Posted November 30th, 2015 by hiwayhowie
COP on the Hill
Stories from the week of November 20 and 27, 2015
DPA Conference: My wife Karen and I worked the four day conference. We could have paid all expenses, if we had charged for having our picture taken. It was fun.
Front & center on the stages was the topic of ‘reparations.’ Money for anyone who has been hurt by a marijuana arrest. At one session I stood up and spoke forcefully against such a notion, “If you want to kill any chance for a ballot initiative or a bill in the legislature to end MJ prohibition, include language for reparations. Alaska in 2004 lost by a large margin an other-wise good initiative to legalize/regulate MJ. It took another TEN -10 years to end that states’ prohibition in 2014.”
Helping out: I was finishing up an interview with a German reporter, when Neill Franklin (President of LEAP) walked up with a Senator from Costa Rica. They waited 30 seconds, until I finished. Neill said he needed a translator, saw my hat from across the room and voila. I switched gears in my brain, broke into Spanish to help Neill the next 10 minutes.
Helping LEAP and Neill look good. Priceless.
Local Expert: Allen St. Pierre of NORML related,’ I was smoking on my porch, when a DC bicycle cop rolled up on the sidewalk. He stopped and said, “Smells like some good shit.” In DC not only has the page been turned, the book is about closed.
Fun Story of the week: At a conservative meeting this week a presenter spoke of reducing regulations on his product. He then described what the product did. Someone in the audience called, “Or you could just drink a beer.” Unable to help myself, I added, “or just smoke a joint for the same impact.” A majority of the group laughed….attitudes are changing, even as a change in the law is still a few years out.
1983 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 08 this week
23 major conferences attended..DPA this week.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 01 this week
92 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. 04 this week..one in French, two in German and one in Spanish
COP stats since inception: August 2009
105 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
152 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
60 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
38 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 00 this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
* 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
Posted November 23rd, 2015 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of November 6 & 13, 2015
Back in the saddle: This Tuesday I took the train to work for the first time since vacation. As I was getting off at Union Station, a woman I recognized but had never spoken to said, “ Nice to see you back at it.” ….. I am always grateful for such spontaneous comments. COP must be doing something right.
My kind of ‘back-up:’ At a meeting this week two, fairly young former federal prosecutors spoke on the futility of the drug war and the need to end it. I was impressed with their passion. They were there to change minds, not just deliver a speech. We had an excellent, 10 minute chat after the meeting.
1975 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 07 this week
2 Meetings
COP stats since inception: August 2009
105 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
152 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
60 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
38 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 00 this week
88 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this week
22 major conferences attended.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0 this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
* 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
Posted October 19th, 2015 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the weeks of October 16 & 23, 2015
NORML meetings: On Saturday the 10th I was the keynote speaker at the Maryland statewide conference of NORML near Baltimore. On Saturday the 17th I was on a panel for the Virginia state conference of NORML in Richmond. Always good to spend time with our NORML friends… and debate whether the green plant is like a tomato or a drug….sigh
NOTE: Karen and I are off to the Panama Canal next week….I have packed my COP in Spanish at our port of call in Cartagena, Colombia and Central America. Back in early November.
1 meeting this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
1968 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. this week
105 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
152 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 0 this week
60 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
38 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 00 this week
88 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this week
22 major conferences attended.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0 this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
* 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
Posted October 2nd, 2015 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of October 2 & 9, 2015
The Future Congress: At Grover’s meeting this week the parade of 2016 candidates has begun. …I had a solid chat with Alex Meluskey who is challenging Senator McCain for the US Senate seat. He allowed me to say he is a huge fan of the 10th Amendment (states’ rights) and he would vote the 10th regarding marijuana.
The other gentleman I had a chat with is the speaker of the Arizona House.
Free Sample Congressman?: I spent all day Tuesday going to 100 offices to deliver 2015 updates for staffers. I ended my brief chats, asking all the staffers if the legislative aide wanted their free sample now or should I come back at 500..as I patted my fairly large briefcase. Fortunately, no one called 911 to have me arrested. Though MJ is legal in DC, it is not inside the federal buildings.
In the elevator a Congressman read my shirt and grinned. I asked him if he wanted a free sample. He gave me a stern look.
On vacation the week of the 9th thru 16th–
1967 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 04 this week
105 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 02 this week
152 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 02 this week
01 meetings this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
60 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
38 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 00 this week
88 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this week
22 major conferences attended.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0 this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
* 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
Posted September 25th, 2015 by hiwayhowie
Stories from the week of September 25, 2015
My kind of day: In order to be on time to a 100 person conference at the OAS (Org. of Amer. States), I had to take a taxi from the Brookings Institute. The driver was from Haiti, so we spoke French during the 15 minute ride. The conference was all in Spanish for the next two hours.
After the close I had a chat with the Canadian member of the panel, speaking French. Then went directly to the gentleman from Honduras and we had a solid chat in Spanish. Note: he had insisted on answering my question/comment that: drug prohibition has been a cancer on the Latin American countries. We were/are on the same page.
Routine follow-up: I spent Wednesday afternoon going door to door in Cannon delivering ‘2015 Updates’ to staffers. This mundane, bit tedious task is part of the job. Also, I recall a few months back when 6 visitors helped me do the same thing. They were thrilled to do the same task, as they became part of the process to move the Congress in our direction. Their reaction and excitement I keep in mind, as I go door to door. It all counts.
1963 Presentations to Congressional staffers.. 04 this week
3 meetings this week
COP stats since inception: August 2009
103 personal chats with a Member of Congress.. 0 this week
60 Radio Interviews.. 0 this week
150 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc. 00 this week
82 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $80,000).. 0 this week
38 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine… 00 this week
88 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc.. this week
22 major conferences attended.. (United Nations drug conf, CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions., National Review, etc) 0 this week
38 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)
* 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
