Posted July 4th, 2017 by hiwayhowie
COP stats for 2016
257 Presentations to Congressional Staffers
27 chats with a Member of Congress
51 chats with other elected officials, state reps/senators, VIPs, etc
22 interviews and reports in media
7 radio interviews
2 published letter to the editor
3 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspaper (NY Times, example)
2 major conferences attended (United Nations drug conference and CPAC)
A week in New Hampshire and a week in South Carolina attending 26 presidential rallies
535 Congressional offices visited at least twice
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist Wednesday ‘Center-Right’ group attended by 150 conservatives
Cost / Expenses:
3050 – transportation – mileage, parking, train, metro,
1540 – meals
4600 – UN & CPAC conferences
400 – office supplies
840 – internet, phone costs
0000 – webmaster, 990 preparation, Howard’s time (all donated)
Spent: $ 10,400 – Total amount raised in 2016…circa $13,000
Work Done in 2016 by Citizens Opposing Prohibition (COP)
Congress – COP continued to focus on educating the Congress which resulted in steady progress to our goal of applying the 10th Amendment to prohibited drugs, starting with marijuana. We came within 10 votes of that goal in the House. All the ‘small steps’ of the past ten years are bearing fruit. As a COP member, be proud of the part you have played in making this happen.
Nationally – COP spoke truth to power in NH and SC. I and Don Murphy were able to speak to all candidates (except Bernie and Trump) and asked if they would apply the 10th to marijuana.
Internationally – COP continued to play a role. A two-hour coffee chat in central Germany with a member of the German Parliament (Frank Tempel) has solidified the bonds between USA and German police orgs (LEAP). He asked for and I have been supplying his office with a steady stream of USA reports on developments in the marijuana industry/law. I made him aware of the report on Colorado and Washington prepared by the German embassy in 2015. Frank introduced a bill in late 2016 to allow the 16 German states to choose their own path on marijuana.
COP was there in Vienna this spring for the annual UN conference on dangerous drugs. Asking two UN employees the fastest route to end the world-wide marijuana prohibition, both answered, “legalize it in California.” Thus 2016 will be the last Howard takes the two weeks and the money to attend.
Field Work: Howard and Don Murphy spent a week before their primary to attend rallies (24), interview with media (many) and speak to the candidates (all but Trump and Fiorina). I had several fotobomb events, the best in the NY Times and CNN.
Manchester, NH – election day – on set with CNN ‘foto bomb’
Posted July 4th, 2017 by hiwayhowie
COP Annual Report for year August 1, 2014 thru July 31, 2015
The bread and butter Congressional presentations numbered roughly 245. This number is down about 50 from last year. There was a large in increase (37) in personal chats with Members of Congress this year. All 535 offices received an average of three (3) visits to drop off materials, ask for an aide’s time, etc. Dozens of hearings and meetings were attended throughout DC.
Know that about 20% of the offices simply refuse to meet with COP. 70% of the House offices force Howard to go door to door to meet, as opposed to responding to an 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 1940 is the flagship bill of this session of Congress currently has 14 co-sponsors (9 Democrats and 6 Republicans). COP continues to educate the Congress on the need to repeal federal, marijuana prohibition. NOTE: 1940 is 38 words long and simply acts to repeal federal marijuana prohibition.
Howard attended the weekly Grover Norquist meeting of 150 influential conservatives every week he was in DC. This relationship continues to bear fruit. Norquist is a vocal supporter of COP efforts. He attended the CPAC convention in DC and the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus) September conference.
At the CPAC conference COP chipped in half the cost of a booth. It was used by LEAP, RAMP and SSDP to meet some of the 9,000 attendees. Howard stayed on the move thru-out the 3 day conference.
Howard again attended an 11 day United Nations drug conference in Vienna, Austria at the request of LEAP. Using my four languages, I spoke to delegates from 19 countries. The hallways continue to buzz with the results of Colorado and its audacity to disobey the UN.
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 $14.945 in fiscal year #5. Expenditures were $12,774. Money in the bank at the end of the fiscal year was $35,850.
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 September 9th, 2013 by hiwayhowie
Work done in fourth fiscal year:
To make record keeping simple, I stopped recording yearly stats and just keep a running total since COP inception. The bread and butter Congressional presentations numbered roughly 340. This number reflects being absent from DC for 4 weeks in the spring for personal reasons and 5 weeks in the fall to volunteer for Colorado’s legalize/regulate initiative.
Know that about 20% of the offices simply refuse to meet with me. 70% 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 at about 60% of the time.
The champions of drug reform Misters Paul and Frank left the House. The new champions are Misters Polis (D-CO) and Rohrabacher (R-CA). They introduced repeal legislation early in the 113th Session. Neither bill is doing well with only 16 and 18 co-sponsors respectively. COP continues to educate the Congress on the need to repeal federal, marijuana prohibition.
I attended the Republican and Democratic presidential conventions, the CBC fall conference, the national ASA conference, CPAC and the NRA conference.
Media: In Colorado I was on three (3) local TV stations clips..one of which went national Fox News for 24 hours. http://www.fox21news.com/news/story.aspx?id=821424#.Ui2w19KOSbZ I was in at least 3 major newspaper articles with fotos.
At CPAC I was interviewed for a 6-8 blogs and minor media. www.BuzzFeed.com being the biggest coup having my foto displayed + Reason TV. I was quoted in Germany’s largest, daily newspaper.
Attending Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch continues to pay solid dividends. He asked me to present twice to the 150 conservative VIPs on Colorado & Washington MJ programs. Norquist also spoke at a reception in favor of the House bills to repeal federal, MJ prohibition.
COP raised $15,488 in fiscal year #4. Expenditures were $7,900.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
- 1297 Presentations to Congressional staffers..this week
- 58 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this week
- 34 Appearances on major TV networks..this week(Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)
- 22 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… this week
- 72 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $70,000)
- 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
- 31 Radio Interviews.. this week
- 37 brief chats with Members of Congress..this week
- 40 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. this week
- 15 major conferences attended.. this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions. etc)
- Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
Posted September 9th, 2013 by hiwayhowie
Annual Report of COP for the year 2011-2012
Summary: COP continued to provide a solid presence on Capitol Hill, making contact with all 535 offices. 295 presentations to staffers were made and four (4) major conferences were attended (CPAC,NRA, CBC, DPA). Two major papers wrote editorials based on Howard’s bicycle trip and related activities.
Factors reducing COPs effectiveness and exposure were Howard’s stroke early in 2012 and his subsequent leave of absence to ride his bicycle across America.
Media exposure was constant through-out the year, especially at the annual CPAC event. A YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aykf4437YTg was produced and seen by 18,000. A Spanish version is planned.
Total stats for COP in first 3 years:
- 944 Presentations to Congressional staffers
- 26 Appearances on major TV networks
- 14 published interviews in major (daily)newspapers
- 27 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, etc
- 66 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $65,000)
- 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning my efforts & in support of COP position
- 33 brief chats with Members of Congress
- 19 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, etc.
- 10 major conferences attended (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, etc)
- Permanent invitation to Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
