COP on the Hill:   Stories from the week of March 31, 2023

Stories from the week of March 31, 2023

It was a kick to be consulted: “Thank you for contributing to Meta’s (Facebook) policy development on “Non-Medical Drugs in Religious or Traditional Contexts”…it was regarding Ayahuasca

We all need a great day from time to time:  My Wednesday

• Rode up the elevator with Senator Rounds of SD..30 second chat
• Steps of the Capitol yielded chats with 2 Congressman
• Contacted by Univision and gave my first interview for them en español ..about 6 minutes
• At a cannabis reception/soiree I had a great 10-minute chat with an NBC reporter
• Same place I had an excellent chat with aide to Linda Sanchez (D- CA) en español,
• On my way out of the building and headed to the Metro to go home, there was a briefing by the Swiss embassy. Four of their staffers were at the tables, checking in attendees…not able to resist the opportunity, I chatted away in German & French the next 5 minutes…woohoo!!

Weekly Activities:

3971 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 10 this week…

359 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 03 this week….   Senator Rounds (R-SD), CMan Hern (R-OK), CMan Hudson (R-NC)

109 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 01 This week. Univision

439 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   01 this week   (Cory Gardner, x Senator (R) of Colorado

1 conference ( NCIA hosted a briefing and reception for MJ folks)

COP stats since inception: August 2009

96 Radio Interviews:  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

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of March 24, 2023

Stories from the week of March 24, 2023

I like your hat.   I remember your hat:

I was a few minutes early for a meeting with the aide to Senator Blackburn (R-TN).  Two women entered the small reception area.  After a few moments one said, “I like your hat.”  Thank you I replied, “you should see the horse that goes under it.”  This led to showing her a foto of Misty.  Her companion added her voice to the small talk, “ I remember your hat.  You rode that horse across America, right?  And you want to legalize all drugs.”

“Guilty on both charges, but how did you know?”  She explained that 16 years ago, was she an aide to Congressman Shadegg (R-AZ).  I had made my standard presentation to her, which always includes a bit of my biography.  It may have helped that I mentioned that I rode thru Arizona in 2005 en route to New York City.

You could have knocked me over with a feather.  Perhaps I still have “it.”  An extra shot of Crown Royal whiskey, when I returned home.

Weekly Activities:

3961 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 08 this week…

COP stats since inception: August 2009

356 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week….

438 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   0 this week

108 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 01 This week. Esquire Magazine

96 Radio Interviews:  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

COP on the Hill:    Stories from the week of March 17, 2023

Cooperation:  An emerging topic/phenomenon across the country is the creating a third branch of public safety department; Crisis Intervention Team.  The Crisis Intervention Team’s goal is to provide an effective response to situations involving people who might be mentally ill or in crisis.

Albuquerque, NM has been a pioneer here.  Congressman Cardenas (D-CA) office wanted to law enforcement voices input in how to craft a piece of legislation in the House.  I contacted LEAP and was able to put LEAP voices into the mix to produce a better bill.

BTW, police professionals across USA are speaking out positively about having mental health professionals handle citizens suffering a mental break, even if the monies must come from their budget.  For 100 years cops have been a lousy, deadly job handling such calls.  I never met a colleague who wanted to handle this type of call.  Quite the contrary.

NOTE:  My week now is only making formal 15-minute presentations to staff.  I have been to all 535 offices to learn the names of staffers who handle CJ and Health policies.  Four my presentations this week concerned the Swiss MAT Program. (see below)

Weekly Activities:

3953 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 5 this week…

108 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 01 This week. Esquire Magazine

COP stats since inception: August 2009

356 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week….

