• Congressman Garrett (VA-R)

  • Gov. Chris Christy (NJ-R)

  • Colorado 2012

  • California Field Work, Prop 19

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of April 22 & 29, 2016

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of April 22 & 29, 2016

BTW: Sometimes we do things so often, we forget how important they are..just know that every week at the Norquist brunch, I meet with citizens running for Congress. I always manage a 2 minute chat & ask for their commitment to the 10th amendment. A solid majority of the time they are on board with the 10th.

Road Trip: Jim Rubens of New Hampshire is running for the US Senate. He flew me up to Manchester for a press conference, where he announced his position on drug policy. It was nice to be asked. Rick van Wickler, LEAP’s Board President also spoke…both of us as private citizens. I flew up and back in one day.

4/20: I presented to about 40 DC-based, marijuana activists, saying give yourselves a hand for achieving 90% of your goals (they still don’t have MJ stores, due to Congressional opposition. I urged them to put on their Sunday best from now on to achieve the final goals. I asked and about 75% thought all drugs should be legalized.

This week’s stats:

2162 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 09 this week
124 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 02 this week Congressmen Guinta & Poliquin
198 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 07 this week
5 meetings
66 Radio Interviews.. 01 this week

COP stats since inception: August 2009

42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week
62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…00 this week

24 major conferences attended – (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0this week

130 interviews and reports in minor media = 0 this week.

83 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week

* 2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position

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 $30.00 or more per year. All contributions are tax-deductible. 30 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

Filed under:On the Hill

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of April 8 & 15, 2016

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of April 8 & 15, 2016

 Life is a like a box of chocolates:

The title of the Brookings seminar was “post UNGASS 2016 – what to expect.”  Normally the Brookings does not disappoint..this was the exception…close to zero new info and lots of non-sequitor questions from the audience of 100… Oh well.

JV Team:? The Brookings held another seminar entitled, “Should marijuana be rescheduled?” To a full room about 150, there was a spirited presentation by both sides.  Having attended dozens of such events, I was struck (confirmed by a NORML leader) how poor the anti-change arguments were.  I can surmise that the pro-prohibition side finds it harder to find capable speakers who promote prohibition vs. legalize/regulate.

Cheerful News:  The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bipartisan amendment this week, 20 to 10, allowing Veterans Administration (VA) doctors to recommend medical marijuana to their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal. The vote is the second time the U.S. Senate has advanced this issue.

Six R Senators voted our way: Thanks to my GOP Senators: Daines, Murkowski, Cassidy, Alexander, Graham and Blunt.  I point this out to show how folks who voted against for decades are now coming our way….BTW, Don Murphy of MPP is largely responsible for these Rs voting our way.  His energy and instincts are truly awesome.

 

This week’s stats:

2153 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 04 this week

122 personal chats with a Member of Congress..  02 this week  (Senator Collins, R-ME & Cman Loudermilk, R-GA)

192 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     1

Senate Hearing + 2 Brookings Institute seminar + 3 meetings

65 Radio Interviews..  01 this week

  COP stats since inception: August 2009

42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week

62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week   (NBC twice)

24 major conferences attended –  (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review,  etc)  0this week

130 interviews and reports in minor media =     0 this week.

83 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week

*   2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position

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 $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 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

 

 

Filed under:On the Hill

COP on the Hill: Stories from the weeks of March 25, April 1, 2016

 

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of March 25, April 1, 2016

Blank Stare:   After sitting thru a dozen plus, mind-numbing reports from various nations on how many kilos of drugs they seized and dealers they arrested in 2015, I asked a UN official if it would be possible to have the nations report on how available illegal drugs were in that country.  His complete, non-sequitor response was the same as the second UN official I asked a few hours later.

Mission Accomplished: “One size does not fit all. Every country is not exactly the same,” William Brownfield, assistant secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, said in a press briefing on Tuesday. “And we must be tolerant of the sovereign authority of a government to develop and apply the drug strategy that is most effective for their condition and their reality.”

The goal of LEAP’s involvement in Vienna was to change the treaty to allow what Brownfield articulated above.  Kudos to  Tip-of-the-Spear Jim Gierach, former DA of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois for his tireless efforts to achieve this goal, a journey of many years.

Sober and Practical Decision:  A younger, UN official flat out said to me what I had guessed; to change the treaties in Vienna, legalize marijuana in California and elsewhere.  I wrote my observations and recommendations to the LEAP Board of Directors (see bottom).  This third trip to Vienna was my last, unless someone can convince me otherwise.  Given the new, USA position (above) there would only be marginal reasons to return.   Yes, I dearly love speaking four languages everyday and chatting with the delegates from around the world. However, this is business.

 Having Fun:  I stopped by the Singapore booth.  The enthusiastic young man wanted to make sure I knew how his city had achieved a ‘drug-free’ environment.  I asked and he admitted that the city allows the sale of the two deadliest drugs in the world; alcohol and cigarettes…..So the city is not really drug-free is it?  ‘Well, Singapore is drug free, except for those two drugs.’  I do not believe he understood the irony….more like a trained seal, he was.

