Posted July 2nd, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the week of June 25, 2021
One forward, one step back: As I wrote last week, the concept I have been working towards (decrim of simple possession at the federal level) since Labor Day 2020, is now a House bill; HR 4020. Wonderful!
On the downer side, it contains a major poison pill for Republicans. This is the sentence I added to go with Watson’s list I sent you last week:
- ** States would have 18 months to decrim or lose federal, police monies (Byrne and COPS grant programs).
Allies: I am pleased to report that both the Drug Policy Alliance and the bill sponsor’s office (Coleman-Watson) reached out to me this week. Both want COP to coordinate with them to increase support for the bill. I readily accepted and we are in contact.
3593 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 07 this week..
Meetings this week: Grover’s center-right
COP stats since inception: August 2009
330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0
92 Radio Interviews… 0 this week
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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 June 23rd, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the week of June18, 2021
Like Riding a Bicycle: Attending a gas and oil conference where 31 Members of Congress made presentations, I was able to have an above average week…woohoo, after 16 months of frustration. Members bring staff to the confab and I was able to talk to 3 Members and 7 staffers who went with them. And the lunches were tasty!
Live and in Color: A Legislative Director whom I have known a number of years invited me up to his office for the presentation. It is a small pain to go thru the extra hoops of security, a badge and other restrictions….and it felt wonderful to chat in person..His Boss, a southern Republican, is a big fan of States’ Rights for marijuana. We will see if that translates into other drugs.
Big Step Forward: Congresswoman Coleman-Watson and Bush introduced HR 4020 – the Drug Policy Reform Act, DPRA – on Thursday, the 50th anniversary of Nixon’s drug war. This is the legislation I have been promoting since Labor Day 2020. See me in a near joyous state. I will promote the decrim bill, mindful of the 501C status of COPs. 12 co-sponsors so far. Details at bottom. Note: this bill only impacts federal officers. Nonetheless, it starts the discussion and would act as a lighthouse for the States..
Request: please write to your Member of the House and urge them to support and co-sponsor this legislation. Sample text below:
3586 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 11 this week..
330 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 03 this week (Stauber of R-MN: Van Duyne, R-TX: Williams, R-TX)
92 Radio Interviews… 01 this week.. (Medical MJ program in Michigan)
Meetings this week: 01 (International Gas & Oil conference)
COP stats since inception: August 2009
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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
Aside from eliminating criminal penalties for drug possession, the Drug Policy Reform Act:
- Automatically expunges and seal records within one year of the bill’s enactment.
- Provides relief for people currently incarcerated or on supervision for certain drug convictions.
- Shifts the regulatory authority for substances listed under the Controlled Substances Act from the Attorney General to the Secretary of HHS.
- Reinvests funds to support programs that work on expanding access to substance use treatment, support harm reduction services, and reduce the criminalization of individuals who use drugs by supporting the development or expansion of pre-arrest diversion programs.
- Promotes evidence-based drug education.
- Prohibits the denial of employment or termination based upon a criminal history for drug possession.
- Explicitly prohibits drug testing for individuals to receive federal benefits.
- Prevents drug use charges/convictions from being held against an individual in order to receive SNAP/TANF, housing assistance and other federal benefits.
- Prevents individuals in the U.S. from being denied immigration status due to personal drug use.
- Prevents individuals from being denied the right to vote regardless if they have served their sentence or not, and restores voting rights to those who have been impacted in the past.
- Ensures individuals with drug convictions can gain access to drivers’ licenses.
- Prohibits the use of civil asset forfeitures related to personal drug possession cases.
- Charges HHS with establishing a “Commission on Substance Use, Health and Safety,” to determine the benchmark amounts for drug possession and publish an online report on their findings within 180 days. The report will also include recommendations for preventing the prosecution of individuals possessing, distributing or dispensing personal use quantities of each drug.
- Improves research on impact of drug criminalization and enforcement.
- Funds data collection and transparency on all available data related to enforcement of drug laws, including local arrests for drug possession and distribution offenses, possession of drug paraphernalia, public or intoxication, loitering, and all other drug-related violations.
Honorable Congressman/woman XXXX
As a constituent and voter, I urge you to support and co-sponsor recently introduced legislation: HR 4020, the DPRA – Drug Policy Reform Act. This Act which decimalizes all simple drug possession will send a strong signal to the States that the country needs to approach drug use and abuse as a medical issue for doctors, not a criminal matter for police and prisons. After 50 failed years of Drug War, let us go in another, rational, medical-centered direction. Portugal has been doing this for 20 years and Oregon since February 2021.
Please let me know your thoughts and actions on this important legislation.
Sincerely,
Posted June 15th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the week of June11, 2021
Just happened an hour ago on June 15….two House Members introduced a federal, drug decrim bill a la Oregon…this is what I have been pushing for since last September…Freaking Yeah!!!!
Bright Spot: the only nice event was scheduling a meeting for next Thursday, the 17th and 50 anniversary of the Drug War where I will go to the House Rayburn building for an in-the-office meeting since Covid. Bonus and highly unusual, the Member’s Chief of Staff will sit in.
Note: a staffer can fetch me at security, receive a little badge and then go up to the office. Most offices still don’t want to do this.
3575 Presentations to Congressional staffers… another 05 this week..
Meetings this week: 01
COP stats since inception: August 2009
91 Radio Interviews… 0 this week..
327 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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 June 8th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the week of June 4, 2021
Back in the Saddle:
I eased back into presentations, making five, sadly not more..the last half of the Congress has always been more difficult, as the primarily Republican offices just won’t take a meeting. I am much like a bill collector; keeping bugging them politely.
The only bright spot was a long chat with the Legislative Director with a major, Republican player for the marijuana issue in the House. The LD indicated that once the MJ issue is resolved, that office would look seriously at a decrim bill a la Oregon.
3570 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 05 this week..
Meetings this week: 02
COP stats since inception: August 2009
91 Radio Interviews… 0 this week..
327 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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 June 8th, 2021 by hiwayhowie
Cops on the Hill
Stories from the spring of 2021
Personal: Just a note to let you know I have survived 3,120 miles of bad roads, bad road shoulders (yes, we need to fix our roads) and a few bad drivers. I will do the last few miles to the beach at Ocean City, Maryland this Sunday. I will return to work on Monday, May 24. I am eager to speak to the other half of the Congress about drug policy reform/total drug decrim.
There was essentially 0.0 movement on drug reform on the Hill the two months I was away. Sigh. About seven States introduced total decrim but none have gone anywhere. Nonetheless, I will bring my energy and time to the issues.
Favorite Story: At a Subway in Kansas a wheat farmer (it turned out) – my age – asked why legalize heroin and then he launched into how wonderful medical marijuana had helped several in his immediate family. Attitudes have absolutely shifted in this country.
Activity this week: I had some late dates set up while I was en route to Oregon and did them on the fly.
3565 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 03 this week..
91 Radio Interviews… 01 this week..while on the road
COP stats since inception: August 2009
327 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
206 interviews and reports in minor media …0 this week.
397 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.: 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
