COP on the Hill: Stories from the week of March 14, 2014

Stories from the week of March 14, 2014

 Down the Rabbit Hole at the UN Drug Conference in Vienna:  At the end of a first day of 100 speeches which focused on how much drugs hurt our children & nothing on the status of the  prohibition approach after 53 years…I was a bit of ‘where in the hell am I?’   Are these people just clones with different names?

Towards evening, 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 sea change for this gathering.  Having put six weeks of preparation into this project, I DID feel much better after he put it all in perspective.

Fortune favors the bold:    The Queen of Sweden has been the chairwoman of the NGO (Non-Government Organization) meeting for many years and a harsh & fierce drug warrior. She said over and over that drugs hurt children.  When the 3 hour meeting ended, I walked down to the front to attempt a contact.  Just before she reached the exit door, we made eye contact (maybe she liked my Stetson??) and I said, ‘Your majesty.   We all care about children.  As a police officer I know that drug prohibition means kids sell drugs and are shot and killed every day as a result. This is terrible.  Prohibition is causing the death and suffering of our children.  This government report shows the problem.’   I extended the document and she took it.  Woohoo.  Document is at the bottom which was discovered by COP Board Member Jerry Epstein.

Having an edge:   The next day I was in the corridor looking for contacts.  An attendee said, ‘hello.’  I responded ‘Bonjour’ because I had heard him speaking French to the guy next to him.  We began a nice chat en français naturellement.  The third person in this group turned out to be the head of the INCB (International Narcotics Control Board) and a fierce drug warrior.

An English speaker was given about a minute to make his pitch for a change in policy. My new friend told Monsieur Raymond Yans (Mr. INCB) that this American speaks very good French.  He gave 2-3 minutes to make my pitch. It was able to make a full ‘mini-pitch,’ & we had a good ‘give and take.’

Oh yeah…when I am not working, I am non-stop improving my Spanish, German and French.

•   61 chats with other elected officials, state reps, senators, VIPs, etc.    03 this week

COP stats since inception: August 2009

     1490 Presentations to Congressional staffers..    this week

• 81 interviews and reports in minor media = blogs, cable TV, weekly papers, etc..    this week
• 36 Appearances on major TV networks..this week (Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, Univision)… this week
• 18 major conferences attended..  this week (CPAC, LULAC, NRA, CBC, ASA, DPA, Dem & Repub. Presidential conventions.  etc)    this week
• 26  published interviews in major (daily)newspapers or magazine… this week
• 77 published letters to the editor (value per MAPINC in free publicity: $75,000)..  this week
• 55 brief chats with Members of Congress..   this week

40 Radio Interviews..    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.   If you agree that Modern Prohibition/War on Drugs is the most destructive, dysfunctional and immoral policy since slavery & Jim Crow and want to be a part of the solution…  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.