COP on the Hill: December 19 & 26 & January 2, 2015

December 19 & 26 & January 2, 2015

You’re doing the Lord’s work: While I was eating lunch the active-duty customs agent/supervisor spied the jacket  and made contact. He gave me a five minute report on how much time his agency wastes at ports of entry scooping up tons of marijuana. He agreed that all drugs should be legalized. As he left to catch his train (we were in Union Station), he urged me to continue my efforts and said I was doing the Lord’s work. Nice.

Year end analysis: The mood in DC is jubilant and almost stunned disbelief that the Congress approved employing states rights – 10^th Amendment on the issue of the medical use of marijuana….at least for the next 10 months. We ‘High-Five’ each other all over town. The consensus is the Congress will find it very difficult to close that door on October 1.

The November election victories have also thrilled us. Oregon, Alaska and DC have all ‘gone Colorado.’ Florida medical MJ grabbed 58% on its first try. All of this in the face of a Republican Tsunami in an off-year election when many young voters stay home. Woohoo!

I just learned that Congressman Rohrabacher will introduce the same language (one sentence) in 2015 to repeal the federal prohibition on marijuana. Perfect! The four organizations which place a full-time advocate on the Hill (COP, MPP, DPA and NCIA (Nat. Cann. Industry Assoc) are happy to again champion this KISS type bill. ( text at bottom)

Busy Work: I will stay engaged this end-of-the-year time…projects such as producing in Arabic why Muslims should support change, already an on-going project for the German embassy, 150 emails to every media person I know and 200 others to those I met in 2014 and finally spending the many hours it takes to add in the 100 plus new Members of Congress into my spread sheets.

It takes a village: I hope & trust you have enjoyed the newsletter in 2014. I pledge more hard work on my part in 2015.   I humbly believe that my nine years, 3 sets of boot leather and over 3,000 presentations to Congressional staff had an impact on the vote in May and in December. If you agree, please consider a tax-deductible donation to COP. Go to: ·       www.CitizensOpposingProhibition.org and click on Donate/Join – by credit card or send a check to:

• Citizens Opposing Prohibition

POB 543

• Buckeystown, MD 21717

On behalf of the COP Board of Directors:   Eric Sterling, Jerry Epstein, Karen Anderson & Orrin and Linda Carr we wish the very best of the season to you and yours.

This week’s raw data:

02 meetings these three weeks

• 01 this week…….. 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..  

•   COP stats since inception: August 2009

1686 Presentations to Congressional staffers..  this week

105 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     0 this week

11 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress..  0  this week

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

54 brief chats with Members of Congress..   00 this week

80 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $79,000).. 0 this week

38  Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision, BBC)…0 this week (BBC)

52 Radio Interviews..  00 this week

• 28published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine…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.    …

HR 1523

‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of this subchapter related to marihuana shall not apply to any person acting in compliance with State laws relating to the production, possession, distribution, dispensation, administration, or delivery of marihuana.’’.