 

 

 

Personal Note: I walked over to the Vietnam table.  I apologized to the rep for the two million of his countrymen we killed in the 60s and 70s ( better dead than red…we have burn the village in order to save it), agent orange, etc.  His response was amazing…’although I appreciate what you said, we in Vietnam have closed that book and we simply look forward.’  We went on to chat for nearly an hour during a break in the conference.  Wow!!

This week’s stats:

191 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     4 this week = UN reps

Two days at the conference in Vienna

Two meetings in DC

64 Radio Interviews..  01 this week

Presentation to a group of 75 high school seniors from all over the country

 

  COP stats since inception: August 2009

2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week

120 personal chats with a Member of Congress..  0 this week

42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week

62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..This week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week   (NBC twice)

24 major conferences attended –  (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review,  etc)  0this week

130 interviews and reports in minor media =     0 this week.

83 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $83,000).. 0 this week

*   2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position

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 $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 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

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Thank you for the opportunity to represent LEAP at the CND this year in
Vienna.  I am writing this at the airport waiting for my flight home, so
events are fresh.

Was it worth the time and money?  Essentially no.  Once again no country had
the guts to buck the world and openly call for change IN WRITING.  I spoke
to reps from circa 24 countries.  A couple of countries – Canada, Czech
Republic, Uruguay openly denounced the WOD orally but none did it in
writing, i.e. asked for a change to any of the conventions.

Moreover, it is very possible the UNODC fights to survive as an agency,
employing XXX people..illustration – the very last ‘side event’ dealt with
how much money terrorists make on the drug trade.  The two economists on the
panel stated ISIS makes a minimum of two (2) billion dollars on illegal
drugs annually.  Two officials of the UNODC attacked the two expert’s
conclusion and also stated that two billion was not that much money!!
OMG/Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

BTW..At this panel I was able to ask the first and only question:  “If the
consuming nations legalized and regulated all drugs in a manner which would
eliminate the illicit market/sales, how much would this cripple ISIS and
the terrorists in Europe?”   20 minutes of heated, loud debate ensued.

The other reality is nations (see USA statement above) which have, are or will change their national
drug policy, they claim ’the treaty allows flexibility’ which they
interpret as including legalize a drug for non-medical use.  The other line
of argument is employ the phrase – ‘respect human rights.’  As one long
standing delegate pointed out, that phrase could mean legalize/regulate,
since youth are being killed daily due to their employment in the drug
trade….and human rights trump any treaty language.

I asked several of our allies why they did not propose change (via written
language) and the response was essentially, we won’t act alone or in small
numbers.  IMHO all are waiting for the USA to propose radical changes in the
treaty.  The USA rep stated that law enforcement efforts are still a crucial
part of overall strategy.  This in the teeth of our ONDCP Director
Botticelli who called the WOD a total failure and Obama’s comment of it
being an “utter failure.”  The disconnect between the White House and State
may be/probably is a reflection of Sec. Kerry’s love of the WOD.

One UNODC and one ambassador stated that the most efficient path to make
changes in the treaties is for more US states to “go Colorado.” After three
sojourns to Vienna, I concur.

An inexact split in the countries is: 1/4 for no changes at all (Asia &
Arabic/Moslem countries), 1/4 for serious changes (Europe/Latin America) and
1/2 are neutral (probably waiting to see which way the wind blows)  For
those of you who have been to the CND, yes, it remains clear as mud.

For a means to read a bit more about the conference, go to the Twitter of
#CND2016…to read the tweets of many there from NGOs

I remain very open to arguments to keep LEAP’s presence at the CND.  I am
just past being a rookie at this.  However, unless someone has cogent,
persuasive lines of reasoning, I am not coming back.  I have more productive
things to do during those two weeks and the expenditure of 2200 dollars.

Howard

 

PS..to the reader = I wrote this before I knew of Brownfield’s statement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under:On the Hill

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of March 18, 2016

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of March 18, 2016

Vienna 2016 at the UN’s CND conference:   Conference on Narcotic Drugs – meets every year in Vienna to discuss progress in creating a world free of about 6 kinds of drugs.  About 130 nations send a rep.  This trip lasted 12 days.

 

Two Years Ago:  I asked the UK gentleman to explain & help me understand what I was missing.  Simply put, ‘nothing is said here which does not have 5 layers of complexity far beyond drug policy.’   In other words; this is an Alice in Wonderland community.

 

The UK guy gave me his translation of the days’ speeches based on his 20 years of attending this conference: the tone away from ‘get tough’ – War on Drugs is a good thing — to one of human rights, treatment vs. jail and decrim are important changes to make — for him this was a major change for this gathering.   I DID feel much better after he put it all in perspective.

