Posted January 20th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
This Week:
Toe in the Water: After 6 long weeks of physical therapy I felt confident to venture to downtown DC and attend the Wednesday meetings…it involved a half mile of walking, using my cane only a few times. All good and this week, I’ll be back to my usual 2 days a week.
I gave Grover my outlook for 2025 (bleak for marijuana and drug war in general…I see no changes). I informed him he only bright spot was the real progress I expect on the issue of using hallucinogens at the VA to help our mentally wounded warriors.
He asked me to make a presentation on this. I am working with MAPS to get the best info. More later
02 meeting.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting
477 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 0 this week..
COP stats since inception: August 2009
6081 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
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: 01 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
Status of the War on Drugs in 2024
After 53 years of efforts, 54 million arrested on drug charges, 1,000,000 Americans dead from Drug OD the past 14 years and 1.5 trillion tax dollars wasted, fentanyl is easily purchased in every small town in America. By any objective measure, this has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crowe.
Cheerful News: There is no heroin for purchase in USA. Bad news: the cartels began 7 years ago to replace heroin with Fenty because the profit margins are much higher…the transition was complete in 2023..
Cheerful News: the number of opioid addicts has gone down each of the last 7 years (doctors stopped prescribing Oxycontin like candy) . Bad News: OD deaths have stayed stable at about 200 per day, as the much more powerful Fenty entered the market place.
Do not look for any change in supply, as 86% of Fenty comes through a Port of Entry on our southern border. Moreover, drug dealers accept Death and long prison terms as a condition of employment. Trump’s promise of the death penalty for dealers will have 0.0 impact.
Regarding treatment: the US approach has not changed in my lifetime, despite 1,000,000 dead in the past 14 years. The Swiss strategy is vehemently Pro-Life. And no one in Congress has been interested, except X Senator Rob Portman who visited a clinic in Bern in 2000.
All illegal drugs remain “readily available “ per the analysis of our DEA.
Marijuana: 24 states have legalized it, mostly like beer…another 15 states have medical use only, including Nebraska which just passed it. North and South Dakota and Oklahoma voted no to legalize/regulate. Even red states like Ohio and Missouri have legalized it.
At the federal level, our side has had the votes to pass a one page bill to repeal federal prohibition and or the Banking Bill for 6 years. Democratic leadership decided not to pass that bill, rather they have pushed a 38 page bill (MORE Act) which contains many elements which are contrary to the 10th Amendment…Chuck Schumer has never allowed a vote on any bill. I expect no major changes anywhere in the next 4 years; not state, not federal. There is no political advantage for Republicans to pass anything, so they won’t.
MJ arrests have gone from an all-time high of 800,000 per year, down to about 300,000 – this as 24 states legalized sales and possession. Total drug war arrests are down from 1.6 million to 1.1 million.
Last: Oregon voted to decrim simple possession of all drugs 3 years ago…the public became disgusted as addicts began shooting up anywhere and everywhere…the experiment ended this year in disgrace…they should have left in place the crime of public consumption.
Questions/Concerns ?
Posted January 20th, 2025 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill – Stories from the week of November 8, 15, 22, 2024
Back from vacation: While i was in Switzerland, I took the opportunity to renew my relationship with the Swiss Health Ministry. I had an hour long chat in German with the new contact person for their Heroin Assisted Treatment program. She gave the changes for 2025 and later approved the document I will distribute to the Congress in 2025..very productive.
Election Night Party/Funeral: I attended the Grover Norquist election soiree’. As the sad news came in, I salvaged the night with 5 media interviews in four -4 languages. After two hours I left, unable to share their happiness of the results.
Drug War Status: Last week I made my short presentation to the Norquist Center-Right Wednesday meeting…notes below.
Main takeaway is I expect 0.0 changes for the better in the next two years, as least…there is no political advantage for Republicans to change direction/laws regarding marijuana or anything else.Senator Schumer (D-NY) has never allowed a vote on MJ banking nor bills to end MJ, fed prohibition….the incoming Majority Leader Thune is stuck in Reefer Madness mentality, as is all Republican leadership, House and Senate.
Thus, the next two years I will continue my anti-prohibition message and mainly educate the aides on the benefits the Swiss Medication Assisted Treatment for heroin.; Yeoman’s work for sure.
In two days I am having my right knee replaced…simply wore it out…I’ll be on a walker for a couple of weeks. I do expect to be able to walk well enough in January to resume my meeting with staff.
Happy Thanksgiving and Season’s Best you and yours,
This Week:
02 meeting.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting
477 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 0 this week..
COP stats since inception: August 2009
6081 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
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: 01 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
Status of the War on Drugs in 2024
After 53 years of efforts, 54 million arrested on drug charges, 1,000,000 Americans dead from Drug OD the past 14 years and 1.5 trillion tax dollars wasted, fentanyl is easily purchased in every small town in America. By any objective measure, this has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crowe.
Cheerful News: There is no heroin for purchase in USA. Bad news: the cartels began 7 years ago to replace heroin with Fenty because the profit margins are much higher…the transition was complete in 2023..
Cheerful News: the number of opioid addicts has gone down each of the last 7 years (doctors stopped prescribing Oxycontin like candy) . Bad News: OD deaths have stayed stable at about 200 per day, as the much more powerful Fenty entered the market place.
Do not look for any change in supply, as 86% of Fenty comes through a Port of Entry on our southern border. Moreover, drug dealers accept Death and long prison terms as a condition of employment. Trump’s promise of the death penalty for dealers will have 0.0 impact.
