Posted April 18th, 2018 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill:
Stories from the week of April 6, 2018
Fancy meeting you here: On my way to the next presentation who pops out of the elevator? My nemesis – Kevin Sabet of SAM. We chatted for 3-4 catching up, he introduced me to his colleague and the world would never have known we are serious adversaries….and we also professionals. We met years ago, broke bread in Vienna and he is not a two-headed monster…..He simply is paid a lot of money to spin how horrible Colorado is and I volunteer to distribute the facts.
Respect: After Grover’s meeting I was waiting on the platform for the next metro train. A young, black man asked me why? I responded with the usual response; ‘18 teens/young people are shot every day, due to selling drugs off sidewalks. That is immoral and wrong.’ He looked at me thoughtfully for a few seconds, reached out for my hand, we shook and then he brought me in for a shoulder bump. And he walked away. Memorable moment in my DC career.
This week’s stats:
2775 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 25 this week
84 Radio Interviews. 01 this week — Saturday for two hours on local Frederick, MD station WFMD
Meetings – 2
COP stats since inception: August 2009
254 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
241 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week (candidates running for Congress)
152 interviews and reports in minor media = 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.”
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
43 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
75 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 0 this week
28 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 00 this week
* 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted April 6th, 2018 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill:
Stories from the week of March 30, 2018
Bottle of Water: Solid week, opening 126 doors in Longworth to deliver Updates for 2018 (below). I kept my mouth well-hydrated and I finished the week w/o issues. Felt great to be back in the saddle.
Time for a Question: As with all these office visits, I spoke to a legislative assistant for 2-3 minutes. An hour later an aide to Minority Whip Hoyer saw me in the café and stopped by. He has a degree in criminal justice and had more questions. We ended up having a 10-minute chat. That stuff makes my day.
Estoy rojo (made me blush): Stopping by the office for Puerto Rico, I had an excellent chat with their Legislative Director and his assistant for judiciary joined us. “Jose” made me blush, as he described me to his colleague. He met me in my first year (2006), when he was just a pup. After business, the two peppered me with questions about the Misty Ride for nearly a half hour = great way to end my day.
This week’s stats:
2750 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 41 this week
Meetings – 2
COP stats since inception: August 2009
254 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
241 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week (candidates running for Congress)
152 interviews and reports in minor media = 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.”
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
43 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
75 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 0 this week
28 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 00 this week
83 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
* 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Drug War – Updates for 2018
In 2017, the American Legion endorsed HR 2020 which would re-schedule marijuana to 3 – the same as Marinol (a synthetic pill of pure THC). R-FL Gaetz is author.
The Congress has denied the DEA monies in FY 15, 16, 17 and 18 to take action against state-legal, medical marijuana operations. Patients in 30 (46 when CBD oil is considered) states are protected.
The legal marijuana industry across 30 states employs some 140,000 full-time people (twice as many as coal).
Canada is on track to legalize, regulate, tax marijuana on July 1, 2018.
The Taliban in Afghanistan continues to fund their battles with money made from the flow heroin & hashish. http://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/04/03/follow-the-money-the-talibans-growing-criminal-empire.html. Hezbollah making a billion a year from South American drug trade. F/ a House hearing in Mar. 18
In Nov. 2018, MO & UT will vote on a robust medical MJ program; Oks vote is this June. MI will legalize via the ballot in Nov. The US Senate race will be affected by increased turnout in MO by those wanting to vote (primarily Democrats) for the MJ part of the ballot.
MJ is legal in nine (9) states & DC; 30 states have robust, state-legal medical MJ programs; 46 states have legal CBD oil for children with grand mal seizures (Dravet’s Syndrome). VT legalized adult use in January and NJ will also legalize adult use in the spring of 18.
Ohio in 2016 and West Virginia in 2017 became the first Republican-controlled states to pass a full, medical marijuana law. His people are now benefiting from His medicine.
In 2016 voters (57%) in OK voted to de-felonize simple possession of hard drugs. Max penalty now 1 year in jail. CA & OR have the same law.
A 2017 report from the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education shows that youth marijuana use is NOT rising in the age of legalization.