 

 

One small voice:  A side event at the UN this week concerned excessive prison terms for drug offenses.  I was given the chance to make this comment: ‘Yes, I support and applaud your efforts to reduce sentences.  I want to express a cautionary note.  Once you have succeeded in reducing sentences, keep in mind the great evil is anyone spending one day in prison for a drug offense.  The evil is drug prohibition and I urge you to destroy it as soon as possible.  That is the ultimate solution for much suffering in the world.’

 

Cripple the Terrorists?:  The last ‘side event’ of this conference was titled, ” Illicit Drug Business as a Source of Terrorism Financing.”  Two world-class professors of economics laid out the reality that the bad guys are making billions via illegal drug trade.  The UN rep tried to minimize the ugly truth of the testimony.  I was able to ask the first question.  “If the consuming nations legalized and regulated all drugs, as to destroy the illicit market, how much would this change cripple terrorists around the world?”

 

And the next 20 minutes became a heated, nearly angry debate about how much ending prohibition would hurt the terrorists.  Since the terrorists in Europe earn only about Two (2) billion dollars, the UN official blew off the entire concept of legalizing drugs to help in anti-terrorist funding.  It was a powerful hour and the 70 older attendees were listening intently to the experts.  This event alone may have justified me coming to Vienna, IMHO…..and of course 3 days later the bad guys blew up the airport and metro in Brussels.

 

Published LTE in the Washington Post on March 2:

 

DRUG LAWS AND GUN DEATHS

Regarding the Feb.  28 editorial “Gun violence: 7,548 incidents and counting”:

As a retired detective, I do not understand why the editorial board failed to mention the huge role that drug prohibition plays in the deaths of so many of our youths.  Young people are shot-sometimes shot dead-every day because of their employment in the drug trade in the United States.

Given the justified concern for the death toll from guns, why continue to support our nearly 50-year-long, trillion-dollar, highly unsuccessful modern prohibition?

Howard Wooldridge, Adamstown

 

This week’s stats:

187 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     18 this week = UN reps

24 major conferences attended –  (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review,  etc)  01 this week

130 interviews and reports in minor media =     01 this week.

63 Radio Interviews..  02 this week

  COP stats since inception: August 2009

2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week

120 personal chats with a Member of Congress..  0 this week

42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week

62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02  this week   ( NBC twice )

82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week

*   2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position

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 $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under:On the Hill

COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of March 4 & 11, 2016

COP on the Hill

Stories from the week of March 4 & 11, 2016

 

CPAC in Summary: 4 hectic, non-stop days of conservative madness. Sitting next to, chatting with X governor of Arizona Jan Brewer for an hour (not our friend). 101 fotos of student supporters of legalization, all going to Facebook, natch.   New convert yelling out to 50 in Chipotles, “YES, Legalize Heroin.” First night having a drink with 7 Congressmen & Senator Ernst (R-IA) {came to DC to ‘cut pork’}…about 20 media events, half in camera..what I have called ‘minor media’ contacts shows my ignorance of 2016…one 1 minute clips now seen by 600,000 and still climbing. (See below)..being much more careful, I did NOT lose my voice (first time in 5 years). Several reporters told me I had become a ‘fixture’ of CPAC (? Good thing ?)

 

Most importantly, resistance to the POT shirt went to an absolute zero (only took 10 years )…therefore, next year I will be wearing the LEGALIZE DRUGS shirt. I go to CPAC to move the needle, not make people smile (which the pot shirt almost always does).

 

Rice University: Bill Martin of the Baker Institute at Rice invited me.   three days on the road to be part of a four person, two hour panel on Drug Prohibition.     They were pleased which is all that counts. I spent the honorarium on two hats…Yikes !! Yes, they are very nice hats.

 

United Nations: I leave today for Vienna to represent LEAP at the annual UN conference on dangerous drugs. Next report will be late March. Karen continues to love me despite my many absences from home. She is the wind under my wings.

 

No time to spit….

 

http://gawker.com/these-are-some-people-you-could-meet-at-cpac-1763090191.. foto at bottom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5881TmjFLU..     One of many

 

https://www.facebook.com/NowThisWeed/?pnref=story    600,000 views !! woohoo One Minute…left side of page under ‘Videos’…next to Gov Gary Johnson of NM

 

This week’s stats: …..no time …these are last weeks

169 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     03 this week –

62 Appearances/Interviews on major TV/Radio/Print media..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC, CNN, NPR)…02 this week   ( NBC twice )

129 interviews and reports in minor media =    01 this week.

Meetings/Hearings:   2 this week

 

  COP stats since inception: August 2009

2149 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week

120 personal chats with a Member of Congress..  0 this week

42 published interviews/foto in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 0 this week

61 Radio Interviews..  0 this week

23 major conferences attended –  (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review,  etc)  this week

82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week

*   2 editorials in daily papers mentioning Howard’s efforts & in support of COP position

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 $30.00 or more per year.   All contributions are tax-deductible.  30 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

**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed under:On the Hill