COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of December 5 & 12, 2014

Stories from the week of December 5 & 12, 2014

Nothing new here: I attended a Heritage event concerning marijuana. I had a solid, five minute chat with a Congressman from Oklahoma who claimed an OK poll showed citizens there want the federal MJ prohibition!   Who knew?! The panel of conservative experts included a former drug czar. I endured two hours of marijuana is a dangerous drug and legalization will be cause the end of life as we know.   And then, they took no questions.

The good news is the panel conceded change thru a decrim approach. Also, they used the same tired, ¾ lies they always use. And the citizens are increasingly ignoring them & voting for change.

Ear of the White House: After another meeting a member of the White House staff gave me three minutes. I asked him to direct SAMHSA to conduct a new study to determine how many teens are employed selling drugs & carrying guns. See old, 2005 report below.

Being wined and dined: My friend at the German embassy invited me and his French embassy counterpart to lunch. He again thanked me for the Denver tour. He said his report is now being discussed in Berlin. Pierre said Paris also has his report on their desk.

Looking ahead to 2015 there might be some new projects where COP help might be needed. That is all I can say at the moment. It was my first 30 dollar lunch, since my arrival in 2005, which my host picked up. Pretty cool.

Hell froze over: Shortly after my arrival in DC nine years ago, the Washington Post published my first letter-to-the-editor I sent them….9 years and dozens of tries later – my second published LTE is at the very bottom.

This week’s raw data:

105 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.     02 this week

11 Conversations (five minutes or longer) with Member of Congress..  01  this week

07 meetings these two weeks

80 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $79,000).. 01 this week

·         COP stats since inception: August 2009

• 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

1686 Presentations to Congressional staffers..  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

• 28 published interviews in major (daily) newspapers or magazine…this week
• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    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.    …  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

Why do more than 900,000 teenagers sell drugs¹ but not alcohol or cigarettes?

Because alcohol and tobacco are regulated and sold through stores

Notes:
1) “Alcohol Use and Delinquent Behaviors among Youths,” April 2005, SAMHSA Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (www.SAMHSA.gov), USDHHS. (www.hhs.gov)

In 2003, nearly 9 million (36.1 percent) youths aged 12 to 17 had engaged in at least one delinquent behavior during the past year. Almost 6 million (23.8 percent) youths took part in a serious fight at school or work, 4.5 million (18.1 percent) youths took part in a group-against-group fight, 2.1 million (8.3 percent) youths attacked someone with the intent to seriously hurt them, 1.1 million (4.5 percent) youths stole or tried to steal anything worth more than $50, more than 900,000 (3.6 percent) youths sold illegal drugs, and more than 900,000 (3.6 percent) youths carried a handgun during the past year.

The WP edited it a bit but still made my essential point

December 11 at 5:26 PM

Regarding Samuel T. Wilkinson’s Dec. 7 op-ed, “Big Pot?”:

As a retired detective and co-founder of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, I understand Dr. Wilkinson’s concerns about marijuana.

It should be given the same respect, laws and regulations as beer. What are the advantages of the current policy, in which drug cartels produce and distribute marijuana and thousands of teens are selling it off sidewalks and in schools? Is Dr. Wilkinson worried about replacing bloodthirsty cartels with government rules? That deserves more explanation.

Howard Wooldridge, Adamstown, Md.