Posted September 19th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Knocked my Socks Off;
I was having another solid week of presentations this week, when I opened an email from a Facebook investigator. She was researching a post which FB had deleted regarding the drug ayahuasca. She was asking “drug policy experts” to submit in writing their views/information on the topic.
No, I have no idea why she chose me and others. I stated I was honored to be asked and this was
My response:
I am not a doctor. I have received no medical training. I have never used nor been near anyone who was using ayahuasca. I have been involved in shaping drug policy (illegal drugs) since 1998, the last 16 full-time in the US Congress.
My best information is:
I have had substantive discussions with 3 military veterans who had received a guided experience with LSD, etc and the results were life-changing positive. This was at a briefing, sponsored by a Congressman in December 2019.
Ayahuasca is a substance which has the potential to have a medium to severe impact on a person’s mind. It is roughly in the same category as other hallucinogens like LSD, Psilocybin, etc. There is anecdotal evidence that when given to a person by an experienced mental health advisor that improvements can be made to one’s mental health, particularly in the area of PTSD. That said, the drug is powerful enough to damage one’s mental health, if not consumed properly. Ayahuasca is absolutely not a play toy. It should only be used in a controlled, professional setting.
Whether FB should delete a person’s experience with the drug, or ban encouraging the drug, or allow testimonials which ignore the risks…. this is beyond my pay grade.
Respectfully submitted,
Howard J. Wooldridge
Detective, Bath Township PD, Retired
Drug Policy Specialist, Citizens Opposing Prohibition
Holidays: I leave on Monday for a 5 week break in western Europe. I will do a little bit of business on two days. I have a meeting with Swiss Health Ministry officials on the 28th (in French) in Bern to learn the updates in their Heroin Treatment approach.
In early October I will spend a day near Frankfurt, Germany being interviewed and videoed by a cop who represents LEAP Germany. They believe my views may help them convince the politicians in Berlin to end their drug prohibition.
The next newsletter will be October 29.
Stay Healthy
This week:
3679 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 09 this week..
Meetings this week: 01-Grover’s center-right
COP stats since inception: August 2009
398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –
330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0
92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
207 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, 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
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* Consider being a member of COP at $40.00 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
Posted September 19th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Note from a House staffer after I wrote, asking to set up a meeting….first time in my 15 years on the Hill:
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your message and advocacy. Congresswoman Pressley is happy to cosponsor this bill.
Best,
****
A Good Week: Besides a solid 15 presentations, about half of both R & D legislative assistants sounding enthusiastic about total drug decrim; “I will run this up the flagpole and recommend it.” Was heard; especially when it came from the assistant from a member of the Judiciary Committee’s Crime sub-committee.
This week:
3670 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 15 this week..
Meetings this week: 01-Grover’s center-right
COP stats since inception: August 2009
398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –
330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0
92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
207 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, 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
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* Consider being a member of COP at $40.00 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
Posted September 3rd, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Curtain Call: After I wrote a one minute memo to explain how Biden could return MJ to State control vs federal, my Wednesday meeting host asked me to prepare the same remarks for his next Wednesday meeting, which I did. Several cogent questions were asked and one was about the ‘punch’ of today’s MJ versus what I smoked in college. LOL
Nice & Busy: I Just had two solid weeks of 9 and 11 presentations to a lot who wanted to learn about this new ‘Oregon Decrim’ thing. One Senators’ aide was a 5 generation cowgirl, ‘born in the saddle’ and we spent a few minutes about how to ride 6 months on a horse..Note: I use that as a lead-in to articulate why the 10th Amendment is needed and should be employed for all drugs.
Another aide was a former public defender and knew as much about my topic as I did…THAT is always a special joy to encounter and establish a relationship with.
I had my first Republican aide who indicated the boss might sign on to the decrim bill: HR 4020. That Member has already voted yes to 10th Amendment for MJ.
These weeks:
3655 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 20 this week..
Meetings this week: 01-Grover’s center-right: 01 – Working group on legalize all drugs
COP stats since inception: August 2009
398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –
330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0
92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
207 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, 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
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* Consider being a member of COP at $40.00 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
Posted August 24th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the week of August 20, 2021
Making a Contribution: After an 18-month halt/hiatus, anti-tax guy Grover Norquist is again holding a live meeting of his “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement” at his DC headquarters. Simply grand it was to see and chat with the 150 leaders who attend.
One of his guests spoke of the need to legalize/regulate marijuana in all 50 states. Grover had a very technical question which the guest could not answer, so he called on me. I explained the nuance between drugs in schedules 1-5, drugs controlled by the GRAS rules* and the two drugs which are outside the entire system: alcohol and tobacco. My advice for the group was to support any move to deschedule marijuana, just like alcohol/tobacco are.
It’s cool, when a drug policy question comes up and all eyes turn to me for the answer they can trust.
*Generally Recognized As Safe (& Effective)
These weeks:
3635 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 06 this week..
Meetings this week: 01-Grover’s center-right:
COP stats since inception: August 2009
398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –
330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0
92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
207 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, 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
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* Consider being a member of COP at $40.00 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
Howard ‘Cowboy’ Wooldridge
Detective Officer Howard ‘Cowboy’ Wooldridge, Retired
Founder & Drug Policy Specialist at COP Citizens Opposing Prohibition.org
Co-Founder of Law Enforcement Action Partnership(www.LEAP.cc)
howardwooldridge0@gmail.com
817-975-1110 (cell)
Metro Washington DC
The War on Drugs/Drug Prohibition has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow
Audentes Fortuna Iuvat / Fortuna Eruditis Favet – Fortune Favors the Bold
Lead, Follow, or Get out of the way
Posted August 13th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Personal Understanding: I had a couple of xcl chats these two weeks. One House staffer’s mom was an alcoholic who finally went sober. The staffer’s understanding of addiction and treatment vs punishment was refreshing. That she is in an R office is a bonus.
Senate support: I finished the week with a long chat with a Senate staffer on Friday, whose boss is a doctor. The POV is that yes, the medical community should be the profession helping drug abusers, not jails and punishment. And this was again an R office…gives me some confidence that change will happen.
These weeks:
3629 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 11 this weeks..
Meetings this weeks: 02-Grover’s center-right: DC Harm Reduction group
COP stats since inception: August 2009
398 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 0 this week –
330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0
92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
207 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
107 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 0 This week
44 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
Blaze TV {new, popular right-wing}, (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, 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
31 major conferences attended – (UN drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 0 this week
Weekly attendance at Grover Norquist’s Wednesday brunch attended by 150 conservative leaders. Named the “Grand Central Station of the Conservative Movement.”
* Consider being a member of COP at $40.00 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
