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