96 Radio Interviews:  0 this week;

438 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   0 this week

215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –

33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (UN drug conference 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

Swiss Approach to Heroin Addiction Treatment: 1994-2023

The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health reviewed this summary and approved its release for 2023. This summary was taken from six published reports & updated every year. Addt.  questions should be directed in English to Lucien Colliander in Bern: +41 – 58 484 98 07:  Email;    lucien.colliander@bag.admin.ch –NOTE: the author toured the clinics in 2016, 2008 and 2001, plus met with federal health administrators multiple times, including October 2022 to increase understanding and knowledge. Comprehension was enhanced, due to the author’s fluency in French and German.  This summary was written by Howard J. Wooldridge, Drug Policy Specialist at Citizens Opposing Prohibition (.org)

Overview: Due to the severe drug problem in Switzerland in the early 1990s, (rising number of injection drug users, visibility of open drug scenes, Aids epidemic, rising number of drug related deaths, poor physical health, high criminality) the Swiss made a fundamental shift in approaching the problems caused by heroin addiction. The Swiss offer treatment-on-demand and life-time status as a patient (Like an alcoholism is a lifelong condition).  A variety of different treatments is available, in order to treat a broad range of dependent people. Of an estimated 24,000 addicted Swiss citizens 17,500 are in treatment.  92% are given daily doses of primarily methadone(orally) at conventional clinics or via general practitioners (60%). The Swiss treat circa 1600 patients with maintenance doses of  Diacetylmorphine: Di-M (heroin) or slow-release morphine tablets at 23 special clinics operating in cities and two prisons. Opioid based treatments are part of a broader therapy that includes social, educational and psychological measures. The Swiss approach has resulted in lower rates of crime, death, disease, a slight drop in expected new users as well as an improvement in mental and physical health, employment and housing. Similar

programs have been developed in eight countries: Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, England, Spain, Norway and Canada.

Note: The Di-M assisted therapy is covered by health insurance.

* To qualify for treatment with Di-M a person must:  Be at least 18 years old, be severely dependent, present signs of poor health and has failed conventional treatment at least twice.

1. Patients can receive up to three doses of Di-M per day. 66% take it via needle injection, the rest orally.
2. Di-M can only be obtained at a clinic and must be taken on site.  (Note: under strict control and specific criteria {like full employment}, a patient is allowed to take away one dose)
3. Patients average about three (3) years in this plan. However, they may stay in treatment indefinitely. 20% of original patients are still in the program.
4. Upon relapse, a patient can return to the clinic and re-start the treatment
5. The vast majority of patients are satisfied or very satisfied with the program.
6. Average age of patient: 59 years.
7. The Swiss approach is custom-designed, according to the medical needs of the patient.

*Crime Issues: 80% drop in felony crime after one year in the program). 82% drop in patients selling heroin.

*Death Rates: Millions of doses have been administered. No participant has died at a clinic from a heroin overdose since the inception of the program.

*Disease Rates: New infections of Hepatitis and HIV have been reduced for patients.

*New Use Rates: Slightly lower than expected.  1) Most new users are introduced to heroin by members of their social group and 50% of users also deal to support their habit. Therefore, with so many users /sellers in treatment, non-users have fewer opportunities to be exposed to heroin.

*Cost Issues: 50 dollars/day:  Note: The Swiss save about 40 dollars per day per patient mostly

in lowered costs for court and police time, due to less crime committed by the patients.

*The Swiss annually purchase about 250 kilos of Di-M for treatment. Since 1994 Swiss patients have received over 20,000,000 doses of heroin (Di-M) without a fatality.

** The Swiss approach gives us a glimpse of a context in which drug issues are handled by the medical community.

*** In October 2022, the Swiss govt health representatives in Bern confirmed their readiness to explain their program to the US Congress, if they receive a formal request.