Regarding treatment: the US approach has not changed in my lifetime, despite 1,000,000 dead in the past 14 years. The Swiss strategy is vehemently Pro-Life. And no one in Congress has been interested, except X Senator Rob Portman who visited a clinic in Bern in 2000.
All illegal drugs remain “readily available “ per the analysis of our DEA.
Marijuana: 24 states have legalized it, mostly like beer…another 15 states have medical use only, including Nebraska which just passed it. North and South Dakota and Oklahoma voted no to legalize/regulate. Even red states like Ohio and Missouri have legalized it.
At the federal level, our side has had the votes to pass a one page bill to repeal federal prohibition and or the Banking Bill for 6 years. Democratic leadership decided not to pass that bill, rather they have pushed a 38 page bill (MORE Act) which contains many elements which are contrary to the 10th Amendment…Chuck Schumer has never allowed a vote on any bill. I expect no major changes anywhere in the next 4 years; not state, not federal. There is no political advantage for Republicans to pass anything, so they won’t.
MJ arrests have gone from an all-time high of 800,000 per year, down to about 300,000 – this as 24 states legalized sales and possession. Total drug war arrests are down from 1.6 million to 1.1 million.
Last: Oregon voted to decrim simple possession of all drugs 3 years ago…the public became disgusted as addicts began shooting up anywhere and everywhere…the experiment ended this year in disgrace…they should have left in place the crime of public consumption.
Questions/Concerns ?
Posted September 8th, 2024 by hiwayhowie
Not hanging up my Spurs, yet:
In the past nearly 18 years on the Hill I have worn out two sets of boot leather and had to switch to comfortable walking shoes. Five years later my right knee barked “no más = no more.” I am currently seeing various doctors for the okays to have it replaced. The timetable is about 1 December (luckily the wait time is only about 3 months)..
The timing is good in that Congress will soon be out of session for the rest of the year…as you know 0.0 is done during October and after the Nov.5 election…with a good recovery I should be ready to go, when Congress opens a new session on January 3, 2025.
I am a bit melancholy about this situation. Yes, the seasons change and life changes and we do not stay 25 forever. Still,……
I’ll keep you posted from time to time about the knee and any events… During my vacation I expect to have a meeting in mid-October in Switzerland with the government doctor in charge of their heroin treatment program.
This Week:
01 meeting.. Grover Norquist center-right meeting
COP stats since inception: August 2009
6081 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
476 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 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: 01 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 September 5th, 2024 by hiwayhowie
Small Matter: On my brief description of each Member of Congress, I include their Year of Birth. Especially with Republicans, those under 60 are much more receptive to the COP message.
Very slow last full week of recess..many offices only had the receptionist.
At the bottom is a longer explanation from my last newsletter regarding the federal politics of marijuana and why nothing is being passed..a COP member asked for it.
This Week:
6081 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 10 this week
0 meeting.. Grover did not have a meeting this week.
COP stats since inception: August 2009
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
476 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 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: 01 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
Why Congress has not repealed the 1937, marijuana prohibition law.
Well, it is a sad story that started five years ago. Early 2019 we did a whip count in the House and Senate and found out we had enough folks in both chambers to end the federal prohibition of marijuana, using a clean, simple 1 page law. (STATES Act)
Immediately, our friends at DPA, MPP, NORML and Others told democratic Leadership to slow down and not take a vote. Then they wrote up a 38-page bill called the MORE act which is so full of social ideas that no Republican will vote for it.
Their justified fear is that they would lose their job as a federal, marijuana lobbyist. Also, their organizations would suffer significant loss of contributions. You may know this has already occurred now the last 12 years, as state after state legalizes marijuana, contributions from that state drop off significantly. That is why there have been office closings and layoffs in everybody’s organization. COP Lost half of its yearly budget when I told former Dallas Cowboy, 5-time all-pro Mark Stepnoski that we had everything we needed in Washington to repeal the 1937 law and now Schumer is holding it back. His major interest was to end marijuana probation, and that essentially has been done in terms of support for a clean, simple one page bill. He has diverted his funding to Texas, marijuana reform. God Bless.
I do receive literature from the Democratic Party and Schumer specifically. It states in a nutshell; you need to vote for Democrats because we will legalize marijuana. And then give us $100 so we can be elected.
If they legalize marijuana, Schumer and the Democrats would no longer have a slogan to use to raise money and get votes. It is that simple and ugly.
In 2024 there are X number of marijuana industry lobbyists in DC. In terms of marijuana lobbyists to legalize it for social reasons, as far as I know, there’s only me and Don Murphy who is paid by a private individual these days. Unlike 2019, the whole gang does not get together every six weeks for a soirée, exchange ideas and info. I know Michelle does lobbing for the NCIA and after that I have no idea who the industry people are. NCIA laid off two or three of their lobbyists and I believe Michele is the only one now.
In the spring of 2019, I was so depressed to learn all this shit that I took off for two weeks to clear my head
From the Swamp, howard
Posted September 5th, 2024 by hiwayhowie
Prohibition Strategies persist: I had an excellent chat with a staffer I have known for several years. He was proud that his Member had introduced yet more legislation to “get tough” on dealers and smugglers of Fenty. He believed that the illegals were bringing it across the river.
Painfully, I gave him the info that in 2023 per the Border Patrol – 86% of the Fenty found at the border was caught at a POE (port of entry) in American cars and trucks and driven by Americans.
Note: I did not go to the Capitol last week, following the guidelines for covid
COP stats since inception: August 2009
This Week:
6059 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 14 this week
1 meeting..Grover Norquist center-right
Activities since August 2009:
403 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
476 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, … 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: 01 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
