Posted February 9th, 2026 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of January 30, 2026
No need to apologize: Chatting with aide to a woman running for the US House, I realized later I had spoken too long. I apologized for this in a follow-up letter…She said no need…her passion is water for Nevada, and she also talks too much from time to time.
Do you know about LEAP: Eating lunch, a staffer came up and asked that question. Yes, I replied. I just happen to be a Co-Founder of LEAP. He had been heavily involved in drug war issues since 15, joining SSDP in college (Students for a Sensible Drug Policy).
The windbreaker with the message pays dividends nearly every time I wear it. Now he works as an assistant to a California democrat.
Meetings this week: 1 Grover Norquist right of center meetings
7251 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 09 this week
500 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 02 this week: Candidate for the US House from NV and one from
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
246 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (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
Media: 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, Stern
* 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 February 4th, 2026 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of January 23, 2026
Money Talks: A weekly theme at the Norquist meeting is the need to cut government spending. Apropos, a state representative to a New England state addressed this. Afterwards, I showed him a solid way to cut a half billion in yearly costs; reduce simple possession of hard drugs from a 3–5-year felony in state prisons to a one-year misdemeanor in a county jail.
I followed up with a one pager with the facts and figures.
Media contact: Also at the Norquist meeting, I met a reporter who while experienced had a new position with a major paper. I will be giving him a possible story over the weekend re the drug reform movement. Stay tuned.
Meetings this week: 1 Grover Norquist right of center meetings
7242 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 11 this week
493 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week: Candidate for the US House from Texas.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (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
Media: 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, Stern
* 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 February 4th, 2026 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of January 9 and 16, 2026
Easy Sale:
All 3 of the candidates I spoke to this week at the Norquist meeting were about 50. They expressed their support for moving drugs from a criminal matter to doctor-clinic based solution. One was a nurse. She was enthusiastic about the idea. I will be sending her some facts/numbers how much can be saved in money AND improving the outcomes (lower OD and death rates).
Former police officer and now Congressman: Rare in my line of work, CMan Evans of Colorado had been a street cop for 10 years. He gave me 6 minutes to explain the COP position and better outcomes…we did agree the govt can not fix personal stupid via the police and prison. As Colorado de-felonized the simple possession of hard drugs about 6 years ago and the sun kept shining, he had experienced the ‘world did not end’ of that change.
Meetings this week: 2- Grover Norquist right of center meetings
405 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 02 this week. Rep Evans (R-CO) and brand new Rep. Grijalva (D-AZ).
7244 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 22 this week
496 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 03 this week: Candidates from Ohio and Michigan for the US House and a woman running for the state senate in MO
COP stats since inception: August 2009
118 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (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
Media: 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, Stern
* 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 December 31st, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of December 12 and 19, 2025
Karma: moving from one presentation to the next, I happened to have a long (7 minute) chat and average (2 minute) chat with 2 House Members.
Why?: Riding up the subway escalator near the Capitol, I heard a voice ask “why? ‘….she was a staffer and we ended up having an 8-minute, full presentation on the sidewalk outside Cannon..The $70 COP message jacket pays dividends every day.
Cowgirls need a hat: The speaker started her presentation telling us how there were plenty of cowgirls in her Plains State. After 30 seconds I lifted my 10-gallon cowboy off the table, offering to let her wear it…the room erupted in laughter.
Celebrate One Day, then back to work: As I am sure you read, President Trump ordered his people to move cannabis to a schedule 3, legal substance. This will generate movement in the States which have been recalcitrant to touch the issue…now back to work to move it to a descheduled drug/10th Amendment controlled policy. BTW, this is the biggest, positive change in drug policy since the DEA formed in 1971.
Cheerful News: my new, right knee is back to 97% Thus, I have decided to continue our COP tasks in the Congress/Washington DC for 2026…I am back to 9,000 steps (my average day on the Hill is about 6,000).
Season’s greetings to you and yours, howard
Meetings this week: 2- Grover Norquist right of center meetings
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 02 this week. Rep Schakowsky (D-IL) and Rep Grijalva (D-AZ)
7222 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 17 this week
493 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 03 this week: Candidate for Alaska governor, candidate for the House from Texas and the treasurer from a Plain State
118 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 01 this week =Fox News
COP stats since inception: August 2009
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (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
Media: 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, Stern
* 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 December 6th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of December 5, 2025
Tip of the Hat: As I sat down at the big table at the Norquist meeting, I made eye contact with the woman on the other side and tipped my hat. She smiled. She turned out to be a candidate for Governor of Alaska…after the meeting we had an xcl chat on how to reduce prison costs in AK.
At the same meeting I had another good chat with head of the GOP in a SE state. Gave him how it is politically safe to reduce to a misdemeanor – simple possession of hard drugs in his state and save tax dollars.
I was on a roll. The woman who sat down on my right was from Austria and part of a group of journalists who meet monthly to discuss promoting conservative values throughout Europe. She will ask the group to invite me to participate.
A few minutes later I had a nice chat in French with a gentleman who had given us an update of what is going on in the former Yugoslavia where he now lives.
Bonus:
I had a long chat with a national Fox reporter I have seen often on that network. I ended by saying whenever Fox would bring up the drug war issue, think of what I could contribute. Best Norquist meeting ever.
Meetings this week: 1- Grover Norquist right of center
7205 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 16 this week
489 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 01 this week. Republican chairman of a state.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
117 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 this week
245 interviews and reports in minor media … 0 this week –
102 Radio Interviews: 0 this week
34 major conferences attended – CPAC 2024, (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
Media: 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, Stern
* 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