**** The Swiss do not have an opioid-type problem like in the USA

Due to Covid, the Swiss have changed the procedures, so that patients can now take their Di-M home for a maximum of 7 days. Here is the link to the press statement:

https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/das-bag/aktuell/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-80511.html

Reader:  What the Swiss Program is not:

1.     It has not eliminated street sales of heroin.  Dealers still exist in cities with clinics.
2.    It is not a ‘free’ drugs program.  Patients must purchase health care insurance and receive their methadone or heroin as part of their comprehensive therapy.
3.    A non-heroin user cannot walk into a clinic and receive heroin.
4.    Simply put; the Swiss are using a comprehensive, public health approach (treatment on demand) to heroin addiction whose unique feature is to allow a small minority of patients to receive pure, maintenance doses of Diacetylmorphine.
5.    Heroin is not available for purchase in Switzerland.

COP on the Hill:      Stories from the week of March 10, 2023

Must be Present to Win:  I was in a Senate office building, collecting the contact info of each office’s criminal justice and health policy advisor today.  I had just finished that task in the office of Senator Lujan (D-NM), when as i turned left to go to the next office, the whole corridor was blocked by 12 people chatting with/making fotos with the Senator.

I waited till the crowd had left and seized the moment to introduce myself and hope he would give me 30 seconds to make my pitch…at the end of 20 seconds, his aide said, “Senator we have to go to the meeting.”  As i was went silent and began to back away, the Senator held up his hand to the aide and said, “i want to hear the rest” and gave me another 30 seconds.

I ended my 60 seconds by saying i had ridden my horse horse across New Mexico in 2005 and that is how you earn this buckle, pointing to my extra large “Long Rider” buckle…he acknowledged my buckle and we shook hands.

And that is how one is able to chat with a Member of Congress for free.

Weekly Activities:

3948 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 7 this week…

356 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week….  Senator Ben Lujan (D-MX)

COP stats since inception: August 2009

96 Radio Interviews:  0 this week;

107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week

438 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   0 this week

215 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week –

33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (UN drug conference 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

COP on the Hill:   Stories from the week of March 3, 2023

Two weeks ago I spent the week in Phoenix, supporting my fiancé and her ladies group

CPAC 2023 was Trump Über Alles:

Four great days, filled with interviews, one – on – one chats with attendees and assorted mostly fun encounters (I came within 5 feet of Mr. Pillow, Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene!!).  The last interview was 30 minutes with the New York Times, half on Trump and half on the Drug Issues!  I was thrilled.

I know that face and voice!  or 90% of success is showing up- it was 5ish on Friday and my dogs were telling me it was quitting time (yes, I was in my cowboy boots)!  I was headed to the hotel bar and just before I entered, 4 gentlemen were in the corridor and I knew 3 of them.  Paul was a  senior Trump advisor on domestic policy, Manny was Trump’s Hispanic outreach guy (and an RNC member) and Andrew is a journalist.  The 4th guy was totally familiar and his voice also…after a minute i said to him, ‘I have seen you a bunch of times on TV, but where?’  Univision, he replied.  We (Alfonso Aguilar) and I  ended up in a 2 person, 5 minute chat on drug war en Español.  We will keep in touch!

It was my most productive CPAC ever in terms of my enjoyment, citizen to citizen contact and media interviews.   The motel, entry fee and food and parking cost about $1,200 and worth every penny.  Thanks to all my contributors who make this possible.

1. Under full disclosure, I was only able to stay for half of Trump’s nearly two-hour rambling speech. That was all I could handle.

Weekly Activities:

3948 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week…

356 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 01 this week….  CMan Keith Self (R-
Texas)

438 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc   01 this week

215 interviews and reports in minor media …06 this week – 4 other minor media interviews, two in camera with high school reporters

51 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 07 this week – New York Times, German TV, Hungarian TV, Finnish TV, Comedy Central, Showtime’s The Circus with Mark McKinnon in camera, Rolling Stone

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

33 major conferences attended – CPAC 2023, (UN drug conference in Vienna, Austria),  LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 01 this week

COP stats since inception: August 2009

96 Radio Interviews:  0 this week;

107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week

* 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 or mail a check to:

COP

POB 543

Buckeystown, MD  21717