441 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 0 this week
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
98 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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 August 6th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of late July, 2023
Special Cops Project:
I participated in the 50th anniversary of the River-to-River ride called RAGBRAI in beautiful, downtown Iowa. This year I had about 29,000 bicycle people as companions of whom I had about 300 rolling chats during the 413 miles I rode. Another 200 or so road by and simply yelled I agree with your shirt. My best chats were with three doctors, two pharmacists and a young cop from Arkansas who reminded me of myself 40 years ago. It was like doing 1-2 Rotaries every day.
Because I was going so slowly at 11 to 12 MPH (average speed of biker was about 16 mph), I estimate a good 15 to 20,000 read the message. The rhythm was about every 8 minutes, someone would slow down, ask why, chat for 1-5 minutes and they would speed off…Note: after the first hundred soybean and corn fields to look at and admire, there is not much to do, when riding a bicycle across Iowa.
I very much enjoyed meeting and conversing with regular people from all 50 states and several countries. This in contrast to the atmosphere and be careful with every word you say, when I go to work in Congress. I did not enjoy the weather, as temperatures reached into the mid-90s. On the worst day – 83 miles, I drank 2 gallons of water and Gatorade and never peed!! Cowboy Up!
My fiancé was very happy I did not end becoming a FORD (found on roadside dead)!!
Personal Note: I learned how to say in Ukraine: F*** Russia!! and All Glory to Ukraine !!
Weekly Activities:
RAGBRAI – 7 days + my travel time
98 Radio Interviews: 01 this week; Houston Station
COP stats since inception: August 2009
362 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
4029 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week…
441 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 0 this week
Meetings
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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 July 16th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
Must be present to win: As my Thursday was winding down, I was in the process of learning the names of the Health Policy Advisors for the Members whose offices are in the Cannon Building. As I spoke to the two receptionists in one office, my words floated thru the open door of the Congresswoman. I already knew her adult son had an opioid addiction for 10 years.
She came out of her office and introduced herself: Madeleine Dean. She wanted to know more about the Swiss approach to treatment and the WOD in general. After 3 minutes of that, the chat moved, as I felt relaxed and quipped about Member Matt Gaetz and his eye makeup during the hearing with the FBI Director Chris Wray…She and I agreed that Rep Ted Lieu was awesome in his Q and A. She was a genuine human being and we connected on an intimate level, sharing who had the most grandchildren…LOL.
Anyway, she wanted to know more about the Swiss approach. and I assured had had multiple contacts with the officials at the Health Ministry in Bern. She expressed a great interest in going there and learning as much as possible.
If this develops into something concrete, beyond question, this was the best 7 minutes of my 16 years on the Hill. I floated out of that office. Perhaps a big step forward.
Looking for an excuse: waiting in a long line to order my Subway sandwich, I dictated a note to a friend who is German…the guy in front of me says, ‘ Sie sprechen Deutsch. Ich spreche auch Deutsch.’….we went on in German for a minute..then back to English…he was the Agriculture advisor to a MS Congressman and his colleague in front of him was the criminal justice advisor…2 minutes later, they knew a bit of why we should end the drug war….small steps.
Weekly Activities:
362 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week ( Madeliene Dean D-PA)
4029 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 9 this week…
441 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 01 this week Member of the German legislature (Bundestag)
Meetings (2) 2 at Grover Norquist
COP stats since inception: August 2009
97 Radio Interviews: 0 this week;
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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 July 16th, 2023 by hiwayhowie
Not the analysis they expected: I met with assistants from an Oklahoma senator this week. I praised their state for being one of the top 10 states with progressive drug policies: OK de-felonized simple possession of hard drugs (one of only 18 states to do so) about 10 years ago. OK medical marijuana rules make it simple to qualify and thus buy God’s green plant. Sadly, I am unable to put in this message the look on their faces.
Later, the LA said OK and the Senator remained very conservative on drugs.
Time to Switch: The Senate legislative assistants who will take a COP has shrunk to a mathematical zero. Thus, starting next week, I will switch to the House.
In the House in July we fully expect two major, drug bills to be introduced; a marijuana deschedule bill and another to decrim simple possession of hard drugs at the federal level only.
The MJ deschedule bill will be Republican-centric, simple and Speaker McCarthy has promised it to receive a vote. The decrim bill is expected to contain the same “Defund The Police” paragraph as last year and thus will receive very little support from either party.
Weekly Activities:
4020 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 07 this week…
440chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc 01 this week MD State Senator Karen Young
Meetings (3) 2 at Grover Norquist and 1 with expert on psychedelics
COP stats since inception: August 2009
361 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
97 Radio Interviews: 0 this week;
109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week.
215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –
33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (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
in the past – 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
* 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