Since legalization in Colorado, the vehicle search rate of African American drivers 21 and over dropped by nearly half, while the search rate of Hispanic drivers fell by 58 percent. White drivers faced almost two-thirds fewer searches after recreational marijuana was legalized. http://www.businessinsider.com/police-are-searching-far-fewer-cars-in-states-that-have-legalized-marijuana-2017-6
In 2017, National Academies of Sciences released a marijuana and health report found “insufficient evidence” to support an association between cannabis use and occupational accidents or injuries.
Understand & accept the police are helpless to slow down the Tsunami of drugs coming f/ Mexico. The police have never made a real dent in supply. Heroin is readily available in all small towns in the USA.
Posted March 31st, 2018 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill:
Stories from the week of March 30, 2018
**Stupid throat/voice still not right…so limited activity this week, again.
Warms my heart… Besides a meeting with a supporter/county commissioner from Oklahoma and the Grover meeting, it was a very slow week.
A dozen of us celebrated last week’s victory of denying the DEA’s funding to go after state-legal, medical stores, etc. NCIA (National Cannabis Industry Assoc) hosted the 3 hour “happy hour.” A late arrival related a story from 10 years ago: he was a staffer for a Congressman. He remembered listening to my presentation and making an impact. I was flattered. Of course, I did not remember him from Adam.
That person now heads up, the big boss, of one of the largest MJ organizations in the world. One never knows the impact one has.
** Stupid throat is now close enough…back to Congress work on Monday.
This week’s stats:
Meetings – 3
COP stats since inception: August 2009
2709 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
254 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 0 this week
241 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week (candidates running for Congress)
152 interviews and reports in minor media = 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.”
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
43 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
75 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 0 this week
28 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 00 this week
83 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
* 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted March 31st, 2018 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill:
Stories from the week of March 23, 2018
Profiles in Cowardice: I attended a House hearing and House briefing on the issue of terrorist groups like Hezbollah making billions now on the drug trade from South America to Africa and Europe. Witness after witness spoke of the magnitude of the problem and deadly consequences of this funding source. No Congressman, no witness ever asked the question of ending drug prohibition, in order to deny Hezbollah 50% of the operating budget. Pitiful.
At the briefing I was able to put forth the proposal to end drug prohibition. The panel members responded that there is no “empirical evidence or study” that legalizing these 4-5 drugs would mean terrorists would have less money. I guess more than my mouth dropped. A half dozen people came up to me at the end to thank me for my question.
Happiness: Our side has worked tirelessly since January to continue the protection of ‘State-legal, medical marijuana operations.’ Early this week our language was adopted into the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill. For 4 years now, we have been able to deny the DEA money to go after patients and care-givers. We tried to insert language to deny monies for all MJ operations but R leadership blocked a vote.
This week’s stats:
2709 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 02 this week
254 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 03 this week (Cman Joe Barton {TX-R}, Cman Yoho {FL-R} and CMan Perlmutter {CO-D}
Meetings – 2
COP stats since inception: August 2009
241 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week (candidates running for Congress)
152 interviews and reports in minor media = 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.”
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
43 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
75 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 0 this week
28 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 00 this week
83 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
* 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
Posted March 31st, 2018 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill:
Stories from the week of March 16, 2018
Box of Chocolates: Is a way to describe my two hours at the weekly Grover Norquist meeting. We heard a Congressman ask for support on his bill. 20-25 other presentations on various conservative policies, finishing with reps from the House, Senate and White House give us a summary of what is going on.
I had 3 chats after the meeting; 2 people running for Congress and a solid chat with a gentleman from Costa Rica who runs a conservative think tank there. I urged him in Spanish to have Costa Rica become the ‘Uruguay’ of Central America. The Gringos are not paying attention, due to Colorado, etc. going legal. All positive.
The lingering effects of my flu limited by work this week. My voice is still iffy, thus I worked from home all but Wednesday…..hours are spent on Spanish, German and French studies.
This week’s stats:
241 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 02 this week (candidates running for Congress)
Meetings – 1
COP stats since inception: August 2009
152 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.
2709 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
254 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 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.”
* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position
84 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000) 0 this week
43 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
75 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss. French TV and radio) 0 this week
28 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conference, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, Republican Annual Retreat etc.) 00 this week
83 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
* 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 prohibition. COP provides that voice. www.citizensopposingprohibition.org
