COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of August 3, 2018

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of August 3, 2018

Just a solid week in the Senate finishing up the distribution of 2018 Updates (see below).

I did mention to staffers the need for an oversight hearing, to determine the number of young people shot each day, due to their employment in the drug trade. COP analysis shows the number to be 18. I added, we know the trillion-dollar cost. What is the cost in the blood of our youth?

Poor planning on my part (did not read the weather report) meant I was about to be soaked, running 5 minutes from the Senate to Union Station. One of the building staff I’ve known for 10 years came thru the door and we bumped fists. Then I jokingly said I would give him five bucks for the large umbrella he had. “Just take it.” He replied. I accepted his offer. (note: visitors leave hundreds of umbrellas at the security station every year & staff can use them after no one claims them).

It is in my nature to be friendly to all and it paid off on Thursday.

This week’s stats:

2891 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 13 this week
273 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 02 (Senator Corry Gardner R-CO, Senator Tammy Baldwin D-WI)
1 Meetings – meetings, hearings, etc.

COP stats since inception: August 2009

255 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. this week
78 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 00..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio)
84 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
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
29 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
War on Drugs Update: 2018
Oklahoma 57% to 43 passed a robust, Medical MJ ballot initiative on June 26. How conservative is OK? It did not approve of legal alcohol, until 1956!! 30 states + DC have MMJ programs. 9 states MJ for adult use is legal.

Canada legalized MJ possession & sale. Goes into on effect October 17, 2018. The Provinces will decide on the regs.

Mexico’s new president wants an internal debate on legalize small quantities of all drugs, like they had in 1940.
The MJ industry employs 160,000 FTE in USA. 2X as many as the coal industry. Wages start at 15/hr.
In “Marijuana Legalization and Crime Clearance Rates: Testing Proponent Assertions in Colorado and Washington State,” researchers find that this claim holds up under scrutiny. The paper, published this in July 2018 Police Quarterly, notes significant increases in the clearance rate—the ratio between the number of crimes solved and the total number of crimes recorded by the police—for violent crime in both Colorado and Washington state, the first two states to legalize recreational cannabis, following legalization.
The FDA announced in June that it’s given its approval to Epidiolex, a natural plant, CBD drug. Not yet scheduled.
Drug War Refugees…symptom vs disease…the 100,000 kids on the border since 2014 R fleeing Cartel violence and employment. Why are there cartels? Our lovely, 1.2 trillion-dollar war on drugs / Modern Prohibition, of course – which puts heroin in every town in America.
The Governors of 12 states have endorsed the STATES Act letter: (Rep: MA, MD, ND, NV, AK) (Dem: CA, OR, WA, CO, PA, NJ, NY). The Gardner/Warren bill, S 3032, would simply apply the 10th Amendment to God’s green plant. Introduced in June 2018. Joyce & Blumenauer have the House companion bill. HR 6043.

Police resistance still strong, as they are losing 13 billion in wages + 2 billion in civil asset forfeiture, as MJ becomes more legal. Also, the police losing the ‘right’ to search cars and persons, by claiming they smell marijuana.
Marijuana use by teens: The CDC report shows about 19.6 percent of CO high schoolers said they had used marijuana one or more times in the past 30 days, down from 22 percent in 2011, the year before recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado. The state’s 2017 rate is just slightly below the national average of 19.8 percent.

Fewer teens are employed as drug dealers, due to MJ legalization in 9 states. As expected, the legal MJ states are performing Record expungement of simple MJ arrests.

The American Legion endorsed HR 2020 which moves MJ to Schedule 3.
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

Questions… Concerns?
Howard ‘Cowboy’ Wooldridge, Detective Bath Township, MI (retired)
Drug Policy Specialist @ CitizensOpposingProhibition.org / LEAP.cc
Washington, DC
817-975-1110

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of July 27, 2018

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of July 27, 2018

Cman Connor Lamb & Karma: Two months ago, just before he was sworn in, I bumped into Lamb at the elevator near his office. We had an excellent 5-minute chat. This week in the same spot, there he was. I asked him how’s it going after two months. He responded, “you tell me.” We need 534 more members of Congress like him.

Box of Chocolates: I studied my Spanish on the train Wednesday morning (I pick a different language each morning) …Of course at Grover’s brunch 8 conservative French guests showed up. I switched gears and had over 20 minutes of bavardage (chat) with them.

Method to the Madness: I opened 188 doors in Rayburn this week to finish in the House the task of handing out Update 2018 (part two—so much positive news I had to do this twice!!) I asked and was often given the opportunity to chat for 1-2 minutes with the criminal justice aide, usually someone I had already made a full presentation to. All good, as it renews the relationship and I receive good info on where the Member stands (so many positions are “evolving.”)

This week’s stats:

2878 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 35 this week
277 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 03 (CMan Massie R-KY, Clay D-M), Lamb D-PA)
261 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 04 this week (2 persons running for the House this fall)
1 Meetings – meetings, hearings, etc.

COP stats since inception: August 2009

78 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 00..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio)
84 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
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
29 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

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of July 20, 2018

COP on the Hill:

Stories from the week of July 20, 2018

CNN and the coming Coup d’Etat: I bumped into a respected and intelligent acquaintance this week and the talk turned to Helsinki…moments later the guy was trembling with anger and venom as he spoke of CNN promoting and organizing a coup to overthrow the US government and put a liberal in the White House. I calmly (I learned de-escalation as a cop) asked him if it would be Dems picking up AR 15s and storming the gates. The question made him even angrier. Suffice to say emotions and conspiracy theories are off the charts here in the Swamp.

141 doors in Longworth House Building this week and several chats with Congressmen…. We had our monthly ‘Happy Hour’ hosted by Michael Correia and crew (NCIA-National Cannabis Industry Association) …we 10-12 advocates/lobbyists discuss tactics, ideas, bills the first hour and then relax. Thank you, Michael.

This week’s stats:

2843 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 28 this week
274 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 03 (CMan Soto D-FL, Mike Kelly R-PA & Cman Buck R-CO)
259 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 04 this week (3 persons running for the House this fall)
2 Meetings – meetings, hearings, etc.

COP stats since inception: August 2009
78 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 00..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio)
84 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
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
29 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

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of July 6 & July 13, 2018

COP on the Hill:

Stories from the week of July 6 & July 13, 2018

136 Doors: After a delightful, pretty cool soirée at the German Embassy, the mundane work of opening 136 House doors to distribute the 2018, cheerful news updates brought me back to Earth. There has been so much positive news in the last six months, I decided to distribute it now (rather than wait for January 2019). And not for nothing, spending a few minutes in each office reminds the staff of the issue. It will take a couple more weeks to finish all 535 offices.

Au Canada: I finished my comments by saying I am also a lobbyist for the “Canada Travel Bureau.” I asked the staffer to circle October 17 for travel/vacation plans, as a great day to visit Canada, as the trees would be in full color and cool temps. I emphasized that the colors will be even more spectacular on the 17th vs 16, as all Canada goes legal marijuana on the 17. About 4 in 5 staffers broke out in grins.

NOTE: staffers have so many groups coming in daily, discussing life and death issues, my experience is they appreciate a moment of lightness and humor.

This week’s stats:

2815 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 25 this week

271 personal chats with a Member of Congress… 02 (CMan Kelly R-MS & Cman Amodei R-NV) this week

255 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 01 this week (1 person running for the House this fall)

1 Meeting – meetings, hearings, etc.

COP stats since inception: August 2009

78 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 00..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio)
84 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
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
29 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

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of June 29, 2018

COP on the Hill:

Stories from the week of June 29, 2018

German or Spanish: I knew this week I was attending a soirée at the German embassy, so naturally I was focusing on Deutsch. On Tuesday I attended a rally for the Second Amendment. I was asked to do three TV interviews and of course two were in Spanish. ¡Caramba!

Educate the Conservatives: As I do 3-4 times a year, I made my three-minute presentation to the Grover Norquist crowd. Highlights below. Good karma; the next 3 speakers mentioned industrial hemp. A first – after the meeting five attendees made a point to say they agreed; a national media guy expressed deep support.

Sommer Fest: I had a most enjoyable two + hours at the German embassy soirée on Thursday evening. I spent a lot of time chatting with two federal law enforcement agents. I even had a few words with the ambassador from France.

This week’s stats:

254 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 02 this week (1 person running for the House, 1 for the Senate this fall)

78 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media. 03..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR, German, Swiss, French, Spanish TV and radio)

3 Meetings – meetings, hearings, etc

COP stats since inception: August 2009

269 personal chats with a Member of Congress… this week
84 Radio Interviews. 0 this week
2790 Presentations to Congressional staffers… 0 this week
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
29 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

Grover Meeting Notes:
The Bible belt has been unbuckled….The Bible belt has been unbuckled.
Yesterday, in Oklahoma 57% of voters approved a robust Medical MJ ballot initiative. How conservative is OK? It did not approve of legal alcohol, until 1956!!
Canada passed legislation to legalize and regulate adult use of MJ. The Queen approved the new law. It goes into effect October 17, 2018. The Provinces will decide on the regs.
The FDA announced today that it’s given its approval to Epidiolex, a CBD drug manufactured by GW Pharma. Epidiolex is the first FDA-approved medicine containing plant-derived, non-synthetic cannabinoids. Not yet scheduled.
Drug War Refugees…symptom vs disease..the 100,000 kids on the border since 2014 R fleeing Cartel violence and employment. Why are there cartels? Our lovely, 1.2 trillion-dollar war on drugs / Modern Prohibition, of course.
Attached is the Governor letter: 12 governors (Rep: MA, MD, ND, NV, AK) (Dem: CA, OR, WA, CO, PA, NJ, NY) in support of the STATES Act. The Gardner/Warren bill would simply apply the 10th Amendment to God’s green plant.
Police resistance still strong, as they are losing 13 billion in wages + 2 billion in civil asset forfeiture, as MJ becomes more legal.
The CDC report shows about 19.6 percent of Colorado high schoolers said they had used marijuana one or more times in the past 30 days, down from 22 percent in 2011, the year before recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado. The state’s 2017 rate is just slightly below the national average of 19.8 percent.
As expected, the legal MJ states are performing Record expungement of simple MJ arrests.
The American Legion endorsed HR 2020 which moves MJ to Schedule 3.
My adversary SAM conducted a poll…only 9% stated no to any changes in MJ laws (Sensible Approaches to MJ) {Kevin Sabet & x Cman Patrick Kennedy}
Last, Mexican farmers are receiving ever lower prices for opium, due to competition from Fentanyl coming from China. So, they are going back to MJ growing; however at much lower profit margins, due to MJ out of Colorado and the West Coast.
Going forward: My profession has been at this policy for 47 years and wasted 1.2 trillion dollars. The Return on that Investment: heroin is readily available in every small town in America….
Plz accept that the War on Drugs has been the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery and Jim Crow…
Questions… Concerns?